Dogs and cats often have a penchant for eating strange things. Whether by instinct or hunger, or simply the mysterious behavior that pets are known to have; cats will often gravitate toward plastic or wool, and many a dog will chew on whatever it can get its chops around. Unfortunately, the results can be less than positive. A chewed shoe is one thing, but a chewed prescription medication bottle and its contents are another.
Every year the ASPCA compiles a list of the top substances toxic to pets based on calls from the previous year. In 2010, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) in Urbana, IL, fielded more than 167,000 phone calls about pets exposed to poisonous substances. Here is the list of top toxins:
1. Human Medications
Human medications topped the list of pet toxins for 2010. A quarter of the center’s calls were about medications ingested by pets. The most common ones were over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, as well as antidepressants and ADHD medications.
If you have unused medication, though, do not flush it down the toilet! Much of our water supply is tainted with pollution from medication. Instead, find out how to properly dispose of medicine in a way safe to pets, wildlife, and the environment.
