Cannabis and Hallucinogens Make ASPCA's Annual List of Top Pet Toxins
Our sister publication, dvm360, recently published an article on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reporting an increase in calls for pets experiencing potential cannabis toxicity.
In honor of National Poison Prevention Week, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Prevention Center (APPC) announced its top toxins for pets. The findings showed that recreational drugs such as cannabis-based substances, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and cocaine knocked off gardening products to claim the 10th spot on the list.
Since its founding 45 years ago, the APCC has been a 24/7 hotline that is a resource for both pet owners and veterinarians across the United States. According to an organizational release (1), the APCC team assisted 278,364 animals from all 50 states, resulting in a nearly 5% increase in call volume when compared to 2021, and fielded 11% more calls about potential cannabis ingestion than in 2021. The APCC also disclosed the cases most seen involved cannabis-laced baked goods, which can cause ataxia, stomach upset, and urinary incontinence in pets.
"Over the last few years, the experts at the APCC have continued to see a gradual increase in call volume related to potential pet toxicity," said Tina Wismer, DVM, DABVT, DABT, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center senior director, in the release (1). "The changes in the top toxins list from the past year reflect not only pet owners' continued awareness of toxins lurking in their homes but also the need to continue protecting our pets against dangers that can cause life-threatening issues."
Among the findings from the list was, for the first time in almost 10 years, human medication held only one of the top two spots. Over-the-counter human drug products leads the list, making up nearly 17% of APCC's call volume, while human prescription medications dropped down to third on the list. According to the ASPCA, pet owners are now more aware of the dangers of human medication exposure in pets which can lead to signs from gastrointestinal upset to kidney failure in severe cases.
Food products replaced human prescription medication as second-highest on the list. Protein bars, products with xylitol, and grapes and raisins remain the most popular items in the food category.
See the original article from dvm360 here.
Reference
- Recreational Drugs Makes ASPCA Annual List of Top Pet Toxins for the First Time. News release. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. March 15, 2023. Accessed March 15, 2023. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/recreational-drugs-makes-aspca-annual-list-of-top-pet-toxins-for-the-first-time-301773342.html
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
