Potential poisonings can be a scary situation for any pet owner. However, recognizing the signs of a toxin ingestion and taking the right action quickly can make a lifesaving difference for your pet. Pet Poison Helpline is available 24/7 to provide guidance in the event of potential poisonings, but it is important to be prepared should something happen to your pet. If you believe your pet has been poisoned, the first step is to remove them from the area to prevent further exposure. Next, evaluate your pet for any abnormal behavior. Are they more hyper or lethargic than usual? Have they become ..read more

We are thrilled to announce that Pet Poison Helpline has been recognized as a Top Workplace in the Minneapolis Star Tribune for the 14th time! As we celebrate 2024 being our 20th year in business, our team is especially honored to have received this award. We are proud of our exceptional employees who consistently exemplify Pet Poison Helpline’s values of respect, integrity, honesty, trust, compassion, accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and loyalty. Being recognized as a Top Workplace is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication that our employees exhibit daily for pets, pet ..read more

As spring nears, fleas, ticks, ants, termites, and other creepy crawlies will show their ugly faces once again. Luckily, there are products to help prevent these creepy crawlies from infecting our pets and our property! Although these products may be helpful, it’s important to remember they carry risks as well, especially for our pets. What is Fipronil? Fipronil is a common insecticide used for flea and tick control in our pets, as well as insecticides used on lawns and golf courses. Fipronil products include spot-on treatments or sprays, baits and gels, granules, and concentrated solutions me ..read more

We all know how curious our canine friends can be, and when left unsupervised, they can get themselves into serious trouble! Unfortunately, you may have toxic substances in your backyard right now and not even know it. For example, common insecticides may contain a concerning active ingredient, Bifenthrin. Bifenthrin is used professionally and privately to reduce the insect population in the area in which it is spread. Bifenthrin can be found in many different forms, including granules, sprays, and aerosols. This insecticide is often seen in fire ant baits and can be purchased at most hardware ..read more

Spring is coming and with it the joys of nature! This is the perfect time of year for sharpening your gardening skills, getting rid of pests and participating in Easter activities, all while keeping your pets safe! Not everyone has a green thumb, but gardening can be a relaxing hobby to pursue. It’s always important to also consider the hazards to your pet when it comes to gardening. Some plants, when ingested by dogs and cats can be very poisonous: Garlic, onions, chives, and leeks can cause destruction of the red blood cells and weakness. Azaleas and rhododendrons may cause gastrointestinal ..read more

Spring is a beautiful time of the year, with the temperature warming and many people back outside working on gardens or landscaping. During this time, slugs and snails are common to re-emerge. Many people try to exterminate these pests by using chemicals. While this may be effective, it can be very dangerous to pets if they come in contact with particular chemicals, such as metaldehydes. Metaldehydes are significantly toxic to our household pets and can be found in granules, pellets, liquid formulations, and powder. Clinical signs of metaldehyde poisoning in animals include vomiting, diarrhea ..read more

Happy Leap Day! It can be really easy to leap to conclusions on what is or is not safe for our pets. That’s why we’re here to help educate! Check out these common myths to watch out for to keep your pet happy and healthy.   Just because an animal ingested something, doesn’t mean it is ok for them to vomit it up. Sometimes going down once is bad enough, such as when a corrosive product is ingested. These substances can cause chemical burns in the mouth and esophagus that may only get worse if they are re-exposed during vomiting. Deep burns are more painful and can lead to life-threatening ..read more

February is the month of love! There are chocolates, flowers, balloons, teddy bears, and many other gifts that surround us. Even though it is such a beautiful and happy month for most, it can quickly fill with worry and concern. Many of the products that were mentioned above can be harmful if ingested by our pets. Therefore, it is important to recognize the potential risks and prevent these exposures. Chocolate comes in many different colors, shapes, wrappings, and fillings. Most importantly, it contains different concentrations of cocoa. Cocoa concentrations are the lowest in white chocolate ..read more

It’s time to landscape around the property again. What’s that one common shrub that seems to line everyone’s property making the place seem more alive and symmetrical? That would be called the yew plant! Two of the most common evergreen shrubs used are the Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata) and the English Yew (Taxus baccata). These plants contain small, flat, leaves and seed cones with a beautiful, fleshy red covering called an aril. These plants are gorgeous pieces of landscape art, as they can be trimmed to any shape or size to fit one’s personal preference. Maintenance is often required, as m ..read more

Small Minnesota Company Leads Implementation of New FDA Legislation   It is a little-known business story that sounds too good to be true. A small start-up company from Minneapolis transforms consumer product safety across an entire industry – and then goes on to lead seismic shifts in two additional industries and counting. And it all began with a tainted bottle of Tylenol. “I don’t think there is any one organization that has had a greater impact on the safety of products than we have,” said Dr. Richard Kingston, co-founder of SafetyCall International and Pet Poison Helpline. “Our exper ..read more