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

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
Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog found and chewed open a hand warmer that's been in the coat pocket since last winter. Is stale powder less dangerous? No, the age of the powder doesn't reduce the risk. The iron and vermiculite inside don't spoil, but they… Dogs · Food safety My 3 kg, 10-week-old puppy found and ate a green potato skin from the compost. Is he at higher risk because he's so small? Absolutely, his tiny size makes him much more vulnerable. The solanine toxin in green potato skin is… Dogs · Food safety Is it safe for my 25 kg pregnant dog, due in two weeks, to eat a few fresh basil leaves from my garden? Yes, a few fresh basil leaves are perfectly safe for a pregnant dog. Basil is non-toxic and won't harm her or… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat ate a few chunks of beef stew that had rawhide pieces hidden in it — could that cause a blockage? Yes, rawhide in any form is a high risk for intestinal blockage, especially in a small cat. The rawhide won't… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg cat with hyperthyroidism ate three 25 mcg levothyroxine tablets — does her existing condition make the overdose worse? Yes, her hyperthyroidism significantly increases the danger. She already has a high heart rate and… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8 kg dog licked a pea-sized dab of zinc oxide diaper cream off his paw — is that a toxic amount? A pea-sized amount is unlikely to cause zinc toxicity in an 8 kg dog, but you must watch him closely. The… Cats · Food safety Can I safely sprinkle a pinch of dried rosemary on the food of my 3.5 kg pregnant cat? Yes, a tiny pinch of dried rosemary in her food is safe. Rosemary extract is commonly used as a natural… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat licked my bowl of cherry yogurt clean — could the hidden cherry pulp or flavoring hurt her? The main risk here is the dairy, which may cause diarrhea, but the tiny amount of cherry flavoring is likely… Dogs · Emergency guide My 12 kg dog ate a kalanchoe flower and leaf from a store-bought floral arrangement — could this be in other bouquets? Yes, kalanchoe is a common and dangerous hidden source in mixed bouquets and potted gift plants. All parts… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg young dog just ate one 100 mg Baytril pill 15 minutes ago and seems fine — what are the first three things I should do right now? First, call your vet or an emergency clinic immediately — time is critical, especially for potential… Dogs · Toxicity calculator My 7 kg dog lapped up a few spoonfuls of onion soup 2 days ago — what signs of anemia should I watch for now and how long do they last? Watch for weakness, pale gums, rapid breathing, and dark or brownish urine — these are signs of red blood… Cats · Food safety Only my 5 kg cat ate a teaspoon of cinnamon powder from a spill; my other two cats didn't. How do I handle the one who ate it and monitor the others? For the cat who ate it, offer plain water and watch for mouth irritation, drooling, or vomiting over the next… Dogs · Food safety My 15 kg dog ate about 20 fresh redcurrants an hour ago — what symptoms should I expect and when will they start if he gets sick? Redcurrants themselves are safe, so you likely won't see poisoning symptoms. The main risk is… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg terrier snatched one tiny bite of cooked artichoke heart from my plate and I'm panicking — is this an emergency? No, this is not an emergency. A single tiny bite of cooked artichoke heart is safe for a 5 kg dog. The real… Dogs · Emergency guide Can an 8-week-old, 1.5 kg puppy survive eating one wild mushroom from the park? One wild mushroom in an 8-week-old, 1.5 kg puppy is a medical emergency, so you should not wait to see if… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat licked elderberry sauce off a dinner plate left on the counter — is this dangerous? Yes, elderberry sauce on a dinner plate is dangerous for your 4 kg cat. Raw and cooked elderberries, leaves… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg senior cat ate a whole 10 mg melatonin tablet two hours ago and seems unusually quiet — what signs should I watch for over the next several hours? Two hours is right in the window when melatonin signs typically appear, so keep a close watch for the next… Dogs · Food safety My 6 kg west highland white terrier ate papaya with the seeds left in — will the seeds cause problems beyond an upset stomach? The flesh itself is safe and gentle on the stomach, but the seeds contain traces of cyanogenic compounds and… Dogs · Food safety My 8 kg pregnant dachshund in her last trimester licked a poppy seed bagel — is this safe for her and her unborn puppies? Poppy seeds contain trace opiates that can show up on drug tests, and while a few seeds on a bagel are… Dogs · Food safety At a summer BBQ my 7 kg schnauzer grabbed a raw carrot stick off the party table — should I be worried about choking or is it completely safe? A raw carrot stick is safe for a 7 kg dog, but a whole thick stick can be a choking hazard — thin slices or… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8 kg dog ate a jade plant leaf and the vet gave him fluids — what tests will they run and how long do I watch him at home? The vet will likely check blood work for kidney and liver function, since the toxins can affect those organs.… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg cat licked boric acid powder from a broken roach bait — does her tiny size make this more urgent than for a large cat? Yes, her small size makes any amount more concentrated and dangerous. Boric acid is corrosive and can burn… Dogs · Toxicity calculator My 10 kg dog with chronic kidney disease ate one low-dose aspirin — does his pre-existing condition make this more dangerous? Yes, his kidney disease makes this significantly more dangerous. Aspirin is cleared by the kidneys, and a… Dogs · Food safety Is plain, cooked bass safe to feed my 25 kg pregnant dog as an occasional protein boost during her last trimester? Yes, plain cooked bass is a safe and excellent lean protein for a pregnant dog. Remove all bones first — even… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate a heaping teaspoon of poppy seeds 30 minutes ago — how long should I monitor her and what would the vet check if I bring her in? Monitor her closely for at least 12-24 hours. A heaping teaspoon is a concerning amount for a 4 kg cat. Watch… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg diabetic cat on insulin ate a thin slice of banana — will the sugar spike his blood glucose dangerously? A single thin slice is unlikely to cause a dangerous spike, but you should monitor him. Bananas are high in… Dogs · Food safety What happens if I give my 8 kg dog a small piece of bacon every morning for weeks? Daily bacon will likely lead to pancreatitis, obesity, and high blood pressure. The extreme salt and fat… Dogs · Emergency guide My 14 kg golden retriever knocked over an ear cleaning solution bottle at a New Year's party and licked it up. Should I call the vet now? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 right away. Many ear cleaning… Dogs · Emergency guide My 10 kg beagle ate three treats from a bag labeled with mistletoe extract as an ingredient. Is this a toxic exposure? Yes — this needs immediate attention. Mistletoe contains viscumin and phoratoxin, which irritate the gut and… Cats · Food safety My 6 kg domestic shorthair cat ate five salted pistachio kernels I dropped on the kitchen floor. Will this hurt her? A few kernels are unlikely to cause serious harm, but pistachios are usually salted and the shells can crack…

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