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Poisoning questions, answered

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The four most-used triage calculators:

chocolate · open tool My dog ate dark chocolate — how much is dangerous? grapes & raisins · open tool My dog ate one grape. Should I panic? xylitol · open tool Dog ate sugar-free gum with xylitol — emergency? lily · open tool Cat licked a lily petal — is that fatal?
Full answer library
Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat ate two bites of chicken stew that contained a teaspoon of smoked paprika — is that dangerous? It's a mild risk, mainly for stomach upset. Smoked paprika is more irritating than the mild, sweet variety… Dogs · Food safety Are raw oysters safer or more dangerous than raw mussels for a 25 kg dog who steals seafood? Both are equally risky, but for different reasons. Raw oysters carry Vibrio bacteria that can cause severe… Dogs · Food safety Are vitamin supplements for dogs that use clementine peel oil or flavoring safe for a 10 kg terrier? Check the label closely—citrus peel oils can be irritating. The flesh of a clementine is safe in tiny… Dogs · Emergency guide What would happen if my 12 kg dog managed to chew a laundry pod every day for a week? Each incident would be a separate, life-threatening emergency. The concentrated surfactants cause corrosive… Dogs · Food safety Can feeding kiwi to my 8 kg dog with a sensitive stomach cause diarrhoea or itchy skin as an allergy? Yes, it can cause diarrhoea, and allergies are possible but less common. The fruit's acidity and high fiber… Dogs · Food safety My 30 kg Lab just ate a whole raw cauliflower floret in one bite — what should I do in the next 30 minutes? No, this is not an emergency. A single floret is not toxic to a dog his size. The main risk is that he might… Dogs · Food safety Can I give my 40 kg Labrador a catfish-based joint supplement chew daily? Yes, that's a safe ingredient. Plain cooked catfish is fine for dogs, and it's a common protein source in… Cats · Food safety My 2 kg kitten just licked a spoonful of ketchup 5 minutes ago — what's my first step? Stay calm and remove the bottle so she can't get more. A spoonful is a significant amount of sugar and salt… Dogs · Food safety My 12 lb senior poodle's treat lists snap peas as an ingredient — is it still safe? Safe. A few pods are fine for dogs and snap peas in treats pose no problem at all. The only catch with a 12… Dogs · Food safety Are tomato leaves more toxic to my 8 kg dog than raw potato leaves from the garden? Yes, tomato leaves are more immediately dangerous. Both contain solanine, but tomato leaves also contain… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat keeps jumping on the buffet table and wants the cooked kohlrabi salad. Is a few licks safe? Yes, a few licks of cooked, peeled kohlrabi are safe. The bigger risk at a party is what's mixed in — salad… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg cat has been licking the same cane toad in our backyard every evening for a week. What long-term damage could happen? This is an immediate emergency, not a long-term question. Cane toad toxin acts on the heart and nervous… Dogs · Food safety My 7 kg dog with early kidney disease ate a tablespoon of cooked taro. Is the oxalate content a problem for his kidneys? A single tablespoon of thoroughly cooked taro is unlikely to harm his kidneys. Cooking breaks down most of… Cats · Food safety At a BBQ, my 3 kg cat snatched a slice of ripe guava with seeds from my plate. Should I worry about the seeds causing a blockage? A single slice with seeds is very unlikely to cause a blockage in a cat. The ripe flesh is safe, and the hard… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog walks on salted sidewalks daily and always licks his paws afterward. Could this cause long-term health issues? Yes, daily exposure is a serious long-term risk. The salt is corrosive, causing cracked, painful pads that… Dogs · Food safety Can I give my 8-week-old, 2 kg puppy a tiny piece of cooked yam as a training treat, or is his stomach too delicate? Yes, a pea-sized piece of plain cooked yam is safe for a puppy. His stomach is delicate, so introduce any new… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg nursing cat just ate half a dropped amlodipine pill. Is this more dangerous for her and her kittens? Extremely dangerous for her, and indirectly for her kittens. A human blood pressure pill will cause her blood… Dogs · Food safety My 7 kg senior dog ate two raw ginger slices that were left on the counter for an hour and now has loose stool; is this dangerous? It’s not a poisoning, but the ginger likely irritated his gut. A small pinch of fresh ginger can be soothing… Cats · Food safety My 6 kg cat ate a mouldy mandarin segment left out overnight — will she get sick? Watch for vomiting or diarrhea in the next 12 hours. The fruit itself is only a mild risk, but mould… Dogs · Food safety My 20 kg dog ate a large bowl of plain couscous last night — how long should I monitor him, and what would a vet check for? Plain couscous is safe, so you just need to watch for the next 24 hours for any tummy upset like gas or soft… Dogs · Emergency guide My 25 kg pregnant dog (6 weeks along) ate one 500 mg paracetamol tablet — is this dangerous for her and the puppies? Yes, this is an immediate emergency for both her and the developing puppies. Paracetamol damages red blood… Cats · Food safety Are store-bought chicken treats with 'cooked chicken meal' listed as the first ingredient safe for my 4 kg indoor cat? Generally yes, if the treat is made for cats. 'Cooked chicken meal' is a concentrated protein source and is… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat choked on a piece of cooked octopus tentacle but seems okay now — what should I watch for over the next 24 hours? Watch her closely for any coughing, gagging, or repeated swallowing, which could mean a piece is still stuck.… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg diabetic dog on insulin licked a stevia-sweetened yogurt cup — is the stevia itself a problem for his condition? The stevia plant extract is not toxic, but you must check the ingredient list for xylitol or erythritol… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat got into a rambutan and ate some of the spiky red skin and maybe the seed — are these parts toxic? Yes, the seed is toxic and the spiky skin is a serious choking and intestinal blockage hazard. If you think… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg cat just took two bites of a kalanchoe plant 10 minutes ago — what should I do right now? Yes, call the ASPCA poison line or your emergency vet now. Kalanchoe contains heart toxins, and even a small… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg cat ate two goji berries, now has an upset stomach. Is this serious? Not necessarily serious. Watch for vomiting or diarrhea. Offer plain water. If symptoms continue, call your… Cats · Emergency guide How much ibuprofen gel is dangerous for a 4 kg cat — is one lick enough to cause kidney damage? Yes, even one lick can be extremely dangerous for a cat. Cats are exquisitely sensitive to NSAIDs like… Dogs · Food safety Which everyday human foods or packaged snacks might contain Brussels sprouts as a hidden ingredient for my 10 kg dog? Brussels sprouts themselves are safe for dogs, but watch for them hidden in frozen vegetable medleys… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg puppy just ate a whole slice of cheddar cheese — what are the first steps I should take right now? First, take the rest of the cheese away and check if any plastic wrap was eaten with it. That much cheese is…

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