title: Dog and cat exposures to hazardous substances reported to the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory: 2009-2012.
abstract: Pet dogs and cats in the USA are commonly exposed to potentially hazardous substances found in domestic environments. Requests for assistance and advice received by the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory regarding exposures in dogs and cats to substances perceived by their caretakers to be potentially harmful included 1,616 phone calls, over a 3-year period covering 2009-2012. Enquiries occurred more often during summer. Dogs were involved in 84.7 % of calls and cats in 15.3 %. Oral exposures were reported in 95.5 % of calls, dermal exposures in 3.7 % of calls, inhalation exposures in 0.6 % of calls, and parenteral exposures in 0.2 % of calls. Therapeutic drugs were the most frequently reported substances, accounting for 35.4 % of calls, followed by household chemicals (15.5 %); foods (14.8 %); pesticides (13.9 %); plants (12 %), industrial chemicals and fertilizers (3.6 %); cosmetics and personal care products (2.8 %); and animal, insect, and microorganism toxins (2.1 %). Although requests for information or assistance are not a measure of poisoning incidence, it can provide insight regarding relative exposure rates, help to identify changing exposure trends and emerging exposures, and reflect the public concern regarding actual or apparent harmful exposures in pets.
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Mahdi
authors: Deon
authors: D
authors: Van der Merwe
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006078:Government Programs; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D006795:Household Products / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007615:Kansas; D057805:Pets; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning; D012621:Seasons; D013219:State Government; D013689:Telephone; D014116:Toxicology; D014730:Veterinary Medicine; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D055553:Prescription Drugs
references: Vet Hum Toxicol. 1997 Dec;39(6):361-5
references: 9397507
references: Vet Hum Toxicol. 2004 Apr;46(2):96-9
references: 15080216
references: J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2011 Nov-Dec;47(6):386-90
references: 22058344
references: Vet Rec. 2012 Apr 21;170(16):415
references: 22271801
references: Vet Hum Toxicol. 2002 Apr;44(2):115-6
references: 11931501
references: Vet J. 2010 Mar;183(3):255-9
references: 19553146
references: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1994 Aug 15;205(4):557-60
references: 7961089
references: Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2012 Mar;42(2):219-28, v
references: 22381174
references: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1992 Apr 15;200(8):1077-80
references: 1607310
references: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1983 Mar 1;182(5):514-5
references: 6833090