Keep Your Pets Safe During Back-to-School Season

Summer is almost over, and we know what that means — it’s time to go back to school! Whether you are a parent of a child in in grade school, a higher school student, or your’re attending college, we all need to be aware of the snacks, school supplies and medications we keep in our backpacks and bags. These items could pose a threat to curious pets! See below for a list of what to look our for, and how to protect your pet.

Lunchboxes and Toxic Snacks

Some of our favorite snacks can be toxic to our furry friends. When it comes to younger students, these snacks may have sat in their lockers for a little too long, adding a risk of mold toxicity.

• Grapes and raisins are highly toxic to dogs and can cause kidney injury. Cats may experience stomach upset. Derivatives like grape juice, jelly or jam are only expected to cause mild stomach upset.
• Chocolate and coffee products can cause signs and symptoms anywhere from vomiting and diarrhea to heart issues, tremors and seizures in both dogs and cats.
• Fruit pits, depending on the size, can cause a blockage, irritation or trauma to the stomach or intestines in dogs and cats. Certain pits, like cherry pits, can release dangerous toxins when chewed or crushed.
• Moldy foods that can contain mycotoxins include foods like dairy products and grains. Signs of ingestion include vomiting, difficulty walking, changes to the heart, tremors and seizures which can cause hyperthermia — this can quickly become life-threatening.
• Xylitol, a common sugar substitute often seen in gum and candies, is highly toxic to dogs and can range drastically in quantity depending on the food item it is found in. Signs of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhea, hypoglycemia, elevated liver enzymes and liver damage in dogs. Cats are only expected to have mild stomach upset.

See the full list of foods to watch out for and how to best keep your pets safe!

Medications

Both prescription and over-the-counter medications may end up in our backpacks or bags. Some common medications may include:

• ADHD medications (amphetamines) can cause serious signs in dogs and cats when ingested, including hyperactivity, pacing, tremors and seizures, head bobbing, agitation, disorientation, changes to the heart functions and hyperthermia. Cats may act differently than dogs by hiding and staring.
• Albuterol, a common medication to treat asthma, usually requires immediate veterinary care when an exposure occurs, even in small doses. In both dogs and cats it can cause serious heart changes, vomiting, agitation, restlessness, hyperactivity or weakness and lethargy. Though rare, there is also risk for pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).
• Benadryl (diphenhydramine), while sometimes used medically in pets, can cause sedation, lethargy, difficulty walking, hyperactivity, restlessness and heart changes with overdoses in both dogs and cats.
• Ibuprofen can cause mild stomach upset at any dose for both dogs and cats when ingested. At higher doses, there is a risk for ulcers in the stomach or intestines and acute kidney injury. With large overdoses, signs like depression, difficulty walking and coma can also be seen.
• Acetaminophen can cause stomach upset at any dosage when ingested by dogs and cats. It can change how the red blood cells carry oxygen and can cause liver injury. Dogs also have a low risk of developing dry eye.
• Aspirin can cause stomach upset at any dosage for both dogs and cats when ingested. Higher doses may result in ulcers in the stomach or intestines. There is also risk of liver injury in both dogs and cats.

Art Supplies

Arguably the best part about going back to school is picking out the art materials for the school year! We don’t think they make a tasty snack, but our pets might.

• Markers, pencils, colored pencils and crayons usually have an official ACMI seal which shows that art and craft supplies have been tested for safety and toxicity. These labels usually denote which products are considered to be nontoxic. However, all these art materials have potential to cause blockage, irritation or trauma to the stomach, intestines or esophagus if eaten.
• White glue, or school glue, usually causes mild to moderate stomach upset when ingested by dogs and cats, and can also be mildly irritating to the mucous membranes in the mouth. Other types of glue, like glue sticks or super glue, may have different formulas and will pose different threats to your pets.

If you are worried about a possible exposure, or if your pet has ingested something toxic, call your local veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately to determine next steps.