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

Dogs · Emergency guide My 8 kg dog ate one small foxglove leaf an hour ago and is now wobbly. Is this an emergency? Yes, go to the vet immediately. Foxglove contains cardiac glycosides that slow the heart and can cause fatal… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog with a heart murmur was stung on the paw by a bee. Is the risk higher for him? Yes, the risk is higher. Bee venom can cause a systemic reaction that stresses the cardiovascular system. For… Cats · Emergency guide For my 3 kg cat, are naphthalene mothballs stored in a wardrobe more dangerous than cedar chips? Yes, mothballs are far more dangerous. Naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene cause oxidative damage to red… Dogs · Food safety Only my 10 kg terrier ate two slices of spicy salami; my other dog didn't touch it. How do I handle this? Focus on the terrier. Salami is very salty and fatty, often with garlic and spices that can irritate a dog's… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat ate a few chunks of yam from my chicken stew last night. Is that safe? Plain cooked yam itself is safe for cats. The danger comes from what else was in the stew — onions, garlic… Cats · Food safety Can my 4 kg cat eat raw chicken skin, or is plain cooked chicken breast safer? Plain, boneless, skinless cooked chicken breast is far safer. Raw chicken skin is fatty and can harbor… Cats · Emergency guide Could my 5 kg cat's sudden bloody diarrhoea and gas be from nibbling an autumn crocus leaf in the garden yesterday? Yes, that is a classic and dangerous sign of autumn crocus poisoning. This plant contains colchicine, which… Dogs · Emergency guide My 10 kg dog licked calcipotriene psoriasis cream off my leg 6 hours ago — what signs should I watch for and when do they peak? Watch for vomiting, increased thirst and urination first, usually within 12 hours. Calcipotriene is a vitamin… Cats · Emergency guide My 2-month-old, 1 kg kitten seems wobbly and lethargic after I ran a tea tree oil diffuser for 30 minutes — is this an emergency for her tiny size? Yes, this is an emergency. A kitten's small body and immature liver cannot process concentrated essential… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg cat ate one small bite of raw bread dough that was left rising on the counter for an hour — is that tiny amount safe? No, even one small bite is not safe for a cat that size. Raw dough continues to rise in the warm stomach… Cats · Food safety Are commercial cat treats that list taro flour as an ingredient safe for my 4 kg indoor cat to eat daily? They are likely safe if the taro is thoroughly cooked during processing, which neutralizes the harmful… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8 kg border terrier chewed Dieffenbachia leaves two hours ago — he's now got loose stools instead of mouth burning. Is that possible? Yes, loose stools are a recognized sign. The calcium oxalate raphides pierce the mouth and release compounds… Cats · Food safety Can my 3.2 kg cat eat granola bars with raisins and chocolate chips, and at what amount does it become dangerous? Generally no — raisins and chocolate chips are both risky for a cat that small. Raisins can cause acute… Dogs · Food safety My 7 kg terrier ate a handful of raw coriander seeds and is now vomiting — how soon after eating should I expect those signs? Coriander seeds are safe for dogs, but a handful is a lot for a 7 kg terrier and the sudden fiber load can… Cats · Food safety My 4.5 kg nursing queen ate six blackberries off the counter — how do I prevent this from happening again without removing the berries entirely? Blackberries are safe for cats in small amounts — she'll be fine. The real issue is keeping a nursing queen… Dogs · Food safety Is one tablespoon of fresh ginger root safe for my 12 kg pregnant Labrador who has a sensitive stomach? One tablespoon is too much for a dog with a sensitive stomach, pregnant or not. A pinch of fresh ginger can… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg cat licked old gasoline drippings off the bottom of the BBQ grill at a party. She smells like fuel and is gagging 20 minutes later — what's the risk? The risk is high and requires immediate action. Gasoline can cause chemical pneumonia if she vomits and… Cats · Emergency guide My 10-week-old, 1 kg kitten ate a small piece of raisin bread crust from the holiday table. She seems fine now — should I still call the vet? Yes, call your vet immediately. For a kitten this small, even a tiny amount of raisin can be enough to cause… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat chewed on a tulip bulb from the floral centerpiece at a dinner party. She's drooling and vomited once — should I induce vomiting? No, do not induce vomiting yourself. The bulb contains irritants that can cause more damage coming back up… Dogs · Food safety My 30 kg dog snatched and swallowed a raw haddock fillet I left thawing on the counter. He seems fine — is raw haddock safe for dogs? A one-time incident like this is usually low risk for a dog his size, but raw fish can carry bacteria or… Cats · Food safety I mix a tablespoon of plain cooked quinoa into my 5 kg cat's wet food every day. Is this safe long-term, or will it cause problems over weeks? A daily tablespoon is likely fine as a small part of her diet, provided the quinoa is well-rinsed and cooked.… Dogs · Food safety My 8 kg dog licked clean a takeout container that had chicken liver pâté in it. He ate maybe two bites' worth — should I worry about vitamin A? For a single small exposure like this, vitamin A poisoning is very unlikely. The real concern with pâté is… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg senior cat with early kidney disease licked a plate with a balsamic vinegar and oil dressing. She seems fine — is the acidity bad for her kidneys? A few licks of dressing are unlikely to harm her kidneys directly. The acidity might cause mild stomach… Cats · Emergency guide How can I keep my mischievous 5 kg indoor cat from chewing on the mistletoe and holly I hang up every December? You need to keep them completely out of reach. Hang real plants from a ceiling hook with a strong, short… Dogs · Emergency guide My 20 kg pregnant dog ate one 25 mg diphenhydramine pill from the counter. Could this hurt her or the puppies? Yes, call your vet now. While one pill may not cause severe poisoning in a dog her size, the stimulant… Cats · Emergency guide Only my 4 kg cat licked a tiny dab of Gorilla Glue off the floor; my other two cats didn't touch it. What's the next step for all of them? The cat who licked it needs an emergency vet visit now. Polyurethane glue expands inside the stomach into a… Dogs · Toxicity calculator My 3-month-old, 2 kg puppy licked a small puddle of antifreeze in the driveway 20 minutes ago. What's the risk for a puppy this small? Extremely high risk — go to the vet now. A puppy's tiny body weight means even a few licks can deliver a… Cats · Food safety Is it safe for my 4 kg nursing cat (with three 2-week-old kittens) to eat a few small pieces of fresh peach flesh? A few small pieces of flesh are likely safe, but be very cautious. The main risks are the pit, which contains… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg dog with early-stage kidney disease ate one small fresh fig an hour ago. Should I be concerned? One small fig is probably okay, but monitor closely. The milky sap in fresh figs can irritate the stomach… Dogs · Food safety My 7 kg dog ate a few bites of mango that was left out overnight and has a few small mold spots on the skin. What should I watch for? Watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, or lethargy within the next 6–12 hours. The mold itself is the main concern…

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