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

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

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Dogs · Emergency guide My 18 kg dog ate a beef stew that had two pieces of sugar-free gum melted into it — will the sorbitol still cause diarrhea? Yes, the sorbitol will absolutely still cause severe, watery diarrhea. It works by drawing water into the… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg cat just licked wet psoriasis cream off my leg in the last 10 minutes — what are the very first things I should do at home right now? First, put an Elizabethan collar on your cat to stop further licking. Then, wearing gloves, wipe the area on… Dogs · Food safety Is a few small cubes of fresh dragon fruit safe for my 3 kg toy poodle, or does her tiny size change the risk? Yes, a few small cubes are safe for your 3 kg poodle. The flesh itself is non-toxic, and her small size just… Dogs · Food safety My 15 kg dog got into the pantry — is raw coconut oil safer for him than the refined coconut oil I use for cooking? No, both raw and refined coconut oil pose the same primary risk: a high fat content that can trigger… Cats · Emergency guide Only my 4 kg cat ate a sugar-free gum piece from my purse; my other cat didn't. What do I watch for and how do I handle them separately? Watch the exposed cat for explosive, watery diarrhea starting within 2-12 hours, along with loud gut sounds… Cats · Emergency guide Do any common cat treats or packaged human snacks secretly contain glow stick liquid chemicals? My 5 kg cat is a chewer. No, glow stick liquid is not an ingredient in food or treats. The dibutyl phthalate is strictly for… Dogs · Emergency guide My 25 kg Labrador ate a whole pack of sugar-free gum with wrappers; my 10 kg terrier didn't. How do I manage them differently tonight? The Labrador needs immediate veterinary contact. A whole pack means a high sorbitol dose and a real risk of… Cats · Emergency guide What are the first signs and timeline if my 3 kg cat licked a dab of psoriasis cream? When would vomiting or kidney failure start? The first signs are increased thirst and urination, usually within 12-24 hours. A small cat may visit the… Cats · Food safety My 10-week-old, 1 kg kitten ate one small piece of cooked, peeled turnip. Is this safe for her tiny developing system? Yes, one small piece of cooked, peeled turnip is safe. It's low in toxins and easy to digest. The main… Dogs · Food safety Which common human foods or dog products might secretly contain crab meat or crab shell? My 12 kg dog has a sensitive stomach. Crab meat sometimes appears in seafood salads, sushi rolls, or gourmet dog treats labeled as 'surf and turf.'… Cats · Food safety Do any packaged human holiday foods or cat treats secretly contain chestnuts? My 5 kg cat ate something and I'm not sure what. Yes, chestnuts can hide in stuffing mixes, certain breads, or pre-made gravy during the holidays. They're… Dogs · Emergency guide How much psoriasis cream is dangerous for a 25 kg German Shepherd who licked half a tube off the bathroom counter? Yes, that is potentially life-threatening. The vitamin D analogs in these creams drive calcium up fast, and… Cats · Emergency guide My 6 kg British Shorthair chewed a whole stick of sugar-free gum from under the sofa — is sorbitol the only danger, or is xylitol a bigger threat? It depends on what is in that gum. Most sugar-free gum uses sorbitol, which causes explosive diarrhea and… Dogs · Emergency guide What happens if my 12 kg dog chews and breaks a glow stick at every weekend party for a month? Repeated exposure is more about the nuisance than cumulative poisoning. The bitter liquid inside glow sticks… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8 kg dog drank a puddle of spilled diet soda with sorbitol — is that as dangerous as eating a whole stick of sugar-free gum? No, the gum is far more dangerous for two concrete reasons. A whole stick of gum contains a concentrated dose… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat licked a plate that had beef gravy on it, and I just realized a broken glow stick leaked into the gravy earlier — what now? The main risk is the awful taste causing a reaction, not poisoning from the small amount likely mixed in the… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg cat with a sensitive stomach ate one piece of sugar-free gum — will the sorbitol definitely give her explosive diarrhea? Yes, sorbitol almost certainly will cause diarrhea, and a sensitive stomach makes it more likely. Sorbitol… Cats · Food safety My 6 kg senior cat ate a pinch of paprika that was left out in a damp bowl overnight and now looks mouldy — what should I watch for? Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite — the mould is the main concern, not the paprika itself.… Dogs · Food safety For my 25 kg dog, are steamed mustard greens safer or riskier than the collard greens I usually mix into his dinner? Both are safe when steamed and plain, but mustard greens can be slightly more irritating in large amounts.… Dogs · Food safety My 10 kg dog with allergies ate a bite of my elderberry immune support gummy — are these supplements a hidden source of poisoning? Yes, elderberry supplements are a common hidden source. While processed syrups or gummies may have reduced… Cats · Food safety How much fresh coconut water can I safely give my 7 kg healthy cat as an occasional treat — a few laps or a whole tablespoon? A few laps from your glass or a teaspoon is the safe limit for a cat that size. Coconut water is high in… Dogs · Emergency guide My 16 kg dog licked a teaspoon of psoriasis cream. What should I do? Yes, this is urgent. The cream can cause kidney failure in dogs. Watch for increased thirst and urination. If… Dogs · Emergency guide My 4 kg Chihuahua just licked a tiny smear of psoriasis cream off my hand. Should I call the emergency vet? Yes, call your vet or the ASPCA poison line (888-426-4435) right now. Even a tiny smear contains enough… Dogs · Emergency guide My 5 kg terrier found a glow stick necklace left out overnight — does the bitter liquid hide in common dog toys and pose a systemic poisoning risk? No, glow stick liquid does not migrate into dog toys; it stays inside the plastic tube. The bitter chemical… Dogs · Emergency guide Will sorbitol in sugar‑free gum cause diarrhea in my 8 kg dog with a sensitive stomach? Yes, sorbitol draws water into the intestines and often triggers rapid, watery diarrhea even in small… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg cat ate a stick of sugar‑free gum left out overnight — is spoiled gum more dangerous than fresh? Spoiled gum may have mold or fermented sorbitol, increasing gastrointestinal irritation. The sorbitol itself… Dogs · Food safety My 10 kg dog chewed and swallowed a piece of sugar‑free gum with xylitol — is chewing it better than swallowing whole? No, chewing releases xylitol faster, accelerating hypoglycemia within 30 minutes. Swallowing whole may delay… Cats · Emergency guide My 2.5 kg cat licked a pea-sized dab of dried psoriasis cream off her pillow this morning — should I rush to the vet? Yes — get her to a vet or call the ASPCA poison helpline today. Even a pea-sized amount of psoriasis cream is… Dogs · Emergency guide My 10 kg dog ate beef stew leftovers from a bowl where a glow stick had leaked overnight — is the liquid still dangerous? Yes, this is worth acting on — call your vet or the ASPCA poison helpline for advice. Glow stick liquid… Cats · Emergency guide My 9 kg cat with chronic kidney disease ate a stick of sugar-free gum an hour ago — is this especially dangerous for her? Yes — call your vet or the ASPCA poison helpline today. Sorbitol causes rapid, severe diarrhea in cats, and…

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