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

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

All pets Dogs Cats

Cats · Food safety Are beef jerky dog treats safe to buy and feed to my 4.5 kg cat occasionally? Most beef jerky dog treats are not safe for cats. The big concern is onion or garlic powder — those alliums… Dogs · Food safety At a family BBQ, my 8 kg dog stole a slice of garlic-seasoned deli meat from the table — what should I do right now? Remove any remaining meat from the dog's reach and check the wrapper or package for garlic or onion in the… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg kitten licked a tiny bit of sugar-free gum off my finger — is this a poisoning emergency? No, a single lick is not a poisoning emergency. The sorbitol dose from a lick is too small to cause the… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg nursing mother cat keeps begging for human food — is it safe to give her a few plain, unsalted pumpkin seeds as a treat while she's nursing her kittens? Yes, plain unsalted pumpkin seeds are safe for a nursing cat in small amounts. They provide healthy fats and… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog chewed a snake plant leaf, not a spider plant — which one is worse and what signs should I look for first? Snake plant is far more dangerous. It contains saponins that cause intense oral burning and nausea, while… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg cat licked up a small puddle of cherry-flavored liquid diphenhydramine from a broken bottle — is the liquid form more risky than a pill? Yes, liquid forms can be more dangerous quickly. They are absorbed faster and often contain additional toxins… Dogs · Emergency guide My 12 kg dog with kidney disease ate a mouthful of cocoa bean mulch from the garden bed — does his condition make the theobromine risk worse? Yes, a dog with kidney disease is at significantly higher risk. Theobromine is processed by the liver and… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate three large raw radicchio leaves two hours ago and is now vomiting — how long do these symptoms usually last? Radicchio is safe, but eating three large leaves is a lot of roughage for a small cat and can cause stomach… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat ate a few stale, plain potato chips that were left out in a bowl overnight — is the spoilage a bigger issue than the salt? The spoilage is the main concern. Stale chips exposed to air can grow mould or bacteria you can't see, which… Dogs · Emergency guide My 5 kg terrier licked half a pump of hand sanitizer off my hands 20 minutes ago — is his small size a bigger risk? Yes, his small size makes the alcohol dose more concentrated. For a 5 kg dog, even half a pump can cause… Dogs · Food safety Can my 12 kg dog on heart medication have a few plain air-popped popcorn kernels as a treat? A few plain kernels are likely safe, but check with your vet first. The main risk is unpopped kernels… Dogs · Food safety My 8 kg dog just swallowed a whole apple core with seeds 10 minutes ago — what are my first steps in the next hour? First, stay calm and estimate how many seeds were in the core—a typical core holds about 5-8 seeds. For an 8… Dogs · Emergency guide Is a jade plant on the Christmas sideboard dangerous for my 10 kg terrier who chewed three leaves before I spotted him? Yes — this needs immediate action. The leaves are mildly sweet and dogs will nibble them off a sideboard… Dogs · Emergency guide Is raw bread dough more dangerous for my 8 kg dog than a slice of freshly baked sourdough? Yes — far more dangerous. Baked sourdough is inert; the heat killed the yeast, so it won't expand or ferment… Cats · Toxicity calculator Only one of my two 4 kg cats ate a 10-gram piece of dark chocolate — do I need to separate them and monitor the other cat differently? Yes, separate them immediately and call your vet about the cat that ate the chocolate. Keep the uneaten cat… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg indoor cat keeps licking hand sanitizer off my hands every day after I apply it — will this cause long-term liver damage? Yes, repeated exposure is dangerous and you must stop it immediately. Even small daily doses of ethanol add… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg cat lapped up a tablespoon of spilled beer — is this more dangerous for her than it would be for my 7 kg cat? Yes, her small size makes the same amount far more concentrated and dangerous. For a cat that small, a… Dogs · Emergency guide My 12 kg terrier ate a dental chew with corn cob powder listed as the first ingredient. He's been licking his lips and pacing for an hour. Is this dangerous? Yes, this is an urgent risk. Corn cob powder is the same compacted fibre that causes intestinal blockages in… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat licked a thick smear of zinc oxide diaper cream. How soon would vomiting or other serious signs show up? Vomiting can start within an hour, often with visible white chunks of cream. The more dangerous signs of zinc… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog inhaled powder from a chewed hand warmer and the vet gave him fluids. What should I watch for at home over the next few days? Watch his breathing closely for the next 24-48 hours. Inhaled powder can cause delayed lung irritation… Dogs · Emergency guide I saw 'Dieffenbachia leaf extract' in a calming chew for my anxious 10 kg dog. Is that ingredient safe? No, it is not safe and you should not give that chew. Dieffenbachia contains sharp calcium oxalate crystals… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8 kg dog with a sensitive stomach lapped up a small puddle of spilled beer. Could this just give him diarrhea rather than alcohol poisoning? It could cause diarrhea, but the primary risk is ethanol poisoning. Even a small amount relative to his size… Dogs · Food safety My 6 kg dog on heart medication ate a few pieces of tangerine peel. Could the citrus oils interfere with his pills? The main concern is stomach upset, not a direct drug interaction. The essential oils in the peel are… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg dog with pre-existing liver disease ate three raisins. Does his condition make the poisoning risk higher? Yes, his liver disease significantly increases the risk. Raisins can cause acute kidney failure, and a… Dogs · Emergency guide My 25 kg dog swallowed a whole pack of sugar-free gum with wrappers — is the raw wrapper a bigger risk than the sorbitol? Yes, the wrappers are a major risk. Sorbitol will cause explosive, watery diarrhea within hours, but the… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat licked a kerosene-soaked rag just once and seems fine — is a single lick an emergency for a small cat? Yes, treat it as an emergency. Kerosene is irritating and toxic even in tiny amounts, and its fumes alone can… Cats · Food safety Are grain-free cat treats that use cumin powder as a flavoring safe for my 4 kg picky eater? Yes, they are safe. Cumin is not toxic to cats, and the amount used in commercial treats is typically tiny … Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat with early kidney disease licked vitamin D psoriasis cream off my arm — is this extra risky for her? Yes, it's extremely risky. The vitamin D analogs in the cream cause a dangerous spike in blood calcium, which… Dogs · Emergency guide My 6 kg dog with a heart murmur ate a small blob of dried expanding glue from a toy — does his condition change what we should do? Yes, his heart condition makes this even more urgent. Polyurethane glue expands in the stomach into a solid… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg cat licked a smear of hydrocortisone cream from the first aid kit and now has soft stool — is this just a tummy upset or poisoning? It's likely a mild stomach upset, but it requires a vet call. Hydrocortisone is a steroid, and while a small…

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