Pills caused most pet poisonings in 2008

January 2, 12:30 PMPet ExaminerTeri Webster

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 Bottles of medication left on nightstands and piles of pills accidentally spilled on the floor caused the most pet poisonings in 2008.
In 2008, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Illinois handled 140,000 cases, and of those 50,000 -- about 36 percent -- involved pets ingesting human medications.
But pills were not the only offenders.
Insecticides, rodent bait, beauty supplies and even the unintended misuse of flea and tick products accounted for other pet poisonings in 2008, according the the ASPCA.
“Keep all medications in a cabinet,” Helen Myers, a veterinary toxicologist at the ASPCA, stated in a news release. "That includes pain remedies like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, as well as antidepressants and decongestants, which are all harmful to pets."
After human medications, about 39,000 pets were exposed to insecticides and rodent  bait .
Like many people, some pets can't resist chocolate.  But the sweet treat can be toxic to pets.
The Poison Control Center received about 13,500 calls after pets ate foods such as citrus fruits, avocados or raisins.  Pets that ingested chocolate accounted for nearly one-half of those emergencies.

Top 10 Pet Poisons in 2008
1. Human medications
2. Insecticides
3. People food
4. Rodent bait
5. Misused veterinary medications
6. Chemical hazards such as antifreeze and drain cleaners
7. Plants
8.  Household cleaners
9.  Lead, zinc and mercury
10. Certain types of lawn fertilizer