Top 10 Dog Poisons You Must Be Concerned About

According to the Anima Poison Control Center (APCC) of ASPCA, the pet poisoning cases increased from 180,639 in 2016 to 199,000 in 2017. If you own a dog, it is extremely important that you learn about the most common dog poisons and keep them away from your loving pet.

1. Chocolates, especially the dark chocolates, are among the most reported causes of dog poisoning. The substances called theobromine and methylxanthines in the chocolates may lead to anything from vomiting to death in dogs.
2. Human medications (both over-the-counter and prescribed), ranging from anti-depressants, muscle relaxants, decongestants and anti-inflammatory drugs to heart and ADHD medications may cause problems like seizures to kidney failures in dogs.
3. Rodent poisons if not properly handled can be ingested by the dogs and lead to the problems like vomiting, bloating, internal bleeding as well as kidney failure.
4. Household cleaners too make it to the list as these may cause ulceration, gastrointestinal issues, skin irritations and more if dogs accidentally ingest them.
5. Overdose of pet medications and non-prescribed dog medications may also prove poisonous. Always buy only Rx pet meds from a reliable pet pharmacy and follow the dosage instructions.
6. If dogs ingest fertilizers, they may suffer from skin burns, GI tract ulcers, difficulty in breathing and other related conditions.
7. Many types of plants may also prove poisonous for dogs. The common ones include rhododendrons, sago palm, lilies, daffodils, oleanders, azaleas and more.
8. Antifreeze, because of its sweet taste, attracts dogs. However, its ingestion may cause poisoning in dogs and severely damage the pet’s brain, liver and kidneys.
9. Human food items like caffeine, chives, onion, garlic, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts and candies containing a sweetener called xylitol are poisonous for dogs. You can also add alcohol to the list.
10. Heavy metals, present in air or water as pollutants or in paints, are counted among top dog poisons. Lead and zinc are two examples of such metals.

Make your household dog-proof by making each of these items inaccessible to your little friend.