Every year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) gets thousands of calls concerning pets and potential toxins. But do you ever wonder which toxins pet owners in your state call about most? APCC recently released their breakdown of top toxins by area, and once again chocolate, ibuprofen and rodenticides were top calls for many states. 

Considering the fact that APCC averaged about 48 calls per day concerning pets’ chocolate consumption, it is no surprise that chocolate exposures topped the list once again.  

But what about the other items on the list? 

Well, these are all things commonly found in households, and many of these items—sugar-free gum, fertilizer, multivitamins and rodenticides—can be considered a tasty snack to your furry friends. 

One item that may seem surprising on the list is flea and tick medications. So why does APCC receive so many calls about these medications? Every state in the U.S. deals with fleas at some point in the year. There are at least 78 million pet dogs and 85.8 million pet cats in the US, so that’s a lot of animals who need flea control! Some newer formulas are flavored oral medications, which some pets will sniff out and, unfortunately, indulge in. Many times, calls are about human error— like giving the medication to the wrong pet, double dosing or giving a topical medication by mouth. 

So, if you are like many other pet owners and want to keep your pet healthy and safe from the pesky fleas and ticks, make sure you read the label and keep any extra medication out of paws’ reach.    

See below for the full breakdown! 

If you believe that your pet has ingested a potentially poisonous item, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.