Suspect poisoning? US: ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · UK: 01202 509 000 · Severe symptoms → nearest emergency vet now.

Poisoning questions, answered

Every question has a direct answer, a symptom checklist and clear next steps — plus a matching tool that estimates the real risk.

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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

All pets Dogs Cats

Cats · Emergency guide How do I keep my indoor-outdoor cat away from a scummy garden pond in summer, and is training 'leave it' worth it for algae? Absolutely train "leave it," but physical barriers are more reliable. Block access to the pond entirely with… Dogs · Food safety My 6 kg pregnant spaniel licked three bites of acai bowl with chocolate chips — could the chocolate hurt her or her puppies? The acai berry itself is harmless, but those chocolate chips are the real question. Three bites won't deliver… Dogs · Food safety My 2 kg chihuahua just licked a spoonful of pesto off the counter — is her tiny size making this more dangerous? Yes, that one spoonful is much more concerning for a 2 kg dog than it would be for a larger breed. Garlic in… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg Shih Tzu nibbled a small bowl of plain cooked millet — what do I monitor for and for how long? Nothing. Plain cooked millet is completely safe for dogs. You don't need to watch for poisoning signs — just… Dogs · Emergency guide Is it dangerous if my 9 kg Yorkshire terrier chewed open and swallowed a lithium button battery? How much does the weight matter? This is an emergency regardless of your dog's size — even a 9 kg terrier is at serious risk. Lithium button… Cats · Food safety How can I keep my 4 kg Bengal cat from getting into Brazil nuts sitting on the kitchen counter, and is one nut enough to cause selenium toxicity? One Brazil nut is more than enough to trigger selenium toxicity in a 4 kg cat — the nuts are extremely… Dogs · Food safety Is plain cooked tilapia safe for my pregnant 14 kg labrador who's seven weeks along and has been vomiting from morning sickness? Yes — plain cooked tilapia is a gentle, safe option for a pregnant dog, especially one struggling with… Dogs · Food safety Do commercial dog treats or human protein snack bars ever contain asparagus, and would a 11 kg border collie be at risk from accidentally eating one? Asparagus doesn't commonly hide in commercial dog treats or protein bars — it's more likely to appear in… Dogs · Food safety My 8 kg Shih Tzu chewed open and ate half of a sugar-free protein bar sweetened with xylitol — what should I do first? This is an emergency. Xylitol causes a rapid and dangerous drop in blood sugar in dogs, and half a bar is a… Dogs · Food safety Is pitted apricot flesh safer for my 6 kg poodle than plum flesh, and how much of each can I give without risking cyanide exposure? The flesh of both apricots and plums is safe in small pieces for a 6 kg poodle — the danger is in the pit… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg dog knocked over a full bowl of cow's milk two hours ago and is now vomiting — how long do I wait before calling the vet? Most adult dogs are lactose-intolerant, and that bowl of milk was likely enough to set off his stomach. He's… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg lab mix ate three tramadol pills an hour ago while my 5 kg terrier just watched — is the smaller dog at risk too? The watching dog is fine — tramadol has to be swallowed to do harm. But the lab that ate three pills is in a… Dogs · Food safety My 8 kg beagle chewed tomato plant leaves and unripe green tomatoes from the garden an hour ago and is now wobbling — what do I do first? It could be solanine poisoning from the green parts. Call your vet now and describe exactly what was eaten.… Cats · Food safety My 12-year-old diabetic cat ate a small crust of plain white bread — is that still okay with her condition? It's fine — one small crust won't spike her blood sugar or stress her kidneys. White bread is empty calories… Dogs · Food safety Can a 4kg small terrier eat two spoonfuls of raw sweetcorn kernels that have been left out overnight without any seasoning? Yes, plain raw sweetcorn kernels are safe for a 4kg dog. The kernels contain only carbohydrate and fiber and… Dogs · Food safety My 4kg small breed dog ate two bites of onion‑flavored chew treat 20 minutes ago, is this an emergency? Yes, this is an emergency and you should call your vet right away. Onion in treats is toxic and damages red… Dogs · Toxicity calculator My 5 kg dog licked one time off my jeans after I parked in the driveway — is that an emergency? Call your vet now. Even one lick from damp fabric can pull enough liquid in to start damage. Four to six ml… Dogs · Food safety I keep granola bars on the kitchen counter and my 15 kg dog keeps jumping up to grab one after I leave the room. How do I prevent this? Keep the granola bars in a closed cabinet or a dog-proof lidded container, not anywhere your dog can reach.… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat just chewed a sprig from the yew holiday centerpiece on the dining table — is this a party emergency? Yes, this is an emergency. Yew is highly toxic to cats, and a small 4 kg body makes even a few chewed leaves… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg kitten licked fresh-squeezed orange juice with pulp and seeds from my glass — is the pulp or seed a problem? The main issue is the sugar, not the pulp or a stray seed. A few licks of orange juice is unlikely to cause… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat licked a seasoned seaweed sheet once — should I panic over that tiny amount? No, don't panic over one lick. The immediate risk from a tiny taste of seasoned seaweed is low for a 5 kg… Dogs · Food safety My 25 kg dog ate a whole tablespoon of turmeric powder 3 hours ago and vomited — what's the aftercare and monitoring window? The main risk now is stomach irritation from the large dose. After vomiting, offer small sips of water once… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg cat chewed on a leaking AA battery for a few minutes and is now drooling — is the leaking liquid worse than a fresh battery? Yes, a leaking battery is a severe emergency. The liquid is potassium hydroxide, a strong caustic that causes… Cats · Food safety For my 3 kg cat, are a few plain pumpkin seeds safer than salted sunflower seeds as a treat? Yes, a few plain pumpkin seeds are the safer choice. Plain, unsalted pumpkin seeds are safe in tiny amounts… Dogs · Emergency guide My 10 kg dog licked a new joint supplement that lists yew berry extract — should I call the vet right away? Yes, call your vet or the ASPCA poison line (888-426-4435) immediately, even for a lick. The taxine alkaloids… Dogs · Food safety Can I give my 12-week-old puppy a teaspoon of plain canned pumpkin for soft stool? Yes, it's safe and often helpful. A teaspoon is a perfect starting dose for a puppy's small stomach. Plain… Cats · Food safety My 12 lb nursing queen ate two bites of plain baked herring while I was making dinner — is that safe for her and her kittens? Yes, plain cooked herring is safe for a nursing cat and poses no danger to her milk or kittens. The fish… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg cat knocked over a plate of raw halibut sashimi and ate a few bites before I caught her. Is raw halibut safe? Not the same as cooked — raw halibut can carry parasites and bacteria that cooked fish kills. A few bites… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8 kg dog ate part of my baclofen pill hidden in a spoonful of chicken stew. What do I do? This is an emergency — go to a vet now. A single human baclofen tablet (10–20 mg) is an enormous dose for an… Dogs · Emergency guide Is garden fertiliser more dangerous for my 10 kg dog than plain bone meal supplement? Yes, and the difference is stark. Bone meal is a natural calcium source that rarely causes trouble unless a…

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The library keeps growing. Can’t find your situation? Open the matching toxicity calculator and enter weight plus amount for an instant risk level.