March is National Poison Prevention Month

1. Each year, March is National Poison Prevention Month and to help keep our pets safe, we observe National Animal Poison Prevention Week, March 18th-24th.

2. Each year hundreds of thousands of pets are accidently exposed to a number of potentially harmful products. Helping pet owners understand what products are more likely to cause harm can go a long way to keeping pets safe.

3. In reviewing more than 165,000 phone calls, the ASPCA's Poison Control Center has generated their annual list of harmful substances for our pets.

4. In first place for the 4th year in a row are prescription human medications. Many drugs that are meant for our use can be very dangerous to our pets. Dogs will often grab pills that are dropped by owners.

5. Heart medications and drugs for Attention Deficit disorder make up the largest percentage in this category.

6. Insecticides are the second most common issue for pets. Improper use of flea and tick medications or even lawn and home treatments can cause seizures, skin issues or even death in many pets, especially our cats.

7. Over the counter medications, along with the prescriptions listed above accounted for more than 25% of all calls fielded by the ASPCA Poison Control. It is important to remember that over the counter drugs, especially pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, can be dangerous to our pets and have caused deaths.

8. NEVER give a pet any human medication unless you have been instructed to do so by your veterinarian!

9. "People foods", like chocolates, xylitol containing sweets and various others come in at #4 on the list. Many seemingly harmless treats, like grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts or onions, can cause severe issues for our pets.

10. Finally, in 5th place are household items, like paint, drain cleaners/openers and other cleaning products. Because our pets are often very curious, it's important to store all of these types of things behind closed doors.

11. If you suspect your pet has ingested something that is potentially toxic, you need to contact your veterinarian or local emergency hospital immediately! Save the product packaging and take it with you.

12. Don't waste a lot of time doing research on the Internet or posting questions in your favorite pet forums. Time is often important and the sooner you see your veterinarian, the better the chances are for a full recovery for your pet.

13. When looking for good resources about pet health online, consider ASPCA.org/apcc, MyVNN.com and VetNewsOnline.com.

14. If you have questions about poisons contact Dr. Norette Underwood of Trumann Animal Clinic at catdoc56@pcsii.com