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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
Dogs · Food safety Only one of my dogs got into the peanut jar — should I be worried about the others too? The dog that ate it is fine — a quarter cup is a lot of salt and fat for a 20 kg dog, but not dangerous.… Dogs · Food safety My 8 kg dog got into the takeout box and ate a whole pizza crust with some sauce stuck to it. What now? Watch closely. That much crust and sauce brings a lot of salt, fat, and likely onion and garlic powder, which… Cats · Food safety For my 6 kg cat, is a bite of lettuce safer than a bite of raw spinach from my salad? Yes, plain lettuce is the safer choice. Lettuce is mostly water and poses no known toxicity risk to cats. Raw… Dogs · Emergency guide How do I keep my 12 kg dog away from boric acid ant traps that might be under the buffet table at a backyard BBQ? Prevention is critical. Before the party, ask the host where ant traps are placed and either move them or… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg dog just ate a few bites of lentil stew that had a tablespoon of ground flaxseed in it. Is that okay? It's likely fine, but watch for digestive upset. A tablespoon is a small amount for a dog that size, so the… Cats · Food safety My cat ate about a tablespoon of cooked buckwheat pilaf from my dinner plate. She's 4 kg and seems fine—is it safe? Yes, that small amount of plain cooked buckwheat is safe for your cat. A tablespoon is a tiny portion for a 4… Cats · Toxicity calculator My 7-year-old cat licked a dish of leftover turkey gravy that had a crushed 81mg aspirin stirred into it two hours ago. Should I be worried? Yes, this is serious and requires a vet call now. Cats cannot process aspirin, and even a low dose mixed into… Dogs · Food safety My 8-week-old puppy just ate a small piece of raw rutabaga peel I was cutting. Is that okay? Yes, that small piece is safe. Raw rutabaga peel is fibrous and can be a little tough on a puppy's developing… Cats · Food safety My 4.5 kg cat licked some store-bought guacamole off my plate. Is the avocado in it dangerous? No, a few licks of guacamole are unlikely to harm your cat. The main risk from avocado flesh is its high fat… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg terrier ate a whole sprig of mint. Is this more dangerous for her than for a 30 kg lab? Yes, her small size makes a bigger amount more concerning. A whole sprig is a significant dose for a tiny… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate three strawberry slices — how long should I watch her and what would the vet check if she vomits? Strawberries are safe, so you only need to watch for 12–24 hours in case the sugar or fibre upsets her… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg senior cat ate a tablespoon of shredded cheddar — how quickly would lactose intolerance cause diarrhea or vomiting? Lactose intolerance usually shows as diarrhea, gas or vomiting within 4–12 hours. That much cheese for a… Cats · Food safety Can a few thawed frozen peas cause gas or itchy skin in my 4 kg cat with a history of food sensitivities? Peas are safe, but any new food can trigger a reaction in a sensitive cat. Gas or soft stools might appear… Dogs · Food safety Can I give my 12 kg dog a whole date with the pit still in, or does it need to be pitted and chopped first? Never give a whole date with the pit — the pit is a choking hazard and can cause an intestinal blockage. The… Cats · Food safety My 6 kg diabetic cat on insulin ate two blackberries — will the natural sugar affect his blood glucose levels? Two blackberries are unlikely to cause a significant blood sugar spike in a 6 kg diabetic cat. The fibre in… Cats · Food safety Is plain grilled squid a safe occasional protein for my 5 kg pregnant cat in her third trimester? Yes, plain grilled squid is safe and provides protein, but cut it into tiny, pea-sized pieces to prevent… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg puppy ate a teaspoon of garlic powder 3 hours ago — what signs should I watch for tonight? Call your vet now, as that amount can be toxic for a small dog. Signs like vomiting or diarrhea can start… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg dog ate half a cup of plain canned pumpkin an hour ago; when would diarrhea or constipation relief show? Plain pumpkin is safe, so you won't see poisoning signs. If it helps with mild constipation, softer stools… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg terrier eats fish oil supplements with haddock in them — are they safe for a small dog? Yes, they are safe. Haddock itself is a plain white fish like cod, and the oil is often purified. The bigger… Dogs · Food safety My 10 kg dog got into a bowl of roasted butternut squash at our Sunday BBQ — is that safe? Yes, the squash itself is safe. Cooked, plain butternut squash is gentle on a dog's stomach. The real danger… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat gets a small slice of raw fennel bulb mixed into her wet food every evening — is this a healthy long-term habit? Yes, it's a safe long-term habit in that amount. Fennel bulb is non-toxic and the fronds are fine too, so a… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg dog licked a plate that had scallops in a creamy Alfredo pasta sauce about 30 minutes ago — should I be worried about the garlic? Watch him closely. The scallops themselves are safe, but Alfredo sauce often contains garlic, which is toxic… Cats · Food safety Only one of my two 5 kg cats chewed on a piece of tangerine peel left on the counter — do I need to treat them both, or just watch the one who ate it? Just watch the one who ate it. The essential oils in citrus peel can cause stomach upset, but they aren't… Dogs · Food safety My 8 kg terrier manages to steal a single plain potato chip from the couch almost every day — will this daily habit cause him long-term harm? A single plain chip daily is unlikely to cause an acute crisis, but it's a poor long-term habit. The salt… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg senior cat ate two brine-cured olives that were left out on the counter overnight — is the spoilage or the salt the bigger risk for her? The salt is the immediate concern. Brine-cured olives are already very salty, and leaving them out… Cats · Food safety My 3-kg nursing queen licked a teaspoon of passion fruit pulp — is that safe for her kittens? Yes, that amount is fine for a nursing cat. A teaspoon of pulp won't harm the mother or pass anything… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg dog threw up once after eating one bite of granola with raisins 2 hours ago. How long should I watch her and what does the vet check during recovery? She'll likely be fine — vomiting once is expected when raisins land in a small dog's tummy. Watch her closely… Cats · Food safety Is chocolate hazelnut spread more dangerous for my 3 kg cat than a lick of whipped cream from my dessert? Yes, it is far more dangerous. Whipped cream is just dairy and sugar, which might give a cat a mild stomach… Dogs · Emergency guide My 12 kg dog found a bag of herbal calming treats that list foxglove extract — are they safe to give him for his anxiety? No, do not give them. Foxglove contains digitoxin and digoxin, which are powerful heart medications in… Dogs · Food safety Which common canned soups or packaged side dishes for people hide ham that could be risky for my 7 kg dog? Split pea soup, bean soups, and scalloped potato mixes often contain diced ham for flavor. The ham is…

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