A national poison control center that caters to pet problems received an astounding 116,000 calls last year. The Animal Poison Control Center 24-hour hot line is reporting a "significant increase" in calls about common household items that can kill dogs, cats and other pets.

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The center, operated by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has just released its Top Ten list from 2006. They run the gamut from routine over-the-counter medications to chocolate:

1. HUMAN MEDICATIONS: This category has topped the list for several years now, with 78,000 calls received in 2006. Common culprits include painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements. One extra-strength acetaminophen can be deadly to a cat. Four regular-strength ibuprofen can cause serious kidney problems in a 10-pound dog.

2. INSECTICIDES: About 27,000 cases were from products used to kill fleas, ticks and other insects. The center advises consulting your veterinarian before using any product. Many of the problems were caused by not reading and following instructions on labels.

3. VETERINARY MEDICATIONS: More than 12,000 cases, including nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, dewormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements. Causes included overdoses and failure to follow directions.

4. PLANTS: More than 9,300 cases, with reports of pets eating lilies, azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, kalanchoe, schefflera and others. Even small amounts of lilies are highly toxic to cats, producing life-threatening kidney failure.

5. RODENTICIDES: More than 8,800 calls were about rat and mouse poisons. Reported problems include bleeding, seizures and kidney damage.

6. HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS: There were 7,200 calls about bleaches, detergents, disinfectants and other cleaning agents. When washing pet bowls, beds and crates, use a mild soap and rinse well with hot water.

7. CHOCOLATE: More than 4,800 calls came in. Symptoms can range from vomiting and excessive thirst to seizures. The darker the chocolate, the greater the potential for poisoning. In severe cases chocolate can be fatal.

8. CHEMICALS: More than 4,100 calls about petroleum-based products, alcohols, acids and gases. Included in this category are antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool chemicals.

9. PHYSICAL HAZARDS: More than 3,800 calls were about items that pets choked on or swallowed, which could cause an intestinal obstruction. Items ranged from pet collars to adhesive tape, bones and paper products.

10. HOME IMPROVEMENT PRODUCTS: More than 2,100 cases with products that include paint solvents and glues.

The obvious advice is to store all of the top 10 items in places where pets and people -- especially children -- cannot reach them.

Get out your credit card before you call the hotline at 1-888-426-4435 . The cost is $55.

Go to www.aspca.org/apcc for further information.

I get absolutely flooded with news releases and links to animal-related Web sites. I also get many, many e-mails from Pet Tales readers. I get information about products, health care, events, activities and some very charming stories about the animals that people love.

Much of this, regrettably, does not fit in a column that runs every other week. But now I have space to put more of these items. It's the Pet Tales Journal, which is an online blog. It started Feb. 22. Please use the URL at the end of this column to see what's been posted.

As the first blog notes, I'm looking for reader input and participation.

I've gotten a lot of e-mail and phone calls on two of the topics -- canine influenza and the Mt. Lebanon deer hunt.

Let me know what you'd like to see in the Journal.