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

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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 · Food safety Is homemade pesto with fresh garlic more dangerous for dogs than the jarred kind, and what about the pine nuts? Both homemade and jarred pesto are risky due to garlic, which is toxic to dogs and can cause anemia. Homemade… Cats · Food safety My 4-kg cat keeps trying to nibble redcurrants from the bowl on my counter. How do I stop this? Yes, redcurrants are safe for cats, but it's still wise to prevent counter-surfing. Store the berries in a… Dogs · Food safety My 12kg dog ate a few pieces of pickle from my beef stew 10 minutes ago, what should I do? This is a mild risk. The vinegar, salt, and any garlic in the stew are the main concerns. Watch for signs… Cats · Food safety My pregnant cat licked a small spoonful of corn syrup from a cake. Is this dangerous for her or the kittens? Corn syrup itself is a concentrated sugar that's not toxic, but it's not ideal for a pregnant cat. A small… Cats · Food safety My two cats are together, but only the 4-kg one lapped soy sauce from a spilled saucepan about an hour ago. What should I do? This is a mild risk but needs watching. Your 4-kg cat consumed a concentrated salt source, which can cause… Cats · Food safety My indoor cat grabbed a few small cubes of dragon fruit from the party buffet table — is that a problem if he's a 4 kg adult? No, those few small cubes are fine for a cat. The soft flesh of dragon fruit is safe for cats in small… Dogs · Emergency guide My 3-month-old, 2 kg puppy chewed and swallowed half a tramadol tablet — is this an immediate emergency for such a tiny dog? Yes, this is an immediate emergency — go to the vet now. Opioids like tramadol depress the central nervous… Dogs · Food safety My dog with a sensitive stomach ate three cooked mussels and now has loose stools — could the mussels be the cause? Yes, mussels could easily cause loose stools in a dog with a sensitive stomach. While cooked mussels are safe… Dogs · Food safety My dog snatched a plain bagel with sesame seeds on top — are the seeds themselves safe, or should I worry about the bread too? The sesame seeds themselves are safe for dogs. Plain sesame seeds and even a small amount of tahini are… Dogs · Food safety I bought some low-calorie dog treats that list erythritol as an ingredient — are these safe for my 10 kg terrier to have occasionally? Yes, treats with erythritol are generally safe for occasional use, but feed them with care. Erythritol is a… Cats · Food safety My cat has been getting one or two unsalted peanuts as a daily snack for months — could this long-term habit cause health problems? Yes, feeding peanuts daily over months can lead to health problems for a cat. While a few unsalted peanuts… Cats · Food safety My senior cat with chronic kidney disease nibbled a small sprig of fresh dill from my herb garden — is this safe given her condition? Yes, a small sprig of fresh dill is safe for a cat with kidney disease. Dill is non-toxic and safe in small… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog just licked one mothball that rolled under the sofa — do I need to rush to the vet even though he didn't swallow it? Yes, you should contact your vet immediately or go in for an evaluation. Mothballs contain naphthalene or… Dogs · Food safety Is it harmful to feed my 50-lb dog cooked bass every day, or should I rotate proteins? Cooked bass is safe for dogs, but feeding it every day isn't ideal. A single protein source alone won't give… Cats · Food safety My 12-pound nursing cat just licked two whole cloves from the counter — should I worry? Not an emergency, but call your vet today. Two whole cloves are unlikely to cause serious harm to a 12-pound… Dogs · Emergency guide Only my 7 kg Dachshund ate a dropped lisinopril pill — my other dog didn't. What should I do now? This is an urgent situation for the dog that ate the pill. Human blood pressure medications like lisinopril… Dogs · Food safety Can feeding my dog a few raw spinach leaves cause gas or loose stools, especially if he has a sensitive stomach? Yes, spinach can cause gas or mild diarrhea in some dogs, particularly if they have a sensitive stomach or… Dogs · Emergency guide I saw 'poinsettia extract' listed in a holiday-themed dog treat — is this ingredient actually safe for my 5 kg Pomeranian? It's best to avoid treats containing poinsettia extract. While the plant's toxicity is often overstated, the… Dogs · Food safety My Labrador ate some cucumber peels I dropped, but my Chihuahua didn't. Do I need to worry about the peels for the big dog? Cucumber peels are generally safe for dogs, but they can be harder to digest and might cause a mild stomach… Cats · Food safety I'm considering a cat food topper that lists 'dates' as an ingredient — is this okay for my senior cat with no known health issues? Dates in a commercial topper are likely present in very small, processed amounts, which reduces the risk.… Dogs · Food safety Is a small raw scallop safe for my 10-pound 4-month-old puppy to nibble on? A small raw scallop is not a good idea for a young puppy. Raw shellfish can carry bacteria and parasites, and… Cats · Food safety My 10-pound cat ate one buttered corn kernel off the cob — should I worry? No, a single kernel is fine. The danger with cats and corn comes from the cob itself, which can cause an… Dogs · Food safety My 8-pound Yorkshire Terrier chewed and swallowed a 2-inch piece of sweetcorn cob three hours ago—what tests will the vet run and how long is recovery? Your vet will likely take abdominal X-rays to check whether the cob is blocking the intestines, and may run… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg indoor cat ate about half a cup of fresh mint leaves two hours ago and seems fine — what should I do right now? Do nothing urgent right now. A few fresh leaves are harmless for a cat of her size, and half a cup may cause… Cats · Food safety My 10-pound senior cat developed diarrhea after eating wheat germ. Is this a gluten intolerance? Yes, wheat germ can trigger diarrhea in cats with gluten sensitivity. Plain cooked wheat is generally safe… Dogs · Food safety Is it safe for a 4-month-old puppy to eat a few small pieces of steamed broccoli stems? Yes, a few small, steamed pieces are generally safe for a puppy, but be very cautious with the amount. A… Cats · Emergency guide My 12-year-old cat with kidney disease just ate one birth control pill — what should I do? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 right away. While a single pill often… Cats · Food safety Is passion fruit pulp safer for my 4-kg cat than a similar amount of mango? Yes, a small amount of passion fruit pulp is safer for a cat than mango. A teaspoon of the pulp is generally… Dogs · Food safety Could a few licks of an energy drink cause diarrhea or a skin reaction in my 7-pound dog? Yes, even a small amount can cause diarrhea or more serious problems. Energy drinks are toxic to dogs due to… Dogs · Food safety Is it safe if my 8-week-old puppy took one bite of a banana, including the peel? The banana flesh is safe in a tiny bite, but the peel is the main concern. While not toxic, the peel is…

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