Do you know what's in your home?
There are many items in your home that may be dangerous to your pet that you are not even aware of.
· In 2012, over 180,000 pets were exposed to potentially toxic substances in and around their homes. And for the fifth year in a row, prescription human medications topped the list.
· Other items in the top 10 pet poisons list include insecticides, over-the-counter human medications, veterinary drugs, household products, people food (including chocolate), plants, rodent bait, and lawn/garden products.
· A lesser-known item also toxic to pets is the penny. Pennies produced after 1982 contain zinc, and a pet’s stomach acid can quickly erode an ingested penny, releasing the zinc into the bloodstream. Zinc damages red blood cells and the results can be fatal.
· Another potentially deadly situation can occur if your pet eats a piece of your clothing. Worn socks are a particular favorite. Ingested cloth doesn’t show up on x-rays, and it takes about 48 hours for the average pet to start showing symptoms like vomiting or loss of appetite. If the item is found and removed quickly, most pets fully recover. But the longer ingested cloth remains inside an animal, the greater the risk of a fatal side effect.
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If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at
