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

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

All pets Dogs Cats

Dogs · Food safety My 18 kg dog ate two bites of sweet potato casserole that had marshmallow topping baked on it — is the cooked marshmallow still a risk? The main risk shifts from choking to the sugar and fat. Baking doesn't destroy the sugar, and the casserole… Cats · Food safety My 4.5 kg indoor cat has been getting a teaspoon of softened butter on his food every night for the past month, is that safe? No, feeding butter every night is not safe for a cat. Butter is a high‑fat dairy product, and a daily… Cats · Emergency guide Only my 4 kg kitten licked the ear cleaning solution off my finger — the other two adult cats are fine. What now? Yes, call your vet now. That small body weight means even a lick can be a significant dose of alcohol or… Dogs · Emergency guide My 12 kg beagle licked a plate with ear cleaning solution mixed into the gravy about 10 minutes ago. What should I do? Yes, call your vet now. The alcohol or acids in the cleaner can burn his mouth and throat, and he swallowed… Cats · Emergency guide Can a cat get an upset stomach from zinc oxide cream? Yes, a cat can have an upset stomach from zinc oxide cream. It's not just poisoning; it can also cause… Cats · Emergency guide Is ear cleaning solution more harmful for cats than baby oil? Yes, ear cleaning solution can be more harmful. It often contains stronger ingredients like alcohol or… Cats · Emergency guide My cat ate a lot of toothpaste gel after brushing. How long should I monitor her for symptoms? If she ingested a lot, monitor her for 24-48 hours. Look for signs like vomiting, weakness, or changes in… Dogs · Emergency guide My pregnant dog ate a whole tube of pet toothpaste. Is it urgent? Yes, it's urgent. Xylitol in the toothpaste can cause low blood sugar and liver damage in pregnant dogs. Call… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog licked up a quarter-sized dab of zinc oxide cream I thought was petroleum jelly. Should I be worried? Yes, this is an emergency. Zinc oxide is toxic when ingested, while plain petroleum jelly is not. That amount… Dogs · Food safety My 8‑week‑old puppy ate two bites of plain, unseasoned tofu within 15 minutes. Is that amount safe? Yes, two bites of plain, unseasoned tofu are fine for an 8‑week‑old puppy. Plain tofu is low in fat and easy… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg terrier just ate a sesame seed snack stick — anything urgent to do in the next hour? Plain sesame seeds are safe — no urgent action needed. Check the wrapper for xylitol or chocolate coatings… Cats · Food safety My 12-year-old cat chewed a seedless, peeled cube of raw dragon fruit — is the prep the problem? No, the plain peeled cube is fine. Dragon fruit flesh is safe for cats in small pieces. The skin and seeds… Dogs · Emergency guide My 12 kg senior dog has been on tramadol every day for his arthritis for six months — is that safe? It can be, but only under a vet's plan — not on your own. Tramadol is sometimes prescribed for dogs with… Dogs · Emergency guide One of my two dogs, a 7 kg terrier, licked ear cleaning solution off the floor about 15 minutes ago. What about my other dog? Focus on the terrier first — this is urgent. Ingredients like alcohol or chlorhexidine in ear cleaners can… Dogs · Food safety My 25 kg golden retriever just ate a whole cooked lobster tail, shell and all, 5 minutes ago. What's my first step? Check his mouth right now for any sharp shell pieces stuck in his gums or the roof of his mouth. The cooked… Dogs · Food safety My 15 kg mixed breed dog ate a moldy baby carrot that was left in his toy overnight. Should I be worried? Yes, watch him. The carrot itself is safe, but mold can contain toxins that cause vomiting, tremors, or… Dogs · Food safety My 12 kg beagle licked plum sauce from a takeout container that had a few small fruit pieces in it. Is there a risk? The main risk isn't the plum flesh, but the sauce itself — it's often loaded with sugar, salt, and spices… Cats · Food safety My 6 kg cat keeps nibbling raw Swiss chard leaves from my garden planter. How can I stop her safely? First, move the planter to a spot she can't reach, like a high shelf or behind a closed door — cats are… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg indoor cat loves unsalted, shelled sunflower seeds and gets about 5 pieces daily. Is this harmful over weeks? Five shelled seeds a day is a tiny amount, but over weeks the fat adds up and could lead to weight gain or… Cats · Food safety I feed my 5 kg cat a few shreds of plain, cooked pheasant with her dinner once a week. Is this okay long-term? Yes, that's perfectly fine as an occasional treat. Lean, cooked pheasant is a safe protein source, and a few… Cats · Food safety Is bison meat safe for a 3 kg cat who had two teaspoons of plain cooked bison last evening? Safe, in that amount. A couple of teaspoons of plain cooked bison is nothing for even a small cat—it's the… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg cat chews on a fresh lotus leaf from my pond every morning — is this harmful long-term? Yes, daily chewing is harmful. The alkaloids in sacred lotus leaves cause cumulative oral and gut irritation… Cats · Emergency guide My senior cat just swallowed a whole pear core with seeds — what do I do in the next 60 minutes? Call your vet or the ASPCA poison line at 888-426-4435 now. Cyanide risk from crushed seeds is real, and a… Dogs · Emergency guide My 25 kg dog licked a single pear seed off the floor — is that a vet emergency? For a single intact seed, it's not an immediate emergency. The danger comes from chewing and crushing many… Cats · Emergency guide My cat with chronic kidney disease just nibbled a daffodil bulb — is the risk worse for her? Yes, the risk is significantly higher. Her kidneys are already struggling to filter toxins, and the alkaloids… Dogs · Emergency guide My dog on heart medication licked ibuprofen gel off my knee — is this interaction an emergency? Yes, this is an absolute emergency. Ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure on its own, but… Dogs · Emergency guide My dog dug up and ate a soft, moldy daffodil bulb from the garden — is that more dangerous? Yes, mold adds another layer of risk. The bulb itself contains toxins that cause violent vomiting and heart… Dogs · Emergency guide Only my 10 kg terrier ate a paracetamol tablet — how do I keep my other two dogs safe while dealing with him? Get the terrier to the vet immediately — this is time-critical. For the other dogs, first sweep the area… Dogs · Emergency guide My 6 kg Pomeranian ate a lotus flower petal — is the risk different for him than for a big dog? Yes, the risk is higher for a small dog. The irritating compounds are the same, but his smaller body means… Cats · Emergency guide My nursing mother cat licked ibuprofen gel — is this dangerous for her kittens too? Yes, it's dangerous for both her and the kittens. The ibuprofen can pass into her milk, potentially causing…

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