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
Cats · Emergency guide My cat chewed a pothos leaf and has been vomiting for 12 hours. What should I do? This is an urgent situation. Vomiting for 12 hours is a significant sign of distress from the plant's… Cats · Food safety My 2-year-old cat has been chewing on raw asparagus stems and is now vomiting — could this be a blockage? Raw asparagus stems are tough and fibrous, and yes, they can cause choking or even a partial bowel blockage… Cats · Food safety Are cooked chives in a stew still toxic if my 5 kg cat ate a small bite of the meat? Yes, chives are toxic to cats in any form—raw, cooked, or dried. They belong to the allium family (like… Cats · Food safety Are cooked chives, like those in a scrambled egg, less toxic to cats than raw ones, and is a single strand dangerous for a 5 kg cat? No, cooking does not make chives safe — all forms, whether raw, cooked, dried, or powdered, are toxic to… Cats · Food safety My cat licked a spoon with chocolate frosting and a little bit of icing sugar — is this dangerous? Yes, any chocolate exposure is dangerous for cats. Even a small lick of frosting contains theobromine and… Cats · Food safety My 1.8kg kitten has been licking a teaspoon of chocolate hazelnut spread each day for a week; is this safe? No, chocolate hazelnut spread is toxic and even tiny daily amounts are an emergency. The chocolate component… Cats · Food safety My 4‑kg indoor cat just swallowed a raw piece of milk chocolate with nuts about 5 minutes ago—how urgent is this and what should I do? This is a high‑risk emergency; act immediately. Milk chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, and the… Dogs · Food safety Is it harmful to give my 14-year-old senior cat a pinch of fresh cilantro every single day? Cilantro is not toxic to cats, but feeding it daily offers no nutritional benefit and may gradually irritate… Cats · Food safety Can I give my cat half a teaspoon of coconut oil daily for hairballs, or will that cause problems? Half a teaspoon daily is likely too much for most cats and can cause problems. While coconut oil is safe in… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat licked a teaspoon of coconut oil daily for a week. Is that okay? Yes, that amount is generally safe but too frequent. A teaspoon daily is a lot for a small cat and will… Cats · Food safety Are cooked chives safe for my 4kg cat, or do the leaves still pose a risk even when boiled? No, cooked chives are still unsafe for cats and should be avoided entirely. Chives belong to the allium… Cats · Food safety Can a 3.5 kg indoor cat eat cooked quail meat if all the bones are removed? Yes — plain cooked quail meat with all bones removed is safe for cats. Cooked quail is a good source of… Cats · Food safety Could a few bites of a chocolate chip cookie cause diarrhea or itchy skin in a sensitive-stomached cat? Yes, a few bites could easily upset a sensitive cat. The main risk isn't just the cookie itself but the… Cats · Food safety Are coriander seed oil capsules or dried leaf treats safe for my senior cat with mild arthritis? Coriander itself is safe for cats in small amounts, but you should be very cautious with supplements and… Cats · Food safety Is it harmful to give a pinch of cardamom spice to my 12-year-old senior cat every single day? No, a tiny pinch of cardamom given daily is not considered harmful to a senior cat. The spice is safe in the… Cats · Food safety My 3kg adult cat has been given a teaspoon of chocolate hazelnut spread every day for the past two weeks, is this dangerous? Yes, daily exposure to chocolate hazelnut spread is an emergency for a cat. The chocolate’s theobromine… Cats · Food safety What happens if I give my cat a small piece of pear daily for months? It is safe if you remove the core and seeds every time, but feeding pear daily for months is unnecessary and… Cats · Food safety My cat has well-managed diabetes — can she have a small bite of cooked, skinless goose meat as a rare treat? A very small, infrequent bite is likely okay, but you must be cautious. Goose meat is high in fat, which can… Cats · Food safety Why does my adult cat get runny diarrhea every time she drinks a few laps of cow's milk? Most adult cats are lactose intolerant because they lose the enzyme needed to digest lactose after… Cats · Emergency guide Could my cat get diarrhea just from licking a small amount of algae scum off her fur after walking by a pond? No, the primary danger is not simple diarrhea but severe, rapid poisoning. Blue-green algae produce potent… Cats · Food safety Can a raw carrot stick cause diarrhoea or gas in my 5 kg cat with a sensitive stomach? It can, especially if your cat isn't used to vegetables. While carrots are non-toxic, the sudden fiber can… Cats · Emergency guide My cat drank from a scummy pond and now has diarrhoea and vomiting. Could this be blue-green algae, and what's the emergency plan? Yes, this is a potential blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) emergency. The diarrhoea and vomiting you're seeing… Cats · Emergency guide My 10-pound indoor cat drank from a pond with green scum and is now vomiting — is this a stomach issue or something worse? This is almost certainly not a simple stomach issue — blue-green algae produces potent liver and nerve toxins… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg cat drank half a cup of apple juice and vomited once — what should I do for aftercare and how long do I monitor? Monitor closely for about 24 hours. The main concern with juice is the sugar load, which can upset a small… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg kitten lapped up a few drops of energy drink that was left out overnight — is it a poisoning emergency? Yes, this is an urgent situation and you should call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435… Cats · Food safety My cat drank a few licks of orange juice and vomited once — how long should I monitor her and what might the vet check? Monitor your cat closely for the next 12-24 hours. A few licks of orange juice are unlikely to cause serious… Cats · Food safety Are commercial cat treats containing durian flesh safe for my 3 kg indoor cat, or should I avoid buying them? Most commercial cat treats listing durian are unlikely to cause serious harm, but they are not advisable for… Cats · Food safety My cat tried a cat snack with durian and gravy — is this product safe for a 5kg adult cat? It's likely safe for a single taste, but you should be cautious with any commercial treat containing durian.… Cats · Food safety Can my 5 kg cat have a durian supplement chew? No, it's not recommended. Durian is high in fat and sugar, which can upset your cat's stomach. Even a small… Cats · Food safety Can my cat eat a couple of frozen blueberries with the skin on, or should I thaw and peel them first? Yes, your cat can eat a couple of frozen blueberries with the skin on — the skin is safe and contains…

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