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

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.

Prefer to run the tool?

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 3 kg kitten got into a bowl of sweetcorn kernels overnight. How can I prevent this? Sweetcorn kernels are safe for cats, so your kitten should be fine. To prevent future incidents, store all… Cats · Food safety How do I keep my 4 kg cat from eating sweetcorn kernels left on the kitchen counter overnight? Keep all corn stored in sealed containers or inside closed cabinets — cats can jump counters, so a plate on… Cats · Food safety Is a tiny piece of tangerine flesh safer for my 3 kg Devon Rex cat than it would be for a 7 kg domestic shorthair? A tiny piece of tangerine flesh carries the same mild risk regardless of cat size, but the consequences can… Cats · Food safety For my 6 kg cat, is thoroughly cooked taro root safer or riskier than a plain cooked potato as an occasional bite? Thoroughly cooked taro is safe in a tiny, occasional bite, but it carries more specific risks than a plain… Cats · Food safety My 5kg cat ate two bites of cooked taro and I’m wondering if that’s riskier than the same amount of cooked sweet potato? It’s not a severe hazard, but cooked taro is a bit riskier than sweet potato. Both must be fully cooked; raw… Cats · Food safety At Thanksgiving, my cat licked a plate with a little whipped cream and butter residue — should I worry? A single lick of residue is unlikely to cause immediate harm, but cream is very high in fat and not good for… Cats · Food safety Is cooked tilapia better or worse for my 4 kg cat than cod, and how much is safe? Both tilapia and cod are mild white fish that are equally safe for a 4 kg cat when cooked plain and… Cats · Food safety My 4‑kg indoor cat just licked a single leaf of fresh thyme from the kitchen counter, should I be worried? No, this is not an emergency; a tiny lick of thyme is safe for a cat. The herb is non‑toxic and normal… Cats · Food safety How do I keep my curious cat away from cherry tomatoes and salad greens at an outdoor BBQ? Keep your cat indoors or in a secure carrier during the party. Ripe tomato flesh in tiny amounts is low risk… Cats · Food safety Do sun-dried tomatoes or jarred pasta sauces contain toxic tomato leaves or stems? The toxic compounds (solanine and tomatine) are concentrated in the leaves and stems, not the ripe fruit.… Cats · Food safety Are cat treats that list 'wine-infused' as a flavoring ingredient safe for a senior cat with kidney issues? No, they are not safe and should be avoided. Wine contains alcohol, which is toxic to cats, and sweet wines… Cats · Food safety I found coriander listed in my 5 kg cat's fish-flavored chew treats. Is it safe to keep buying them? Yes, those treats are safe to keep buying. Coriander, whether seed or leaf, is harmless to cats in the small… Cats · Food safety Are dehydrated chicken treats for cats safe if they list 'shallot powder' in the ingredients? No, they are not safe. Shallots are toxic to cats, causing Allium poisoning which damages red blood cells and… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat with a sensitive stomach licked a teaspoon of turmeric paste — will this cause diarrhoea or gas? It might. Turmeric is generally safe for cats, but a whole teaspoon is a large dose for a small cat and can… Cats · Emergency guide My cat walked through ice melt an hour ago and is now licking her paws — when would poisoning signs start? Signs can begin within a few hours. The first thing you might see is irritation from the chemical itself… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat ate a tiny piece of baklava that contained walnuts and honey — how urgent is this? This is urgent due to the walnuts. Walnuts pose multiple risks for cats, including mould toxins that can… Cats · Food safety My 4‑kg adult cat ate a few walnut pieces from a stir‑fry sauce about 15 minutes ago, is this dangerous? Yes, this is an emergency; walnuts can contain mold‑produced tremorgenic toxins and the shells may cause… Cats · Food safety My cat ate three watercress leaves — if she's going to vomit, how soon would signs appear? Watercress itself is non-toxic to cats, so vomiting is unlikely and not a typical reaction. If any… Cats · Food safety My 3 kg cat ate a whole watercress leaf and seems wobbly — how soon would signs appear and how long do they last? Watercress is safe for cats, so the wobbliness is very unlikely to be from the leaf itself. It's a non-toxic… Cats · Food safety Are commercial cat supplements or treats that list whey protein concentrate as an ingredient generally safe, or should I avoid them? You should approach them with caution. Plain whey protein itself isn't toxic to cats, but the safety hinges… Cats · Food safety My 4-year-old cat ate a bit of his new whey protein supplement and started vomiting, what should I do? This is likely a mild stomach upset from an unfamiliar food, but monitor closely. Plain whey isn't toxic, but… Cats · Food safety Can I give my 3 kg cat a whey protein supplement treat? No, it's best to avoid whey protein treats for cats. While plain whey isn't toxic, most supplements and… Cats · Food safety How many wild mushrooms are toxic to a cat — is one small cap enough to cause liver failure? Yes, even one small wild mushroom cap can be enough to cause severe poisoning or liver failure in a cat.… Cats · Food safety Can I give my senior cat a supplement that contains wine extract? No, do not give your cat any product containing wine or wine extract. Alcohol is toxic to cats, and even… Cats · Food safety I saw ‘wine’ listed in a catnip spray ingredient list — is that safe for my senior cat to inhale or ingest? No, it is not safe. Any product containing alcohol, even in trace amounts from wine, is dangerous for cats.… Cats · Food safety My 0.25 kg senior diabetic cat swallowed about two teaspoons of onion powder — is this life-threatening? Yes, this is potentially life-threatening. Onions are toxic to cats and damage red blood cells, causing… Cats · Food safety My 12-year-old diabetic cat licked a piece of sugar-free gum. Is this safe? For a cat with diabetes, this is a mild concern but not an emergency. Cats are far less sensitive to xylitol… Dogs · Food safety My 9 kg cat with chronic kidney disease ate a small piece of roast chicken that had cloves rubbed into the skin — is that a problem? This is a situation that calls for caution rather than panic. Cloves contain eugenol, which is irritating and… Cats · Food safety My senior cat with kidney disease ate about half a cup of plain cooked chicken last night — is that safe for her? Yes, that amount of plain cooked chicken is safe for a cat with kidney disease. It's a good source of lean… Cats · Food safety My senior cat with early kidney disease licked a spoon of onion soup — does her condition make the onion toxicity worse? Yes, her kidney disease likely increases the risk. Onions damage red blood cells, leading to anemia, which…

Page 51 of 337

The library keeps growing. Can’t find your situation? Open the matching toxicity calculator and enter weight plus amount for an instant risk level.