Happy New Year, friends! This week, gyms are packed with folks beginning their New Year’s resolutions. Whether you are packing your gym bag for the first time or are a seasoned member, there are some items you should beware of if you have pets. Those snooping noses love to find their way into any and every bag we have! Read on to see which items commonly found in gym bags could be harmful to your furry friends.

Electrolytes: Electrolytes are a great way to stay hydrated after a hard work out. However, they can be a tasty temptation for our pets. If enough is ingested, severe electrolyte abnormalities can occur in your pet, resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures and even heart rhythm abnormalities.

Xylitol: This artificial sweetener is found in a variety of different sugar free products such as drink mixes, snacks and supplements. It can also be found in gum, toothpaste, mouthwash and other products. If a dog ingests enough xylitol it can be life-threatening, causing, like vomiting, diarrhea, low blood sugar and possibly liver damage.

Healthy snacks: Though trail mixes can provide a quick bit of sustenance before the gym, many of their ingredients are toxic to pets. Raisins are toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and even kidney failure. Nuts, in general, can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis. Macadamia nuts, specifically, can cause neurologic signs in dogs like tremors or difficulty walking. If chocolate is in the product, symptoms like hyperactivity, increased heart rate, heart rhythm abnormalities and neurologic changes like tremors and seizures can occur. Additionally, ingestion of large volumes of protein powders or bars can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea that can result in severe dehydration.

Pre-Workout Supplements: These products often contain ingredients that are meant to increase your energy such as caffeine, amphetamines, guarana and yohimbine. These individually can all cause significant changes to heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, body temperature and even muscle tremors or seizures. These signs can be worsened when multiple ingredients are combined. Amino acids and proteins can also be found in these products which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in our pets. Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant which can cause low blood sugar and potentially even kidney damage. Vitamin D can also be present in these supplements and in high enough quantities can cause dangerous increases to calcium levels leading to kidney damage and mineral deposits in tissues.

Pain relief:

• NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are a common solution to minor aches and pains. If enough ingested by your pet, it can cause ulcers and bleeding in the GI tract and in some cases even kidney damage.
• Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen exposures can cause liver damage and possibly methemoglobinemia – a condition in which the red blood cells are destroyed making it difficult for the body to carry oxygen to the organs/tissues appropriately.
• Liniments and Pain Patches: Liniments (or topical pain relievers) can contain a variety of ingredients. Some of the most common include menthol, capsaicin, salicylates and sometimes lidocaine. Menthol and capsaicin typically cause vomiting, diarrhea and hypersalivation. Salicylates are a class of medications that include aspirin. If small amounts are ingested by your pet, symptoms can include vomiting and diarrhea. However, in larger amounts, there is concern for ulcers and bleeding in the GI tract and even liver damage. Lidocaine is a numbing agent which can cause changes to heart rate, blood pressure and even methemoglobinemia if enough is ingested.

Personal Care Items: Most of these products are primarily a concern for vomiting, diarrhea and intestinal blockages. This would include items such as deodorant, makeup, hair ties, braces/supports/bands, shampoo, conditioner, menstrual products, etc. Hand sanitizer and perfumes can contain alcohol and essential oils. Exposure to enough alcohol can cause neurologic changes as well as aspiration resulting in breathing difficulty. Essential oil ingestion can result in neurological changes such as decreased energy, difficulty walking and tremors and some can even cause liver damage if concentrated.

Electronics: The most concerning part of an electronic for a pet is the battery. If ingested, batteries can cause ulcers of the mouth and GI tract. There is also a concern for an intestinal blockage if enough foreign material is ingested.

If you suspect your pet may have ingested a hazardous substance, please contact your veterinarian or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at (888) 426-4435.