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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 cat snatched and ate a couple of small bites of the flesh from a plum I was eating, is that dangerous? A couple of small bites of plain plum flesh is usually not dangerous, but you should watch your cat closely.… Cats · Food safety Only my cat ate mulberries while my dog didn't — do I need to treat them differently? Yes, you only need to focus on the cat, and it's fine. Ripe mulberries are safe for cats in small amounts, so… Cats · Food safety Are commercial cat treats that list ketchup powder or flavoring in the ingredients safe? It's best to avoid them. While a tiny amount of ketchup flavoring might not cause immediate harm, ketchup… Cats · Food safety My small 3 kg cat licked some cardamom-spiced sauce — is her size a bigger concern? No, her small size doesn't make this more dangerous. Cardamom is safe for cats in the tiny amounts used for… Dogs · Food safety My dog ate some papaya flesh along with a few seeds — are the seeds dangerous? The ripe flesh is safe, but you should try to prevent him from eating the seeds in the future. Papaya seeds… Dogs · Food safety One of my two dogs got into the cookie jar — do I need to monitor the other dog who didn't eat any? No, you only need to focus on the dog that ate the cookies. Cookies pose a mild risk because they often… Dogs · Food safety My 5 kg miniature poodle ate a piece of poppy seed bagel — does her small size make it riskier? Her small size does mean the amount of seeds relative to her weight is higher, but a single bagel piece is… Dogs · Food safety My 4-month-old puppy found and swallowed one whole hazelnut — is this an emergency? It's not typically an emergency, but it warrants close watching. Hazelnuts themselves are not toxic, but a… Dogs · Food safety Is it safe to feed my dog cooked venison as a regular part of his meals every day? Yes, plain cooked venison is safe and can be a healthy protein source for dogs when fed as part of a balanced… Cats · Food safety I see parsley listed in some cat dental treats — is that ingredient actually safe and beneficial? Yes, parsley is a safe ingredient in cat treats. It's non-toxic and is sometimes included for its mild… Dogs · Food safety My curious puppy managed to eat a couple of peeled lychee pieces — what should I watch for? Watch for signs of digestive upset and ensure he didn't swallow any pit. The flesh of lychee is safe in tiny… Dogs · Food safety Is it safe to give rambutan to my pregnant or nursing dog? No, give rambutan to a pregnant dog only with extreme caution. The edible flesh is low‑risk, but you must… Dogs · Food safety Can my dog safely eat cooked crab meat from the holiday buffet? Yes, plain cooked crab meat without shells or seasoning is safe for dogs at a holiday gathering. Make sure… Cats · Food safety What signs should I watch for if my cat eats plain boiled noodles? No, there is no toxic danger; plain boiled noodles are safe for cats. Occasionally a cat may experience mild… Dogs · Food safety Is it harmful to give my dog guacamole every day? No, giving your dog guacamole every day is not safe. Avocado itself contains persin, and the typical… Cats · Food safety My cat just ate a piece of sausage, what should I do in the next hour? It’s a mild risk, but you should act quickly after your cat eats sausage. First, remove any remaining pieces… Dogs · Emergency guide How can I prevent my dog from eating a decongestant tablet left on the party table? Yes, this is an emergency; a decongestant tablet can poison a dog within minutes. The drug can cause a racing… Dogs · Food safety My dog licked a stew that had stevia sweetener, is that dangerous? It’s probably fine as long as the stevia you used contains only the plant extract and no xylitol or… Dogs · Food safety Can I give my dog plain, dry breakfast cereal without raisins? Yes, a few pieces of plain cereal are usually okay, but it's not a good regular treat. Cereal is often high… Cats · Food safety My cat has kidney disease — can I give her a little kohlrabi? Yes, cooked kohlrabi is generally safe for cats with kidney disease, but keep portions very small. Peel it… Dogs · Food safety Can my 3-month-old puppy have a piece of cooked clam? Yes, a small piece of cooked clam meat is safe for your puppy. Keep the portion very tiny, as puppies have… Dogs · Food safety My dog ate some cooked squid that was mixed into a stew, is that dangerous? No, it is not dangerous. Cooked plain squid is safe for dogs as long as it is plain and fully cooked. The… Cats · Food safety Is octopus safer for cats than squid? Both octopus and squid should be fed only with caution to cats. Octopus flesh is very rubbery and can be a… Dogs · Food safety My dog grabbed a piece of cooked quail at a holiday buffet, should I be worried? No, there is no immediate danger. Cooked quail meat is safe for dogs and can be a tasty protein source. The… Dogs · Food safety My dog just nibbled a single plain potato chip, do I need to call the vet? It is not an emergency, but you should still keep an eye on your dog. A plain potato chip contains a lot of… Dogs · Food safety During a birthday party, my dog kept trying to eat the pepperoni slices on the pizza, is that a problem? A few small pieces of pepperoni are not likely to cause an emergency, but they should be given sparingly.… Dogs · Food safety My dog loves chickpeas — are store-bought treats with hummus safe? No, it's best to avoid them. Hummus contains garlic and lemon, which are not safe for dogs in any quantity.… Cats · Food safety My cat ate some plain wheat bread. Is that safer than plain pasta for cats? Both plain wheat bread and plain pasta are safe for cats in small amounts. They're essentially the same… Dogs · Food safety Should I train my dog to leave cream cheese alone? Yes, it's a good idea to teach 'leave it' for foods like cream cheese. Cream cheese is fatty and often… Dogs · Emergency guide My puppy just ate a jade plant leaf. Is this an emergency? Yes, this is an emergency for a puppy. Jade plants are toxic to dogs, causing vomiting and neurological signs…

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