Pet poisoning risks: accidental ingestion of human medications on the rise

Heads up to dog and cat parents who take medications for depression, anxiety, or ADD/ADHD. Calls to the Pet Poison Helpline involving accidental exposures to antidepressants and antianxiety medication rose a dramatic 84.9% between 2019 and 2022. They then fell by just 3.2% in 2023.

Toxicology experts at the Pet Poison Helpline reported an 81.2% rise in calls about ADD/ADHD medications over the same time period. There was a small drop of 1% in 2023. In short, accidental ingestion of human medications, including those for ADD/ADHD and depression, rose more than 80% over this five-year period.

“The use of and public discussion around these types of medications has increased over the years, which has helped many people improve their quality of life,” said Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist and Director of Veterinary Medicine at Pet Poison Helpline. “In addition, according to a recent study, the rate of antidepressants dispensed to young people increased dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline used their Toxin Trends tool to analyze proprietary call data involving accidental exposures to these medications. The analysis revealed that Texas had the highest number of ADD/ADHD and antidepressant-related exposure calls from 2019 to 2023, followed closely by California and Florida.

“Regardless of what state you live in, mental health medications can have deadly consequences when ingested by animals,” Dr. Schmid noted. “Changes to the cardiovascular and nervous systems are the main areas of concern. Specific symptoms vary depending on the medication ingested.

“The increase in calls involving antidepressants illustrates the danger of pets having access to their human companion’s medication,” she added. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep all antidepressants and other prescriptions out of your dog or cat’s reach to prevent accidental ingestion of human medications.

Categories: Cat Health, Cats, Dog Health, Dogs

The AW Academy Team

AW ACADEMY is a natural extension of our 25 years of experience publishing Animal Wellness, Equine Wellness and Innovative Veterinary Care Journal. We believe that everyone has a responsibility to care for animals to the best of their ability utilizing the most natural and minimally invasive means possible. We feel strongly that it’s better to promote a preventative healthy lifestyle for our pets instead of taking a wait-and-see approach. We also fiercely advocate for the quality of animals’ lives, supporting animal rescues and welfare organizations both financially and through our editorial.

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