The best way to prepare for a poison emergency is to educate yourself and plan ahead.
With the help of veterinary toxicologists, Trupanion highlights the most common poisons and how you can prevent and prepare for an incident.
Top poisons affecting Trupanion pets
You can find many items in your cupboards, garage, garden, even your purse or backpack that are be poisonous to your pet. This gives curious cats and dogs easy access to items that can cause serious harm. In fact, we searched our database and found thousands of cases of pets poisoned by common household items. Since 2013, we have paid $2.9 million toward toxicity claims for cats and dogs. Below are some of the most common poisons we found and what you can do to protect your pet.
In the Kitchen
Many foods commonly found in the kitchen are toxic for our pets. Avoid giving your pets a taste of the following:
- Chocolate
- Xylitol (found in sugar-free gum & some peanut butter)
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Alcohol
- Yeast dough
- Caffeine
- Onions
- Macadamias
- Mushrooms
In the garage
Your garage, shed, basement, or cabinets can house a number of substances that wouldn't seem appealing to a pet--but they'll get into it anyway. Be sure to keep the following out of reach:
- Dishwashing detergent
- Bleach
- Household cleaners
- Rodent poison or traps
- Slug bait
- Fertilizer
- Lawn or garden chemicals
- Antifreeze
- De-icing salts
- Toxic garbage
In the medicine cabinet
Trupanion sees many poison claims involving human pain medication whether they were dropped on the floor or the pets got into a purse. Some of the most common are:
- Hand sanitizer
- Acetaminophens (Tylenol)
- Pseudoephedrines (Sudafed)
- Albuterol found in inhalers
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil, ibuprofen, Aspirin)
- THC in medicinal marijuana
In the yard (or house)
Plants are everywhere, and as a pet owner, you should know which plants to keep from your pets. Lilies are especially dangerous for cats, and sago palms for dogs. Know which plants are dangerous for your pet:
- Lily
- Tulip
- Azalea
- Daffodil
- Foxglove
- Sago palm
- Dumbcane
- Yew
How to prepare
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Keep emergency contact information readily accessible including your veterinarian’s phone number and directions to your local 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital.
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Talk to your veterinarian to determine the best plan for you and your pet.
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Prepare a pet first aid kit with any supplies you may need.
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Familiarize yourself with pet poisons and keep them out of reach of your pets. If you believe your pet has ingested a poison, do not wait for signs to develop — take your pet immediately to the veterinarian.
Georgie
Bruce
Gus
