Although scary headlines about evil people leaving antifreeze-laced treats lying around are commonplace, most pets who encounter any sort of poison do so in their very own home. How serious is this situation, and what can you do to prevent a poison mishap in your house?According to veterinary experts, each year hundreds of thousands of our canine and feline friends are exposed to dangerous poisons in the very place where they should be safe. From corrosive cleaning agents to supposedly healthy snacks, our homes can harbor a wide variety of potentially hazardous materials.The Animal Poison Control Center of the ASPCA handles almost 200,000 calls every year from worried pet owners. Additionally, the Pet Poison Helpline reports their call center handles another 100,000 reports of animal poisonings annually. So, what are the problematic substances in our homes?Both of these organizations show the No. 1 reason for calls is human medications. From Tylenol, Advil and other over-the-counter products to prescription antidepressants to pain medications and heart pills; drugs meant for people find their way into our pets far too often. In some cases, sneaky pets will gobble up tablets dropped by their owners, but in many instances these drugs are purposefully given to dogs or cats in a well-meaning but wrong attempt to treat some illness or pain.Human medications can and do cause serious problems for our pets. Their different metabolism and small sizes often means that a common drug like acetaminophen can be deadly. A single 500 mg Tylenol can actually kill a catNext on the list are products designed to help our pets, like popular flea medications and other insecticides. In general, the topical drops are safe, but when used incorrectly the consequences can be severe. Our feline friends are especially susceptible to the misuse of these products, and more than half of calls to poison hotlines involve cats exposed to insecticides. Organophosphate products designed to protect plants from marauding insects are often involved in poisonings of both dogs and cats.We have all heard that feeding ìpeople foodî to our pets can be problematic and the number of calls to both poison centers confirms it. Chocolate can cause serious heart arrhythmias, garlic and onion ingestion can lead to red blood cell abnormalities and the artificial sweetener, XylitolÆ, has been implicated in liver failure and death in dogs. Even supposedly healthy foods arenít necessarily safe. Macadamia nuts cause dogs to become weak and unable to walk, and grapes and raisins will create kidney failure in some dogs. Unfortunately, the exact reason why this happens is not known.Beyond these common items, household cleansers, automotive products, rodenticides, dietary supplements and even veterinary drugs also have a strong potential for problems.Pet owners can protect their four-legged friends by following a few common-sense rules.First, we are accustomed to ìbaby-proofingî our homes, why not consider ìpet-proofingî it as well? Make sure that any potentially dangerous chemical is safely secured behind closed or even locked doors. Antifreeze, kitchen and bath cleansers and drain products need to be kept out of a petís reach, and spills should be cleaned up immediately.Next, any medication, human or veterinary, should be kept in a medicine cabinet or area where a pet will not have access. If you are worried about dropping pills, take your medicine in the bathroom with your pets locked on the outside!Never give your pets any medication unless ordered by your petís veterinarian. As mentioned above, the wrong dosage or even a seemingly safe human drug can be deadly to your pet. Always check with your veterinarian, not the Internet, whenever you have questions about medications your pet is receiving.Finally, take action if you suspect your dog or cat has ingested something harmful. Calling your veterinarian or an accredited veterinary organization should be the first step. Both the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and Pet Poison Helpline have call centers open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These specialists can help you decide if your pet needs immediate veterinary attention or if itís OK to wait. Each group charges a small fee, but isnít that a tiny price to pay for peace of mind and your petís well-being?The ASPCA Animal Poison Control number is 1-888-426-4435, and the experts at Pet Poison Helpline can be reached at 1-800-213-6680. Dr. Jim Humphries is a house call veterinarian in Falcon. He also serves as a visiting professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. He lives in Falcon with his wife, horses and Great Danes. http://www.MobilePetDocs.com
