ASPCA seasonal toxins guide highlights year-round exposure risks

ASPCA has updated its Seasonal Toxins guidance, a year-round collection of safety resources from ASPCA Poison Control that organizes common pet hazards by season and holiday. The page points veterinary teams and pet parents to specific risk periods, including winter cold-weather and holiday exposures, spring cleaning chemicals, fertilizers, insecticides, lilies and other toxic plants, flea and tick products, summer heat-related risks, and fall hazards such as mushrooms, snake bites, Halloween candy, and Thanksgiving foods. The update lands as ASPCA reports toxic exposure demand remains high: its Animal Poison Control Center handled more than 451,000 calls in 2024, up nearly 4% from the prior year, with over-the-counter medications and food-and-drink exposures leading the list. (aspca.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the value is less about a single new toxin and more about timing. Seasonal surges shape what front-desk teams, technicians, and clinicians are likely to field, from spring plant and chemical exposures to year-end chocolate, xylitol, and decoration ingestions. AAHA recently emphasized that anticipating seasonal toxicities helps veterinary teams recognize symptoms earlier and educate clients before exposures happen, while AVMA’s spring safety messaging similarly ties warmer weather to preventable risks around outdoor activity, parasite prevention, and household products. (aaha.org)

What to watch: Expect continued seasonal client-education pushes from poison control groups and practices, especially ahead of major holidays and peak spring, summer, and fall exposure windows. (aspca.org)