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

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.

Prefer to run the tool?

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 How can I store potatoes to keep my curious cat from getting into green or sprouted ones? Store all potatoes in a completely sealed, cat-proof container inside a closed pantry or cupboard. Never… Cats · Emergency guide Only one of my two cats ate a dropped blood pressure pill — what should I do for the one that ate it and how do I handle the other? This is an emergency. Human blood pressure medications like ACE inhibitors or beta blockers are extremely… Dogs · Food safety My 12-week-old puppy just ate a whole kumquat — should I be worried? Yes, you should be concerned. The peel of a kumquat contains oils that are irritating and can cause vomiting… Dogs · Food safety My dog just licked a small spill of olive oil off the kitchen floor — what should I do right now? Stay calm — a small lick of plain olive oil is not toxic. Your immediate step is to clean up any remaining… Cats · Food safety Can a little vanilla extract in my cat's food every day cause health problems? Yes, giving it daily is a bad idea. Vanilla extract is mostly alcohol, so repeated small amounts can add up… Cats · Food safety My 4-month-old kitten just ate a small wedge of lime. Will she be okay? It's a mild risk. Limes are acidic and the peel oils can cause drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea, especially in… Cats · Food safety My 4-month-old kitten just ate a few plain pumpkin seeds. Is that okay? Yes, that's fine. Plain, unsalted pumpkin seeds are safe for cats, even kittens, in very small amounts like a… Cats · Food safety My cat loves these dental chews that have erythritol in them. Are they safe? They're generally low-risk, but feed with care. Erythritol is not toxic like xylitol, but it's a sugar… Dogs · Emergency guide Is dried or wilted foxglove from a floral arrangement still dangerous if my dog eats it? Yes, absolutely. The cardiac toxins in foxglove, called digitalis glycosides, remain highly potent even when… Dogs · Food safety My dog snatched some cooked haddock that was left on the counter overnight — is that dangerous? The danger isn't from the haddock itself, but from bacterial spoilage. Cooked fish left at room temperature… Cats · Food safety Can feeding marshmallows daily make my cat sick? Yes, regular marshmallows can cause weight gain and diabetes from the sugar. The sticky texture may also lead… Dogs · Food safety Can my pregnant dog eat cooked turnip? Yes, cooked turnip is safe for pregnant dogs. Peel it thoroughly and serve it in small, soft pieces to make… Dogs · Emergency guide My dog ate a tramadol pill about an hour ago. When will I see symptoms? Yes, this is an urgent emergency. The first signs of opioid poisoning—like extreme drowsiness, wobbliness… Cats · Food safety My cat licked a little olive oil off my plate. What signs of illness should I look for, and how soon? A tiny taste of olive oil is safe for cats and won't cause poisoning. Upset stomach signs like mild vomiting… Cats · Food safety My 5 lb kitten ate a piece of lychee. Is she too small? Yes, her small size makes a difference. A tiny amount of lychee flesh is unlikely to be toxic, but the high… Cats · Food safety My cat ate some collard greens but my dog didn't — is that okay and how do I handle my other pets? Yes, that's perfectly fine. Collard greens are safe for both cats and dogs when offered plain and steamed in… Dogs · Food safety Can dogs eat raw water chestnuts with the skin on, or do they need to be peeled? No, dogs should not eat water chestnuts with the skin on. The peel can be tough to digest and may cause a… Cats · Food safety What are the signs my cat might show and when, if the cooked pheasant it ate was bad? If the pheasant was spoiled, the main signs would be gastrointestinal, like vomiting and diarrhea, typically… Cats · Food safety Can I give my cat a small piece of raw rutabaga with the peel still on? No, you should not feed raw rutabaga with the peel to your cat. The peel is tough and difficult for cats to… Dogs · Food safety One of my dogs ate a nectarine pit but the others only had the flesh — what's the risk difference? The risk is significantly higher for the dog that ate the pit. While the flesh is safe in small amounts, the… Cats · Food safety Can cats eat tortilla chips that are seasoned with spices like chili or lime? No, cats should not eat seasoned tortilla chips. Spices like chili can irritate a cat's digestive system, and… Cats · Food safety How long after eating Brussels sprouts would my cat show signs of being sick? Brussels sprouts are not toxic to cats, so you won't see poisoning signs. If your cat eats too many, the main… Dogs · Food safety Is hot chocolate dangerous for a pregnant dog and her unborn puppies? Yes — hot chocolate is a genuine emergency for a pregnant dog, and the risk is not only to her. The danger… Cats · Food safety My cat snuck a lick of hummus from a party platter — what should I do now? A single small lick is unlikely to cause serious harm, but hummus is not cat food. The garlic and lemon juice… Dogs · Food safety Can a dog that is nursing puppies safely eat a small piece of birthday cake? It's not recommended. While a nursing dog needs extra calories, cake is a poor source and often contains… Dogs · Food safety What's the best way to prevent my dog from getting into dragon fruit on the kitchen counter? The safest prevention is to never leave dragon fruit or any human food within your dog's reach. Store fruit… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg kitten licked a spoonful of strawberry jam, is that a problem? For a small cat, a spoonful of jam is low risk but not ideal. The main concern is the sugar content, which… Cats · Food safety My cat ate rambutan earlier today and is home from the vet. What should I watch for now? Monitor your cat for the next 24 hours for vomiting, diarrhea, or signs of choking like gagging. Your vet… Cats · Food safety My 2kg kitten ate a slice of star fruit – does its small size make it any less dangerous? No, star fruit is not safe for a cat, regardless of its size. Carambola contains very high oxalates that can… Dogs · Food safety Can dogs eat plain, unseasoned sour cream, and is a small spoonful safe? Yes, a tiny spoonful of plain, unseasoned sour cream is okay for most dogs if given sparingly. It’s high in…

Page 20 of 337

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