It is fairly common knowledge among pet owners that chocolate is bad for dogs and cats. However, what you might not know is that the concerning ingredient in chocolate (theobromine) and caffeine are sister compounds with similar effects. Along with theophylline, a drug used to treat asthma, these three compounds are known as methylxanthines. Theobromine…
Our mission at Pet Poison Helpline® is to make the world a safer place for animals and to save pets’ lives 24/7. We also pride ourselves in providing you with the most accurate and relevant information in order to help keep your pets safe, healthy, and happy! 2020 was a difficult year in many ways…
Many people are cutting back on sugar, which has led to an enormous increase in the number of products that contain xylitol, a lower-calorie sugar substitute with a low glycemic index that is found naturally in berries, plums, corn, oats, mushrooms, lettuce, trees and some other fruits. Now it is being used to sweeten everything…
This holiday season many of us may not be able to be in the presence of our loves ones and are instead choosing to ship and send our presents instead. With more packages than ever before being mailed, with potentially unknown contents, this can pose a new risk to our pets! Cats like to chew…
Heather Handley, DVM Senior Consulting Veterinarian, Clinical Toxicology Pet Poison Helpline® When it comes to children, it is pretty standard to have “non-toxic” school supplies. That makes sense, but what does “non-toxic” mean? A product will get that label if its use is not expected to cause adverse health events. For example, a child may…
