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

Dogs · Emergency guide My 5 kg dog just ate a chunk of raw moldy cheese left on the counter overnight. What do I do? Yes, this is an emergency. The blue-green mould itself can produce toxins that cause violent tremors within… Cats · Food safety My 3-year-old indoor 7-lb cat licked one spoonful of plain vanilla ice cream off the counter — should I be panicked or just watch her? Don't panic, but do watch her closely for the next 12 hours. A single lick of plain vanilla ice cream is… Cats · Food safety I've been giving my 3-year-old 5 kg cat a sugar-free candy every day for a week — what long-term damage could this cause? You should stop immediately and watch for warning signs. Xylitol, the sweetener in sugar-free candy, is… Dogs · Food safety My 8 lb Maltese knocked over a bowl of washed blackberries and ate most of them while my 45 lb labrador ignored them — do I need to worry about both of them? No, you don't need to worry about either dog. Blackberries are safe for both of them and full of… Dogs · Food safety At my backyard BBQ, my 25 lb corgi snatched a cube of plain unseasoned tofu off the plate — is that safe for a dog his size? Yes, plain unseasoned tofu is safe for a 25 lb corgi in the amount he took. Tofu is easy to digest and poses… Dogs · Food safety My 10 lb miniature poodle lapped up heavy whipping cream from a party bowl at a holiday gathering — will that much fat hurt him? Yes, that amount of heavy cream is a real concern for a 10 lb dog. Cream is very high in fat and can trigger… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg cat licked the cap of a phenylephrine nasal spray bottle 10 minutes ago and seems fine — do I need to call the vet? Yes, call your vet or the ASPCA poison line (888-426-4435) now. Even a tiny lick delivers a concentrated dose… Dogs · Food safety My 2.5 kg Shih Tzu swallowed a whole cooked scallop — is this okay for her tiny size? Yes, plain cooked scallops are safe for a 2.5 kg dog. The scallop itself has no toxins, but tiny breeds can… Cats · Food safety My 5 kg cat ate a slice of ham. Should I worry about an upset stomach? No, it's unlikely to cause an upset stomach. Cats can have sensitive stomachs or allergies. Watch for signs… Cats · Food safety My 3kg adult cat ate two bites of raw garlic 30minutes ago and is now vomiting—should I be worried? Yes, the garlic your cat ate can cause an urgent problem. Two bites of raw garlic can irritate the stomach… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate a rhubarb leaf and is now vomiting—what tests will the vet run? Call your vet or the ASPCA poison line (888-426-4435) now. They'll likely run blood work to check kidney… Dogs · Food safety Is sugar-free candy dangerous for a 3 kg Yorkie if she ate half a piece? Yes, extremely dangerous. Xylitol causes a rapid, life-threatening drop in blood sugar in dogs, and a tiny… Cats · Emergency guide My cat took one tiny nibble from a green rat poison block and spit it out — do I need to rush to the vet? Yes, you need to call the vet immediately, even for a nibble. The crucial step is to find the packaging to… Cats · Food safety Is a teaspoon of plain mashed sweet potato safe for my 4 kg adult cat as an occasional treat? Yes, that's a safe and sensible amount for a cat of that size. Plain cooked sweet potato is a good source of… Dogs · Emergency guide My dog ate a piece of my 'nighttime cold and flu' gel cap that rolled under the couch — is that just diphenhydramine? No, it's almost certainly not just diphenhydramine, and that makes it more dangerous. Those combination… Cats · Emergency guide I just saw my cat swallow a 500 mg metformin pill I dropped — what are the very first things I must do in the next 10 minutes? Your first step is to call your vet or an emergency clinic immediately — do not wait. While you're on the… Dogs · Emergency guide My 4 kg puppy just licked a poinsettia leaf at a party and is drooling. What should I do? Yes, the sap can irritate his mouth, causing the drooling. Rinse his mouth gently with a little water from a… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg dog just licked salsa that had a small piece of tomato plant in it. Is this dangerous? Yes, and you should call your vet or the ASPCA poison line at 888-426-4435. Tomato leaves and stems contain… Dogs · Food safety My 4 kg terrier ate two bites of a pre‑packed trail mix that had marshmallow pieces, within 20 minutes of eating—could those hidden marshmallows be a problem? No, it’s not a life‑threatening emergency, just a mild risk. Regular marshmallows are mostly sugar and… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat just swallowed a whole mini hot dog. Is that a choking risk? Yes, the shape is a serious choking hazard, especially for a cat that small. A whole one can get stuck in the… Dogs · Food safety My 12 lb dog licked chocolate frosting off a cupcake wrapper 20 minutes ago. Is that dangerous? Yes, that frosting is dangerous. Chocolate’s toxicity depends on the type and amount consumed, and even a… Dogs · Food safety Can cookies give a dog gas or diarrhea? Yes, cookies can cause stomach upset in dogs, especially those with sensitive stomachs. Look for signs like… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate a few apple seeds and vomited once. What happens after the vet treats her? The vet will likely induce vomiting to clear any remaining seeds and may give activated charcoal. They'll… Dogs · Food safety My 8 kg dog ate half a pickle slice, my other dogs didn't. Should I watch him more closely? Yes, watch him more closely. The vinegar and salt in one small piece are unlikely to cause serious harm, but… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat drank some wine 6 hours ago, the vet gave activated charcoal. What now? The next 24 hours are critical. Alcohol is absorbed fast, but charcoal helps bind any toxin left in the gut.… Cats · Food safety My 3-month-old kitten ate a few bites of steamed mustard greens. Is this safe for her tiny size? Yes, it's safe. A few bites of plain, steamed greens won't harm a kitten. Their small stomachs are sensitive… Dogs · Food safety Can I give my 5kg dog commercial treats with wine? No, it's toxic. Even a small amount can cause alcohol poisoning. If your dog eats treats with the raisins… Cats · Emergency guide My cat was in a closet with mothballs for a few hours and now seems tired with pale gums — how soon do symptoms get worse? Go to the vet now. Pale gums mean red blood cells are already breaking down, and anaemia can worsen over the… Dogs · Emergency guide My 30 kg dog had diarrhoea after swimming in a lake with green scum. Could this be a sensitive stomach or is it the algae? This is an emergency, not a sensitive stomach. Blue-green algae toxins attack the liver and nerves, and… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg dachshund licked a plate with garlic butter sauce, not onion. Which is worse? Garlic is more toxic per gram than onion and damages red blood cells the same way. For a small dog like…

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