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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
Cats · Food safety My 2 kg cat ate half a sugar-free gummy candy an hour ago. Is this an emergency? Yes, this is an emergency for a cat this small. Even a small amount of xylitol can be very dangerous. The… Dogs · Food safety My 15-pound dog ate one sugar-free cookie—is that more dangerous than a chocolate chip cookie? Yes, a sugar-free cookie is often more dangerous due to xylitol. Chocolate chip cookies are risky because of… Dogs · Food safety Are dog treats with whipped cream safe for a 10-pound senior dog? It's a mild risk, so feed these treats with care. The high fat content in whipped cream can trigger… Dogs · Food safety My 12-week-old puppy ate raw bison and is now vomiting. What should I do first? This is not an emergency, but raw meat can upset a puppy's stomach and carry bacteria. Stop feeding and… Dogs · Food safety My small dog licked a plate with blackberry sauce about 30 minutes ago. Is this okay? Yes, this should be fine. Blackberries themselves are safe for dogs and a small amount of sauce is unlikely… Dogs · Food safety Is a raw carrot stick worse for my 5 kg dog than a celery stick? No, raw carrot sticks are just as safe for a 5 kg dog as celery sticks. Both are low-calorie crunchy… Cats · Food safety What signs should I watch for in my 4 kg cat over the next 12 hours after eating cooked bison? Cooked plain bison is safe for cats, so there are no toxic signs to worry about. The only thing you might see… Dogs · Food safety My 8-week-old puppy ate a few soaked jackfruit seeds — is that dangerous? Even soaked jackfruit seeds should be avoided for puppies because they are hard to digest and can cause an… Cats · Food safety Is onion-based gravy safe for my 2 kg cat, or is the small amount less risky? Onion and garlic stock is toxic to cats regardless of amount, so a 2 kg cat is at higher risk than a larger… Cats · Food safety What happens if I give soaked chia seeds to my 3 kg cat every day for a month? Soaked chia seeds are generally safe for cats when offered in small amounts, but daily feeding over a month… Dogs · Food safety Are commercial cat treats that list bok choy as an ingredient safe for my senior 7-year-old cat? Commercial cat treats containing bok choy are generally safe as long as the product does not also contain… Cats · Emergency guide My 2 kg cat just licked a cane toad — what should I do now? Yes, it's urgent. Wipe cat's mouth with a damp cloth for 10-15 minutes. Do not rinse. Then go to the vet… Dogs · Food safety My 8-year-old dog sneaked two tablespoons of honey off a guest's dessert plate at a holiday party — should I be concerned? It’s low risk — two tablespoons won’t harm a typical adult dog, but honey is pure sugar so keep an eye on any… Cats · Food safety My 15 lb nursing cat took two bites of cantaloupe, is that safe? Yes, it's safe. A couple of bites poses no risk to a nursing cat or her kittens. Just make sure the rind is… Cats · Food safety My 4‑kg adult cat ate two bites of fresh cherry flesh (pits removed) within 15 minutes, is that safe? Yes, a few small pieces of pit‑free cherry flesh are unlikely to harm a 4‑kg cat if given all at once. The… Dogs · Food safety How can I train my 5 kg terrier to leave dates alone and store them safely at home? Yes, training 'leave it' and safe storage are both important for dates. Dates are sticky and high in sugar… Cats · Emergency guide My cat nibbled a whole aloe vera leaf from the holiday buffet table — should I worry about vomiting or diarrhoea? Yes, you should worry. The yellow sap under the leaf skin contains aloin, a strong intestinal irritant that… Cats · Food safety Can a small piece of nectarine flesh cause diarrhoea or an allergic reaction in my 1-year-old cat? Yes, a small piece of nectarine flesh can cause diarrhoea or an allergic reaction in some cats. While the… Dogs · Food safety Are dog biscuits that list macadamia nut flour in the ingredients safe for a 10 kg beagle? No, they are not safe. Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs and can cause weakness, wobbliness and tremors within… Dogs · Food safety Do walnut pieces hidden in banana bread or granola bars pose a risk of mould toxins for my dog? Yes, walnut pieces in baked goods pose a real risk. Walnuts can harbour mould that produces tremorgenic… Dogs · Toxicity calculator Could zinc from human cold lozenges or supplement pills cause anaemia if my dog eats a whole bottle? Yes, a whole bottle of zinc supplements is a serious emergency. Zinc is a heavy metal that damages red blood… Dogs · Food safety How do I stop my 7 kg dog from eating pine nuts that guests drop on the floor during a Christmas party? Keep your dog in a separate room or use a baby gate during the party. Pine nuts are high in fat and can cause… Cats · Emergency guide What are the long-term effects if my indoor cat regularly nibbles a jade plant leaf every few days? Regular nibbling is risky. Jade plant toxins cause gut upset and neurological signs like wobbliness and… Cats · Food safety My 15-year-old cat gets a small piece of star fruit every other day. Is this causing harm? Yes, this is very harmful and must stop immediately. Star fruit is high in oxalates, which can cause kidney… Dogs · Food safety My small dog ate a mouldy protein bar that was left out overnight. What should I do? This is urgent. Mould adds another risk, but the primary danger is that many protein bars contain xylitol or… Dogs · Food safety My 8-year-old dog with kidney disease ate a few bites of plain cooked haddock — is that still safe for him? Yes, plain cooked haddock is still safe for a dog with kidney disease. It's a lean protein similar to cod… Cats · Food safety Only my 4 kg cat ate half a dill pickle spear while the others didn't — what should I watch for in just her? Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or signs of abdominal discomfort in the cat that ate the pickle. The main… Dogs · Food safety My senior dog on heart medication ate the fatty part of a cooked lamb chop — is lean lamb still okay for him? Lean, cooked, and unseasoned lamb meat is still safe for a dog on heart medication, but the fatty part is not… Cats · Food safety My cat licked some dry cornbread mix off the counter — could it secretly contain xylitol, and what signs should I look for? Plain cornmeal itself is safe, but cornbread mix is a hidden risk because it often contains sugar and can… Cats · Food safety My kitten just licked a drop of raw jicama juice off the kitchen floor — is even that tiny amount a problem for a 12-week-old? No, a single drop of jicama juice is not a problem for a kitten. Peeled jicama flesh is safe for cats in…

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