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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
Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate a whole hazelnut every day for a week. What will happen? This is a mild risk. Feeding a whole nut daily adds too much fat, which can lead to pancreatitis or weight… Cats · Food safety Is a lick of acai berry worse for my 3 kg cat than a few mashed blueberries? Yes, a lick of acai is riskier than mashed blueberries for a small cat. Plain acai fruit itself isn't toxic… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat got into a plate of spaghetti bolognese that had several tinned anchovies in it — is that dangerous? A few anchovies in a pasta dish can bother a small cat because anchovies are extremely salty, whether fresh… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg tabby cat just licked an anchovy off my dinner plate — is the salt content dangerous for a small cat? Even a tiny piece of anchovy carries a high salt load for a 3 kg cat. Anchovies are extremely salty whether… Cats · Food safety My senior cat knocked over a colleague's salad and nibbled arugula leaves from her lunchbox at the office — is this a problem? No, this is not a problem. Arugula is a safe green for cats in small amounts and is sometimes even added… Cats · Food safety My 8-pound cat licked some arugula from a packaged salad kit – is that a hidden poisoning risk? No, arugula itself is safe for cats, even from a salad kit. The main concern with packaged greens like these… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat gnawed on arugula leaves from a pre-packaged pet salad treat — could this be harmful? Arugula is safe for cats in small amounts and is sometimes included in commercial pet treats as a green… Cats · Emergency guide My 4-kg cat ate a dropped beta-blocker pill — is atenolol or propranolol more dangerous for her size? Both are extremely dangerous and require immediate emergency care. For a cat, any human dose of a… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate a piece of avocado pit and is vomiting. When will symptoms start and how long do they last? The vomiting is a concerning sign, likely from stomach upset or a potential blockage from the pit. Symptoms… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat licked a small piece of azalea leaf from my leftover soup about 30 minutes ago. Should I be worried? Yes, this is an emergency. Azalea is highly toxic to cats, and even a tiny amount can cause serious heart and… Cats · Emergency guide My 6 kg adult cat licked some azalea leaves from a takeaway soup about an hour ago. Is this an emergency? Yes, this is an emergency. Azaleas are highly toxic to cats, and even a small amount can cause a dangerously… Cats · Emergency guide My cat ate a few azalea leaves that were mixed into our garden compost pile — is that still toxic? Yes, it is still highly toxic. All parts of the azalea plant contain grayanotoxins, regardless of whether… Cats · Food safety My cat snuck a few bites of a pre-washed bagged salad mix that contained arugula — should I be worried about hidden ingredients? The arugula itself is safe, but the concern with bagged salad mixes is the other ingredients. These mixes… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate two cubes of plain tofu from the BBQ table 3 hours ago, is that okay? Yes, plain tofu is safe for cats, and a couple of small cubes are unlikely to cause any issues. It's easily… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat slipped a piece of teriyaki-glazed beef jerky off a shared takeout container — what do I do? This is a mild concern, and here is why. Most store-bought beef jerky is extremely salty, and many brands… Cats · Food safety My cat licked a bowl that had beef jerky stew with onion gravy on it — is that a problem? Yes, it could be a problem. Beef jerky is often very salty and may contain onion or garlic powder, which are… Cats · Food safety Is it safe for my 4 kg cat to eat a bite of chicken seasoned with black pepper? A single bite is likely fine, but feed seasoned foods with care. Black pepper itself is not toxic, but the… Cats · Food safety My cat licked raw chicken seasoned with black pepper—should I be worried? No, a lick of seasoned raw chicken is not an emergency. The tiny amount of black pepper from a lick is… Cats · Emergency guide Can my 6-year-old cat die from eating blue cheese that was left out overnight? Yes — this is an emergency. Blue cheese is a classic source of tremorgenic mycotoxins, and a 6-year-old cat… Cats · Food safety My cat snatched a piece of bok choy from a holiday stir-fry that had garlic and oil — is that dangerous? The bok choy itself is safe, but the garlic and oil in the stir-fry are the concern. Garlic is toxic to cats… Cats · Food safety My indoor cat snuck two bites of braised venison from a Chinese takeaway container (sauce had star anise and ginger) and is now lethargic — should I worry? The venison itself is safe, but the sauce ingredients like star anise and ginger can irritate your cat's… Cats · Food safety My 4-year-old cat ate three Brazil nuts and now has diarrhea. Is this from the nuts? Yes, it's very likely from the nuts. Brazil nuts are extremely high in fat, which commonly causes diarrhea… Cats · Food safety My cat licked a substantial amount of Caesar salad dressing off a plate—could the anchovies in it make her sick? Yes, the anchovies in Caesar dressing could easily make your cat sick. Anchovies are extremely salty, whether… Cats · Food safety Can a raw carrot cause diarrhea in a 9-pound cat with a sensitive stomach? A raw carrot is unlikely to cause diarrhea in a 9-pound cat, but it is tough and fibrous and could upset a… Cats · Emergency guide My senior cat licked a castor bean oil supplement capsule off the counter — should I rush her to the vet? Yes, go to an emergency vet right away. Castor beans contain ricin, an extremely potent toxin, and any… Cats · Food safety My senior cat’s new joint supplement lists sardine oil — is that a hidden source of whole sardines I should worry about? No, sardine oil is a safe, processed extract and not a hidden source of whole fish you need to worry about.… Cats · Food safety My 2-year-old cat licked a spoonful of celeriac soup off my plate — is that okay? Yes, that's fine. Celeriac is safe for cats if it's cooked, and a tiny lick from a soup is unlikely to cause… Cats · Food safety My 4kg adult cat ate half a cup of cooked celeriac mixed in a chicken stew 20 minutes ago, is that dangerous? No, that’s not dangerous. Cooked, peeled celeriac is safe for cats in small pieces, and the amount you… Cats · Food safety How many small cubes of plain cheddar cheese can I safely give my 7-kilogram indoor cat as a daily treat without upsetting her stomach? A few small cubes of plain cheddar — roughly the size of a pea — are fine for a 7-kilogram adult cat, since… Cats · Food safety My senior cat ate a few cheese-flavored crisps — what signs should I watch for and when do they typically start? A few crisps are not an emergency, but you should watch for mild digestive upset. The high salt, fat, and…

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