Posts tagged "poison"

We recently wrote about the ASPCA's top 10 pet poisons of 2009. Included on the list were human foods that can make pets sick, including avocados. Little did we know that one little green fruit would inspire such a flurry of comments from people who argue that their dogs love the key guacamole ingredient. So we decided to set the record straight.

According to the ASPCA, the avocado plant contains a substance called persin. "Different species of animals have different toxic reactions to avocados," said Dr. Tina Wismer, the senior director of veterinary outreach and education at the ASPCA. "Animals such as birds can develop respiratory distress, fluid build-up around the heart, and death. Horses, rabbits and goats can develop both mastitis [inflammation of the mammary glands] and cardiac problems. They also get a build-up of fluid under the skin in the face and chest."

"In dogs, cats and ferrets there are no reliable reports of poisoning," she added. "However, dogs commonly ingest the pit and it can get stuck in the digestive tract."

One other thing to keep in mind: different varieties of avocado contain different amounts of persin. So even if your pet rabbit or horse has eaten avocados without a problem in the past, the same might not be true in the future. The common Guatemalan variety seems to be the most worrisome, the ASPCA notes. And avocado leaves contain the most persin, Wismer told Paw Nation.

So what's the verdict? If you have a pet bird, horse, or rodent, absolutely keep it away from the guac. If your dog adores avocados, he can probably keep on enjoying them. Just make sure to keep those pesky pits far out of reach!

Sometimes it seems like our trouble-making pets will eat anything. Their hoovering ability comes in handy when you spill chicken soup on the floor (tongues being just as good as mops). But unfortunately, it's all too easy for our pets to get into substances that can harm them.

The ASPCA Poison Control Center recently released a list of the top 10 poisons that affected cats and dogs in 2009. So take note, and be sure keep these toxic substances far away from your pets in 2010!

Human Medicines
Human drugs were the top cause of pet poisoning in 2009, the ASPCA reported. Last year, the Poison Control Center managed more than 45,000 calls from people whose pets had swallowed pills such as pain relievers, cold meds and antidepressants.

Insecticides
One of the most common insecticide problems was misuse of flea and tick products. Make sure to talk to your vet about how to properly use these products.

Human Food
Most people know chocolate is dangerous to dogs. But did you know that grapes, raisins, avocados and products containing xylitol (like sugar-free gum and candy) can also be harmful to your pets?

Plants
Dozens of common houseplants, including azaleas, rhododendrons, sago palm and kalanchoe are dangerous for pets. Lilies are particularly toxic for cats, and can cause deadly kidney failure.

Vet Medicines
Almost 8,000 cases of pet poisonings in 2009 involved pets that were given medicines incorrectly. Make sure you follow instructions and talk to your vet about how to safely apply over-the-counter and prescription medicines for your cat or dog.