Suspect poisoning? US: ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · UK: 01202 509 000 · Severe symptoms → nearest emergency vet now.
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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 Only one of my three cats, a 4 kg senior, ate a piece of honey-glazed ham from the floor — how do I handle the others who didn't get any? Focus on the one who ate it. Ham is very salty and fatty, and the honey glaze adds sugar — a lot for an older… Cats · Food safety One of my two cats, a 5 kg tabby, licked smoked paprika powder spilled on the counter — the other cat didn't. What's the risk and what should I do at home? Smoked paprika is more irritating than the sweet kind. He might drool, paw at his mouth, or have an upset… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate three unsalted peanuts and now has diarrhea — could the peanuts be the cause? Yes, a few unsalted peanuts can cause diarrhea in a cat, especially one with a sensitive stomach. Peanuts are… Cats · Food safety My 6 kg cat ate about two tablespoons of cooked plain rye four hours ago — what should I watch for and when does the coast clear? Safe. Plain cooked rye is non-toxic to cats and two tablespoons won't harm a 6 kg cat. Expect nothing — no… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat ate about half a cup of peeled, boiled kohlrabi I was prepping — is that too much for one sitting? That's a very large amount for a cat and will likely cause an upset stomach. While kohlrabi itself is safe… Dogs · Emergency guide My 10 kg dog grabbed and swallowed a whole daffodil bulb from the Easter table centerpiece 20 minutes ago — what's the first step? Call your vet or an emergency clinic immediately — this is urgent. The bulb is the most toxic part… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg cat just licked a single, tiny raisin bread crumb off my plate — is even that trace amount a risk? Yes, any amount of raisin is a potential risk for kidney damage, and we have no safe threshold. The toxin… Dogs · Food safety Is it okay to give my 15 kg dog a few small pieces of raw fennel bulb as a daily treat over many weeks? A few small pieces daily is generally fine, but variety is key for long-term feeding. Fennel bulb is safe and… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg counter-surfer dog keeps stealing raw spinach leaves I'm prepping — how do I train him to leave it alone? Management comes first: store spinach and other veggies in the fridge immediately after shopping, and use the… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg indoor cat chewed one small, fresh foxglove leaf from a bouquet — is a single leaf enough to be toxic? Yes, even one leaf is a severe cardiac emergency. Foxglove contains potent digitalis compounds that directly… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate several chunks of fresh pineapple and had diarrhea, but the vet sent her home — what does recovery look like? Recovery is usually straightforward once the pineapple passes through her system. The vet likely ruled out… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg kitten ate a piece of raw avocado skin. Should I call the vet? Yes, call your vet or the ASPCA poison line at 888-426-4435. The skin contains the same toxin as the flesh… Dogs · Food safety My 6 kg French Bulldog puppy ate a piece of pepper-crusted steak off the kitchen floor — is black pepper dangerous for puppies? A light sprinkle of black pepper isn't dangerous for a 6 kg puppy. The real risk comes from large amounts… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg tabby just started vomiting after eating green potato peels — what do I do right now? Get the cat to a vet or call the ASPCA poison hotline (888-426-4435) now. Green skin and sprouts contain… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate two dried goji berries that were left out overnight — could they be mouldy or fermented? Probably not an emergency, but watch closely. Overnight air exposure can let mould start growing on dried… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg dog licked a whole bowl of beef stew that had mashed sweet potato in it — is that safe with the gravy and onions? The sweet potato itself is fine, but the other ingredients are the problem. Onions are toxic to dogs, and… Dogs · Food safety At a BBQ, my 8 kg beagle ate a few bites of artichoke spinach dip from a chip — is the dip dangerous? The artichoke heart is safe, but the dip is the real concern. These party dips are loaded with garlic… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat ate a tablespoon of plain yogurt 6 hours ago and now has mild diarrhea — how long will this last? This is likely a simple lactose intolerance, not poisoning. A tablespoon is a large dose of dairy for a cat… Cats · Food safety My 6 kg cat stole and ate an entire plain cooked haddock fillet — is a whole fish too much protein at once? Yes, a whole fillet is too much at once. While the plain fish is safe, that much protein and fat can… Dogs · Food safety My 18 kg dog ate a scoop of homemade cranberry sauce that was sweetened with sugar — are the cooked berries and sugar okay? The cranberries are safe, but the sugar and any other ingredients are not ideal. A scoop of sugary sauce can… Dogs · Food safety My 9 kg dog ate several Brussels sprouts covered in cheese sauce from a holiday casserole — is the dairy and seasoning risky? The Brussels sprouts are fine, but the cheese sauce is the problem. Rich, fatty dairy can trigger… Dogs · Emergency guide Only my 10 kg terrier ate a 5-HTP capsule from the floor — my other two dogs didn't touch it. How do I handle the house now? This is an emergency for the terrier — call your vet or a poison line immediately. 5-HTP can cause rapid… Cats · Food safety My 4.5 kg cat just chewed and swallowed a date with the pit still inside — what's the first thing I should do in the next hour? Do not induce vomiting unless your vet explicitly tells you to. The pit is a choking hazard and can cause… Cats · Food safety My 6 kg cat with a sensitive stomach ate a one-inch piece of persimmon. Will this cause diarrhoea? Yes, that amount could easily upset a sensitive stomach and cause diarrhoea. Persimmon flesh is high in sugar… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat licked one small bite of chocolate birthday cake with frosting. Is this an emergency? Likely not an emergency, but you need to check the cake ingredients. The main worry is the chocolate and any… Dogs · Food safety My 10 kg diabetic dog on insulin ate about five washed blackberries. Are they still okay for him? Yes, a few blackberries are fine. They are low in sugar and safe for diabetic dogs in small amounts. The… Dogs · Emergency guide Are calming dog chews with 1 mg of melatonin safe for my 8 kg anxious terrier, or could they cause restlessness? No, do not give these without your vet's specific instruction. While melatonin is sometimes used in pets, the… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat licked one thin slice of plain cooked lotus root off the floor. Should I panic? No, don't panic. Plain cooked lotus root is safe for cats. One lick means she ingested almost nothing. The… Cats · Food safety My 4.5 kg cat ate a keto cookie with erythritol. How soon would diarrhoea or vomiting start, and how long does it last? Diarrhoea or gas can start within 30 minutes to a few hours. Erythritol draws water into the gut, which leads… Cats · Emergency guide How can I stop my 3 kg curious cat from getting a paracetamol tablet left on the kitchen counter for 30 minutes? Store all medications immediately in a locked cabinet – don't leave them out even briefly. Cats can jump onto…

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