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
Dogs · Emergency guide What happens if I give my 15 kg dog a quarter of my 20 mg fluoxetine pill every day for his anxiety over several weeks? This is extremely dangerous and can cause serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening condition. Even a small… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8-week-old, 2 kg puppy just took one bite of a poinsettia leaf and is now drooling—is her small size a bigger problem? Yes, her small size means the milky sap can irritate her mouth more easily, and even a small amount of plant… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat ate some loose tea leaves 6 hours ago, went to the vet, and is now home—what does recovery look like and how long do I monitor? Recovery depends on how much caffeine she absorbed. The vet likely gave activated charcoal and IV fluids to… Cats · Food safety Is it bad to give my 4 kg cat a teaspoon of honey in her food every day for her coat over several months? Yes, that's too much. A daily teaspoon is pure sugar that adds empty calories, leading to weight gain and… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg cat licked a spoonful of gravy that had cooked onion in it—is cooked onion less toxic than raw for cats? No, cooking does not destroy the toxins in onions. The compounds that damage red blood cells are still fully… Dogs · Emergency guide My 5 kg dog ate a small piece of cane toad that was cooked into a stew about 20 minutes ago and is now drooling heavily. What do I do? Yes, this is an emergency. The heat of cooking does not destroy the toxins, and a 5 kg dog is at high risk of… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog ate a raw green potato peel — is that more dangerous than the cooked mashed potato he usually gets? Yes, the green peel is the specific risk. Cooked, peeled potato flesh is safe in small amounts because the… Dogs · Food safety My 10 kg dog licked a small spill of white vinegar that was left out and got mouldy — is it a rush to the vet? No, a small lick of mouldy vinegar is not a poisoning emergency. The vinegar itself is only mildly… Dogs · Toxicity calculator My 15 kg dog drank antifreeze 2 hours ago and seems wobbly — what signs come next and when? This is an emergency — call your vet now. Wobbliness means the first phase has started (0.5–3 hours). Next… Dogs · Emergency guide Are dried foxglove leaves in a floral arrangement dangerous for my 8 kg dog? Yes, extremely dangerous — call your vet immediately. Dried foxglove leaves retain cardiac toxins that can… Dogs · Emergency guide My 5 kg diabetic cat on insulin licked prepared infant formula — does her condition make it riskier? Yes, significantly. The high sugar in formula can spike blood glucose, while lactose may cause diarrhea that… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat ate beef stew with metformin mixed in the gravy — how urgent is this? Critical emergency — go to the vet now. Metformin lowers blood sugar rapidly; a 4 kg cat can crash within 30… Dogs · Toxicity calculator My 3-month-old, 4 kg puppy just ate a whole 200 mg ibuprofen tablet off the floor — is this an emergency? Yes, this is an emergency for a puppy that size. A single 200 mg tablet is a 50 mg/kg dose, which is well… Dogs · Emergency guide My 10 kg dog ate a silica gel packet that was left out in a damp garage for months and is now wobbly. Is that from the packet? No, silica gel doesn't cause wobbliness, but an old packet can be a serious risk. Check the packet label… Dogs · Emergency guide Can a dog get diarrhoea from eating 1-2ml of hand sanitizer? Yes, it's urgent. Hand sanitizer can cause stomach upset in dogs. If your dog ate 1-2ml, watch for vomiting… Dogs · Emergency guide My 5 kg dog just ate paint thinner — what should I do first? Yes, it's urgent. Call your vet now. If you can't reach your vet, call the ASPCA poison line at 888-426-4435.… Cats · Emergency guide Can a 5 kg cat get poisoned from eating a kerosene-soaked rag? Yes, it's urgent. Kerosene is toxic and can cause severe lung damage. Watch for coughing, frothy discharge… Cats · Emergency guide My cat ate gasoline from a puddle — what should I do with the other pets? Yes, call the vet immediately. Keep all pets away from the area. Watch for symptoms like coughing, drooling… Dogs · Emergency guide My 12 kg dog just licked a plate with a gasoline-flavored gravy on it — should I worry? Yes, this is an emergency — call your vet or the ASPCA poison line at 888-426-4435 now. Gasoline damages the… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg pug ate two commercial dog treats with potato flour in the ingredients. Is that safe? Yes, that's safe. Potato flour in a processed treat comes from cooked potato, so the toxic solanine is gone.… Dogs · Food safety My 25 kg dog licked a plate clean that had mint sauce from a lamb roast on it about an hour ago. Should I be worried? No, this is not an emergency. The small amount of mint in a typical sauce is unlikely to cause more than mild… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat licked a whole bowl of salsa clean — is that amount toxic? No, one bowl is unlikely to be toxic, but it's enough to cause an upset stomach. The onions, garlic, and… Dogs · Food safety My 15 kg dog ate a whole raw guava, skin and all. Is that safe? Yes, a whole raw guava is safe for a dog that size. The skin is not toxic, but it is fibrous and can cause… Cats · Answer My cat ate a piece of raw chicken and started coughing. Should I worry? That cough is likely a reflex from the raw texture irritating her throat, not a sign of poisoning. Watch for… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat just chewed open a hand warmer 30 minutes ago — what are the concrete first steps I should take at home? First, call your vet or an animal poison control center immediately — time is critical. While you wait for… Dogs · Emergency guide What happens if my 25 kg dog licks a kerosene-soaked rag in the garage every day for a week? Repeated exposure is extremely dangerous. Each lick introduces more of the irritating fuel, which can cause… Dogs · Emergency guide Only my 18 kg Labrador ate gasoline from a puddle — how do I handle my other two dogs who were nearby? Isolate the exposed dog immediately to prevent him from vomiting near the others, as the fumes alone can… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg dog ate a large amount of dried oregano 4 hours ago and vomited once — how long should I monitor him after the vet visit? Monitor him closely for the next 24 hours. The main concern after vomiting is dehydration and ensuring no… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg indoor cat licked my blueberry yogurt — which other everyday human snacks secretly contain blueberries? Blueberries hide in many packaged foods like muffins, pancake mix, cereal bars, and some fruit-flavored… Dogs · Food safety Is it bad to give my 15 kg dog two shelled pecans as a daily treat over several months? Yes, it's a bad idea. Pecans are very high in fat, and that daily fat load can strain the pancreas…

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