ASPCA:Top 10 Drugs That Poison Our Pets

Top 10 Drugs That Poison Our Pets

Prescription and over-the-counter medications may help you feel much better, but they can make our pets feel much, much worse. In 2007, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) handled 89,000 cases of pets exposed to human medications—by far, the most common cause of household poisonings in small animals.

To help you prevent an accident from happening, our experts have drafted a list of the top 10 human medications that most often poison our furry friends. Here’s a sneak peek at their research:

• Pets are ultra-sensitive to anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and naproxen, which can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers and kidney damage in cats.
• Nothing like antidepressants to bring a pet down—they can trigger vomiting, lethargy and a frightening condition called serotonin syndrome.
• The popular pain remedy acetaminophen is especially toxic to cats, and can damage red blood cells and interfere with oxygen flow.
• Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant found in many cold remedies, but acts like a stimulant in cats and dogs, who can experience elevated heart rates and seizures.

Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up meds accidentally dropped on the floor. The solution? “Keep all medications in a cabinet,” advises Dr. Helen Myers, veterinary toxicologist at the ASPCA. “And consider taking your pills in a bathroom, so if you drop one, you can shut the door and prevent your pet from accessing the room until the medication is found.”

Dr. Myers also recommends learning the name, dosage and quantity of all of your prescriptions should the unthinkable occur. “For example, if you keep several medications in a bottle in your purse, put in a known amount,” she says. “So if your dog gets into the bottle, you know what the worst case scenario is.” If your pet does swallow any meds, stay calm and try to assess how many are left in the bottle versus how many might have been consumed. This information is crucial for veterinarians when assigning your pet’s risk level and determining a proper course of treatment.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested any human medications—or other toxic substances—please call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. To read our expert’s complete top 10 list of dangerous drugs, visit APCC online.

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Henri Bendel Praised by The HSUS for Going Fur Free

October 14, 2008

Fashion Giant Joins Growing Ranks of Fur-Free Companies

The Humane Society of the United States applauded the announcement by famed New York department store Henri Bendel that it will no longer sell products containing animal fur.

"Henri Bendel's fur-free policy offers proof that cruelty-free can certainly be synonymous with high fashion," said Heidi Prescott, senior vice president, campaigns for The Humane Society of the United States. "We are thrilled to add Henri Bendel to our list of more than 100 fur-free companies, which already includes the other Limited Brands."

Joining luxury labels Max Azria, Hervé Léger, Stella McCartney, Polo Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein in adopting a fur-free policy, Henri Bendel demonstrates that a store's luxury heritage need not be compromised by refusing to sell fur. Now Henri Bendel is not just an icon in the New York fashion landscape, but also an icon for luxury fashion with a conscience.

The decision to go fur free was initiated by parent company Limited Brands, whose policy not to sell any products made from real fur also applies to Victoria's Secret, Victoria's Secret PINK, La Senza, C.O. Bigelow, Bath and Body Works and White Barn Candle Company. This is consistent with Limited Brand's mission as a values-based organization to "consistently try to do what's right." With the recent announcement about Henri Bendel, now all seven brands in this $10 billion company are fur-free.

The Humane Society of the United States urges all designers and retailers to adopt fur-free policies to protect the more than 75 million animals who suffer and die annually for their pelts. Only by not selling any animal fur can companies be assured they are not complicit in animal suffering, and that their consumers are protected from the rampant false advertising and labeling of real fur, which currently plagues the industry.

Timeline:

• July 2008 – Overstock.com becomes the first purely online retailer to go entirely fur-free after a meeting with The HSUS.
• Feb. 2008 – BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP pledges to go fur-free after discussion with The HSUS.
• May 2007 – Foot Locker pledges to go fur-free after discussions with The HSUS.
• March 2007 – Tommy Hilfiger pledges to go fur-free because of The HSUS's investigation.
• Feb. 2007 – Calvin Klein pledges to go fur-free because of The HSUS's investigation.
• Dec. 2006 – Tests commissioned by HSUS investigators find raccoon dog fur on jackets advertised as "faux" and/or labeled as other species, such as raccoon or coyote.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.

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