As joyful as pet ownership is, there is a degree of anxiety that comes with it. What if something happens to them? What if they get sick? How much will the vet bill be this time? And while there are things that will always be out of your control, there are ways to prepare, and possibly prevent, a worst-case scenario.For those overly curious and tenacious pets, a worst-case scenario may be accidental poisoning after ingesting something toxic to them. Dr. Angela Silva, chief veterinarian at Petco, told HuffPost about the life-saving potential of activated charcoal treatments (when used safely and with the guidance of a vet).“Activated charcoal binds to toxins in the digestive tract, acting like an absorptive agent or a sponge to help prevent poisons from entering the bloodstream. The bound toxins are then excreted in the pets’ stool,” Silva said.She explained that activated charcoal has been shown to decrease absorption of aspirin, carprofen and acetaminophen into the GI tract of dogs and cats, and mentioned one market option in particular.“Products like The Dr. Cuddles Ready Rescue charcoal treatment can provide pet parents with a critical, fast-acting tool to help neutralize toxins at home,” she said. “This treatment is veterinarian-formulated, easy to administer and effective at preventing absorption of ingested toxins such as chocolate, human medications and more.”Made from 99.9% pure veterinary-grade carbon — which the brand claims to be six times more absorbent than current veterinary hospital solutions — pet owners need only to mix the correct dosage of powder into a small amount of food or water at first suspicion of poisoning. The dosage is determined based on your cat or dog’s weight, and even if poisoning didn’t occur, the Ready Rescue is still safe to consume. But Silva cautions that the treatment does have its limitations and should never be used as a replacement for professional medical care, but rather as a mitigating solution until your pet can be seen and treated by a vet. “Activated charcoal doesn’t work on everything – it is useless against antifreeze, bleach and heavy metals,” Silva said, adding that it will not significantly absorb small molecules such as alcohols, ions, salts (like fertilizers and nitrates) and most metals (with chelated iron being an exception).Bearing that in mind, real Ready Rescue users are thanking this treatment for offering them peace of mind and are keeping it on hand just in case.“My dog ate an entire gingerbread house during the holidays and we gave him Ready Rescue. He consumed all of the vial in his dry food and was totally fine and had no diarrhea,” one Amazon customer claimed.According to Silva, pet parents should look at the whole picture — the pet’s health, the specific toxin and the clock — to determine if the treatment will help more than it could harm. For instance, if a pet is lethargic or can’t swallow, you should never force-feed the treatment as the pet may inhale the charcoal and cause aspiration.“I recommend that pet parents always contact a veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline before dosing the treatment to ensure it is appropriate for the specific toxin ingested and that the dosage is safe for their pet’s size and condition,” Silva said.You can never take too many precautions when it comes to the well-being of your beloved pet, which, in my opinion, makes this $30 treatment a very small price to pay. Grab yourself a vial (or several) to have on standby, or read more testimonials from pet parents below.Promising Amazon reviews:“I bought this to have on hand at home in case of an emergency with my puppy. I learned this is what veterinary offices use for ingestion and thought it would be a good idea for the house due to it’s obvious effectiveness and ease of use. It is small and easily fits in the cabinet. The price is reasonable, too. My puppy is curious and tenacious and puts everything in her mouth. It is a relief to have ReadyRESCUE available if I ever need it.” — Amazon customer“I recently had a scare with my beloved dog, Luna, when she ingested something potentially poisonous. Thankfully, I had Dr. Cuddles’ Ready Rescue Pet Detox on hand, which turned out to be a life-saver! This product not only saved us from unnecessary vet visits but also provided us with peace of mind during a stressful situation.When it comes to Luna eating something she shouldn’t, I’ve tried other products in the past, but they were ineffective and only added to our worries. However, Dr. Cuddles’ Ready Rescue Pet Detox was a game-changer. Its effectiveness in quickly neutralizing toxins within Luna’s system was truly impressive.What sets this product apart is its ease of use. The straightforward instructions made it simple for me to administer the detox to Luna, and she had no issues taking it. The fact that it worked effortlessly without causing any additional stress or discomfort for my dog was a huge relief.Not only did Dr. Cuddles’ Ready Rescue Pet Detox save us from unnecessary vet visits, but it also saved Luna’s life. I cannot express how grateful I am to have had this product on hand when we needed it most.Its effectiveness and ease of use make it a must-have in every pet owner’s emergency kit. Trust me, you won’t regret having this life-saving product readily available for your furry friends!!!” — michelle togliatti“Must have for dog parents. My dog ate an entire gingerbread house during the holidays and we gave him Ready Rescue. He consumed all of the vial in his dry food and was totally fine and had no diarrhea. And there was no mess like you’d get from traditional charcoal products. We keep a supply of Ready Rescue on hand just in case.” — Amazon customerThe experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.Ahead, shop the number one items that veterinarians use for their own pets, from some of our previous coverage. ChewyPurina dental chews that last a long timeDr. Karanbir Randhawa, a radiation oncologist at PetCure Oncology in Mansfield, Texas, said that his dogs are heavy chewers and can destroy any toy and eat any "long chew" in a matter of minutes."The Purina Dental Chews actually last a long time with them (like 20 minutes)," Randhawa said. These long-lasting chew treats reduce tartar buildup and freshen your dog's breath while they chew and are made with nutritionally thoughtful and high-protein ingredients. ChewyA shock-absorbing leash that drastically reduces strainDr. Sarah Blair is a Dallas, Texas-based veterinarian at Noah’s Animal Hospitals who owns three cats and a Havanese dog, (who also thinks he's a cat, according to Blair). She said she couldn't live without her Ezydog leash, which comes in three lengths and uses a shock-absorbing bungee construction to drastically reduce strain from pulling and sudden movements. "It is made for a giant dog, but our tiny dog THINKS he is giant and has chewed through multiple leashes, and I have had to go on wild goose chases in the past when he ran after a squirrel," Blair said of this soft, neoprene-covered leash.According to her, the Ezydog allows you to adjust the handle to make it like a normal leash or a belt (and it has multiple clips for poop bags or training totes to attach, which is a bonus)."I wear it as a belt most always, as I am generally in a hurry and carrying way too many bags, and this way he is just attached to me and knows to just follow along!" Blair said.ChewyA non-enzymatic odor-eliminating spray"AOE Spray (Animal Odor Eliminator) is another must-have," Clinton Welch said. "No matter how clean the house is, dog odors just come with the territory. AOE helps neutralize those smells quickly, especially after outdoor adventures, kennel time, or rainy day messes."This spray uses a non-enzymatic formula that penetrates tough residual odors and can even be sprayed on more than just carpets and soft surfaces, but also directly on your pet to target anal gland odors, yeasty smells on feet or ears, or in the folds of the skin.AmazonA stainless steel portable water bottle for dogsBlair also suggested a small clip-on metal water bottle for dogs, where the lid doubles as a bowl. Based on this suggestion, we found this highly rated option called the PupFlask, a convenient and leak-free bottle made from durable stainless steel and a convenient loop for attaching to backpacks, belts or just for carrying. The food-grade silicone lid unscrews, flips and reattaches to double as a spacious lid for your pet, with a filter port to save leftover water. Find the PupFlask in 27 ounces or 40.AmazonA circulating water fountain"I love circulating water fountains for cats (which my dog also chooses to drink out of, thinking he is a cat)," Blair said.She didn't mention a specific brand or model, but I personally use and adore the PetSafe water fountain for my cat because it's made of stainless steel, a non-porous and easier-to-clean material, as opposed to plastic, which can harbor bacteria. I also feel like the stainless steel keeps water colder for longer, especially after I add a few ice cubes during the summer months.Another significant benefit of this fountain is its volcano design, which allows water to flow out through the top. This prevents whisker fatigue, an uncomfortable sensation cats can get when their sensitive whiskers are forced to rub up against the sides of a bowl.The fountain requires both a charcoal and a pre-filter that need to be replaced once a month. To save money and ensure I never run out, I buy these filter replacements in bulk.AmazonThe Furminator: an effective de-shedding toolDr. Catherine Clinton Welch, a veterinarian at Thrive Pet Healthcare Terrell Plaza in San Antonio, Texas, has five large dogs that shed and there are definitely a few products that she said she can’t live without. "The Furminator is hands-down my go-to grooming tool," Clinton Welch said. "It’s a lifesaver during shedding season and really helps keep the fur tumbleweeds under control. It pulls out the loose undercoat without damaging the topcoat, and my dogs actually seem to enjoy the process."The Furminator, which I instantly purchased for my long-haired cat, the second I read Clinton Welch's suggestion, comes in a variety of sizes and models for different-sized pets and hair lengths. The curved head is comfortable against the natural contours of your pet's body, and there's an easy button the eject the collected hair. AmazonA real-time tracking collar that also monitors your pet's vitalsDr. Peter Brofman, medical director and veterinary neurologist at Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said that he's a fan of the Tractive GPS tracking collars."I have cats, and the collar allows me to track them in real time," Brofman said.These live trackers, when connected to an app on your smartphone, offer real-time GPS tracking with unlimited range so you can get fresh location updates every two to three seconds, no matter where you are in the world. Aside from location-related information — including location history and instant escape alerts — Tractive also provides vital sign and behavioral monitoring for your pet, like heart and respiratory rates, barking and more. Tractive requires a $5 monthly subscription to operate, which covers a built-in SIM and unlimited data with no hidden fees.ChewyAn extra-durable rubber toy for aggressive chewersRandhawa also called GoughNuts' indestructible toys "the best things that have ever happened." Made with natural rubber and engineered carbon reinforcement for added durability, these toys can withstand even the toughest and most aggressive of chewers. GoughNuts toys come in a variety of toy shapes and thicknesses, but this donut toy in particular features a two-layer design with an interior red "safety indicator" to let you know when it's time to replace it.ChewyA natural stain and odor eliminator spray that's effective on urine"Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer is something I keep stocked at all times. With five dogs, the occasional accident is bound to happen, and this stuff works wonders," Clinton Welch said. According to Clinton Welch, this natural enzymatic formula doesn't just mask smells, it truly breaks down the enzymes and removes the odor completely, which is crucial for preventing repeat accidents. It also lifts away tough stains when applied to carpets, furniture and other soft surfaces. AmazonA pair of dog clippers and grooming setA good pair of clippers is an essential for Clinton Welch, who said that her dogs love outdoor play and roughhousing, so minor cuts and scrapes are inevitable."Having clippers on hand makes it easy to trim fur around wounds to keep the area clean," she said.We found this clipper set, which we chose because it's specifically designed for pets and has close to 95,000 ratings. Included are six guide combs and the three-layer protection blade design means that this is safe even for beginners who might be nervous to cut their pet's hair. This cordless pair of clippers also promises to have an ultra-quiet operation so as not to spook your pet while using it.WalmartAn antiseptic and anti-fungal pet soapTo pair with the above-mentioned pair of clippers, Clinton Welch said that antiseptic soap is a must for washing out dirt and bacteria from minor scrapes and wounds. Based on this, we selected the Douxo S3 antiseptic and anti-fungal pet shampoo that, in addition to disinfecting, can help "hydrate and support the skin's ecosystem and reduce yeast counts in seven days," according to the brand.