Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2024 are announced

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Pet Poison Helpline, a toxicology resource offering pet health advice, has released its annual “Top 10 Pet Poisons” for 2024. The list, according to the organization, is based on actual caller data.

Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director of Veterinary Medicine at Pet Poison Helpline explained that the 2024 list is similar to that of 2023, with small changes in the order of the toxins. “Although there are thousands of potential toxins, some items rise to the top of the list every year,” said Schmid in an organizational release.¹ Differences between cats and dogs, however, are still stark.

Top 10 Pet Poisons

Cats

For cats, the Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2024 were as follows¹:

1. Lilies (Lilium species)
2. Chocolate
3. Onions/Chives/Leeks/Shallots (Allium species)
4. Garlic
5. Ibuprofen
6. Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily)
7. Vitamin D3 (overdose)
8. Amphetamine Combos
9. Carprofen
10. Tulips

Dogs

The top 10 toxins to dogs in 2024 were as follows¹:

1. Chocolate
2. Grapes/Raisins
3. Bromethalin
4. Xylitol
5. Ibuprofren
6. Marijuana (tetrahydrocannabinol (THC))
7. Anticoagulant Rodenticides
8. Vitamin D3 (overdose)
9. Carprofen (overdose)
10. Onions/Chives/Leeks/Shallots (Allium species)

“As you can see, the list of Top 10 Pet Poisons for cats is significantly different than it is for dogs,” said Schmid in the release.¹ “The biggest difference is that specific lilies are extremely dangerous to cats, while chocolate is the biggest temptation for dogs, based on the calls received to our call center.”

According to Schmid, bromethalin, a neurotoxic rodenticide used for killing rodents, moved up the Top 10 list for dogs, with the poison moving from fifth place in 2023 to third place in 2024. “Carprofen also moved up one place from tenth to ninth. Carprofen calls are predominantly due to the wrong pet ingesting the medication or an overdose occurring, not from normal therapeutic use,” said Schmid.¹

The risk of marijuana pet exposure

Marijuana (cannabis) continues to be in the top 10 poisons for dogs. Exposure to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) substantially increased as the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana expanded across states. From 2019 to 2023, Pet Poison Helpline saw a 430% increase in marijuana-related calls.¹

However, for the first time in 6 years, pet exposure to marijuana dropped, with Pet Poison Helpline observing a 24.7% decrease in marijuana-related calls in 2024 compared to the previous year. “We’ve done a significant amount of educational outreach around the dangers of THC exposure, so I’d like to think our efforts helped move the needle in the right direction,” said Schmid in the release.¹

“Even if you don’t use marijuana, your pet can still be exposed,” Schmid continued. “We’ve seen cases where dogs have gotten into a neighbor’s pot brownies, or a visitor brings a THC-infused treat into a pet’s environment without the owner’s knowledge. Based on our call data, dogs are far more likely to be attracted to marijuana than cats.”

According to a survey of veterinarians in North America, common clinical signs of THC toxicity include urinary incontinence, disorientation, drunken gait, lethargy, hyperesthesia, and low heart rate.^2,3 Pets may also exhibit tremors and seizures with cases of synthetic marijuana exposure.²

More serious symptoms of THC toxicity include a coma with a low respiratory rate, seizures, or an absent gag reflex.² Patients generally exhibit clinical signs of marijuana poisoning within 30 minutes to several hours following exposure. Symptoms can persist for up to 72 hours.²

Lily toxicity in cats

The #1 toxin in cats, lilies have a severe toxicity level, according to Pet Poison Helpline.⁴ Common signs of lily ingestion include vomiting, anorexia, and kidney failure. Lilies belonging to the genera Lilium, also known as “true lilies,” and Hemerocallis pose the highest mortality risk if ingested. Even consuming small amounts, such as fewer than 1 to 2 petals or leaves, or ingesting pollen or water from the vase can cause severe, acute kidney failure.⁴

Chocolate toxicity in dogs and cats

Ninety-five percent of the calls Pet Poison Helpline receives for chocolate toxicity come from canine patients.⁵ According to the organization, cats who ingest chocolate typically do not consume enough amounts to cause a serious concern. The toxicity of chocolate increases the darker and less sweet the chocolate is. Baker's chocolate and dark chocolate have the highest toxicity risk. Meanwhile, white chocolate poses the least risk.

Signs of chocolate toxicity include⁵:

• Hyperactivity
• Restlessness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Increased thirst
• Elevated heart rate
• Hypertension
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Hyperthermia

Methylxanthines chemicals, which include theobromine and caffeine, are found in chocolate, which is what makes the product toxic to pets. In severe cases, toxicity can lead to death, although it is rare if pets receive quick treatment.⁵

References

1. Top 10 pet poisons of 2024. News release. Pet Poison Helpline. January 8, 2025. Accessed January 10, 2025. [email]
2. Kline S. Marijuana toxicosis in pets. Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. January 17, 2023. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/marijuana-toxicosis-pets#:~:text=A%20recent%20survey%20of%20veterinarians,seizures%20may%20also%20be%20reported.
3. Amissah RQ, Vogt NA, Chen C, Urban K, Khokhar J. Prevalence and characteristics of cannabis-induced toxicoses in pets: Results from a survey of veterinarians in North America. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(4). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261909
4. Lilies. Pet Poison Helpline. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/lilies/
5. Chocolate. Pet Poison Helpline. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/chocolate/