Human drugs are making pets sick as dogs, according to new ASPCA data.
Ingesting prescribed meds for conditions such as depression, heart disease and ADHD were the cause of 17 percent of all animal-poisoning cases in the U.S. last year.
“They pose serious health risks for pets,” said Dr. Tina Wismer of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center.
Amphetamines, prescribed for ADHD, are especially harmful.
“If enough are ingested they could potentially cause … seizures, fever, abnormal heart rate and rhythm, coma and even death,” Wismer said.
The second most damaging toxin for our furry friends were over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, aspirin and ointments, which caused 16.7 percent of the cases.
The next most common causes of pet-poisoning were human foods (11 percent) and veterinary products (9.3).
Out of all 180,639 poisoning incidents reported by veterinarians and pet owners to the APCC, 8,813 were from New York State.