Pet Poisons that Pose the Greatest Threat to your Pooch

We all know well enough to lock away the antifreeze so Fido can’t get to it, but most of us are rather careless when it comes to the poisons that claim the most pet lives every year.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Poison Control Center released the list of the top toxics that sickened American cats and dogs in 2015, and some of them may surprise you.

Over-the-counter-medications accounted for the most common pet poisonings for the first time last year surpassing perennial top pet poison: prescription medicines. According to the Animal Poison Control Center, more than 28,500 pets were poisoned by over-the-counter medicines. Prescription medicines were the second most problematic for pets, accounting for 16 percent of all poisonings.

Next came insecticides with 9 percent or 15,000 poisonings.

Fourth on the list, and perhaps the most surprising, are common human foods that pets just can’t stomach. Poisonous and often deadly foods include onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, alcohol and the sweetener xylitol. Raisins, for example, cause vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration possibly followed by kidney failure.

Rounding out the list of poisons that pose the greatest threat to pets in America are:

5. Household items such as cleaning products, fire logs or paint

6. Veterinary medication overdoses

7. Chocolate poisons pets more than 30 times a day

8. Plants are particularly deadly for cats. Before picking out plants to put in and around your home, look up the toxicity of plants.

9. Rodenticides accounted for 8,100 cases reported.

10. Finally, lawn and garden products were responsible for 3 percent of the pet poisonings reported.

Photos: www.pexels.com