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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 6 kg cat snatched a piece of candied orange peel from the Christmas buffet — should I be worried about the sugar and oils? Yes, be worried. Candied peel is a double problem: the concentrated oils in the peel can upset her stomach… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg nursing cat licked a spill of diluted white vinegar I used for cleaning — could this affect her kittens through her milk? The acidity is unlikely to pass into her milk in a way that harms the kittens. The main concern is her own… Dogs · Food safety My 10 kg diabetic dog ate one peeled lychee — is the high sugar content a problem for his blood glucose? One peeled lychee is a small amount of sugar, but it can still cause a brief spike in his blood glucose. The… Dogs · Emergency guide My 3-month-old, 2 kg puppy ate two boric acid roach bait pellets an hour ago — is this an emergency? Yes, this is an emergency for a puppy that small. A 2 kg body has far less ability to handle a corrosive… Cats · Emergency guide My pregnant, 5 kg cat stepped in and licked a small puddle of paint thinner 20 minutes ago — is this more dangerous for her and the kittens? Yes, it is more dangerous. Petroleum distillates like paint thinner are thin liquids that can coat the lungs… Dogs · Emergency guide My 12 kg dog with stage 2 kidney disease ate a few green tomato stems from the garden — does his condition make this more urgent? Yes, his kidney disease makes this more urgent. The solanine in green tomato stems is processed by the… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat licked a teaspoon of vanilla extract 2 hours ago and seems wobbly — how long should I monitor her and what tests might the vet run? Monitor her closely for at least 12 hours. The alcohol in vanilla extract can cause temporary incoordination… Cats · Food safety How do I stop my 4 kg cat from grabbing cooked taro off plates at a backyard BBQ party? Keep her indoors during the party. Cats are quick and can snatch food the moment a guest looks away. If she… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8 kg dog just ate three birth control pills from a 30 µg estrogen pack — what are my first steps in the next hour? Grab the blister pack and call your vet or a poison control center immediately. The exact estrogen dose… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat licked a salad dressing that had kalanchoe petals blended in it 30 minutes ago — is this toxic? Yes, this is toxic. All parts of the kalanchoe plant contain cardiac glycosides, and even a small amount… Cats · Food safety Is it safe to give my 5 kg cat a teaspoon of plain, unsweetened yogurt every day for months as a probiotic? A daily teaspoon is generally safe, but it's not a necessary part of a cat's diet. Over months, the extra… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg dog ate four oil-packed anchovies yesterday, vomited, and saw the vet — what should I watch for during recovery? Focus on his hydration and appetite over the next 48 hours. The high salt and oil can cause lingering stomach… Cats · Food safety My 1.5 kg, 3-month-old kitten ate a piece of rambutan flesh and possibly swallowed the seed — is this riskier for her? Yes, the risk is higher due to her small size and developing system. The seed is toxic and also a choking or… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg senior cat keeps eating treats that list English ivy extract in the ingredients — should I stop buying them? Yes, stop buying those treats right away. English ivy contains saponins, which irritate the gut when… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8 kg dog chewed some wilting foxglove leaves about 6 hours ago — what are the first signs I should watch for now? Keep a very close eye on him over the next several hours. The earliest signs are usually vomiting and… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg cat chewed on mothballs that had been sitting in an open drawer for a month — is old exposed naphthalene more dangerous than a fresh sealed ball? The chemical itself does not become more potent with age, but old mothballs left open have already released a… Cats · Emergency guide My 2.5 kg rescue cat just licked a flake of lead paint off the windowsill — is her tiny body weight making even one lick an emergency? Yes, her small size makes even a single lick a serious concern. Lead accumulates in the body over time, and a… Dogs · Food safety My 10 kg dog gets a half-cup of plain boiled zucchini every day as a snack — is feeding it daily safe over the long term? Yes, plain boiled zucchini is safe for daily feeding in that amount. It is low in calories, adds fibre, and… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat swallowed one birth control pill 12 hours ago — when do the serious symptoms like bleeding usually start? Serious symptoms like bleeding or bruising are delayed, often appearing 2–3 weeks later. A single pill… Dogs · Emergency guide How can I train my 25 kg dog to avoid spider bites when he sniffs around the garage at night? Train a solid 'leave it' command and reward him for backing away from corners and woodpiles. Keep the garage… Dogs · Emergency guide Which everyday human foods or dog treats might secretly contain raw dough that my 10 kg dog could eat? Check refrigerated cookie dough, bread machine mixes, and unbaked pizza crusts left on counters. Some stuffed… Cats · Food safety Is oil-packed canned tuna worse for my 5 kg cat than water-packed, and what about the seasoned kind? Yes, oil-packed is worse — the added fats can cause pancreatitis or diarrhea, and it's often higher in… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat's new calming chews list 'surfactants' — is that the same toxic ingredient as in liquid laundry detergent? Yes, it's the same class of chemical and it's not safe. Surfactants in laundry detergent dissolve cell… Dogs · Emergency guide My pregnant 25 kg Labrador ate one 100 mg 5-HTP capsule I dropped. Is this dangerous for her and her unborn puppies? Yes, this is an emergency for both the mother and her litter. 5-HTP directly raises serotonin and can cause… Dogs · Emergency guide My 12 kg dog's new joint chew lists 'petroleum distillates' — is that like kerosene and is it safe? No, it is not safe. Petroleum distillates include kerosene, which irritates the gut and lungs and can cause… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg cat chewed a glow stick, was seen by the vet, and is home now. What should I watch for over the next 24 hours? Watch for persistent mouth irritation. The bitter liquid causes intense drooling and pawing at the face… Cats · Emergency guide My nursing 4 kg cat might have eaten a crumb of a 10 mg Baclofen tablet. Is this dangerous for her kittens through her milk? Yes, this is an immediate emergency for the mother and could affect the kittens. Baclofen causes deep… Dogs · Food safety For my 8 kg dog, is cooked asparagus safer or riskier than cooked broccoli as a daily veggie treat? Both are safe when cooked plain and cut small. The difference is in the amount. Broccoli contains… Dogs · Food safety My 10 kg dog's new dental stick lists 'cucumber extract' — is that safe, and does it actually help his teeth? Yes, cucumber itself is safe and hydrating, but the extract in a chew is likely just for flavor or marketing.… Dogs · Food safety My 7 kg terrier just snatched and swallowed one small raw radicchio leaf from the salad bowl. Is that an emergency? No, it's not an emergency. Radicchio is safe for dogs in small amounts, and one leaf is a tiny quantity. The…

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