Most pet owners know to keep chocolate, grapes, and household cleaners out of reach. What many don’t realize is that some of the biggest dangers may already be sitting on a bathroom counter, in a purse, or inside a nightstand drawer. Human medications are one of the most common causes of accidental pet poisoning, and even a small dose can become a serious emergency.

Dogs often chew through bottles or swallow dropped pills, while cats can be exposed by grooming residue off your skin or licking tablets off the floor. Because animals process medications differently than humans, something harmless to you can become life-threatening to them.

Here are five human medications every pet owner should keep far away from their animals.

Used to treat certain skin cancers and precancerous lesions, fluorouracil cream is considered extremely dangerous to pets. Even licking recently treated skin or puncturing a tube can cause severe poisoning. In reported cases, dogs exposed to the medication developed vomiting, seizures, and rapid decline within hours.

If this medication is in your home, store it securely and keep pets away from treated skin until fully absorbed.

A common pain reliever for humans, acetaminophen can be highly toxic to pets, especially cats. It can damage the liver and reduce the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Symptoms may include weakness, swelling, drooling, difficulty breathing, or dark-colored gums.

Never give your pet Tylenol unless specifically instructed by a veterinarian.

These over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs are a frequent source of pet emergencies. Even small amounts can cause stomach ulcers, vomiting, internal bleeding, kidney damage, or neurological symptoms.

Because many homes keep these medications readily available, pets often ingest them after chewing bottles or finding pills dropped on the floor.

Stimulant medications can be extremely dangerous for dogs and cats. They may cause rapid heart rate, agitation, tremors, overheating, elevated blood pressure, and seizures.

Pets are especially at risk when pills are left loose in bags, backpacks, or on desks.

Medications such as Xanax, Ambien, and certain antidepressants can affect a pet’s nervous system quickly. Depending on the drug and dose, symptoms may include extreme sedation, vomiting, confusion, agitation, tremors, or heart rhythm changes.

Some antidepressants may also trigger serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition involving fever, rapid heart rate, and neurological distress.

The best prevention is simple:

Time matters. If you suspect your pet ingested any medication:

Many pet poisoning emergencies begin with ordinary everyday items. A single pill or a lick of medicated skin can be enough to create a crisis. Keeping medications secured is one of the easiest ways to keep your dog or cat safe.