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
Dogs · Emergency guide My 6‑kg Labrador ate half a cup of grapes that were left on the counter for 2 hours; what signs should appear and when? Call your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control line (888‑426‑4435) right now. Vomiting can start within 30‑45… Dogs · Emergency guide My 4‑kg, 8‑week‑old puppy ate two whole pecans with shells within the last 20 minutes and is now gagging—what should I do right now? Call your veterinarian right away; this is an emergency. Do not induce vomiting because the shells can choke… Cats · Emergency guide My cat licked a raw permethrin spot-on flea treatment from the packet — what do I do? Call your vet or the ASPCA poison line (888-426-4435) now. Permethrin is highly toxic to cats and raw… Cats · Food safety Is plain cooked couscous safe for my 4 kg nursing cat who had two tablespoons an hour ago? Yes — plain cooked couscous is safe for a nursing cat. A couple of tablespoons won't hurt her or the kittens.… Cats · Emergency guide My 7 kg cat just nibbled one lily petal — is that enough to be a high risk? Yes, call a vet or the ASPCA poison line (888-426-4435) now. Even a tiny amount of lily is highly toxic to… Dogs · Emergency guide What happens if a 5 kg dog licks ibuprofen gel off my knee after treatment? After treatment, watch for 24-48 hours for signs like vomiting, loss of appetite, or lethargy. The vet may… Dogs · Food safety My 12‑lb dog just drank half a cup of plain kefir that was left out on the counter for 4 hours, and now he's panting a bit. What should I do in the next hour? It's not an emergency, but keep a close eye on him for the next hour. Half a cup of plain kefir is a modest… Cats · Emergency guide My 4 kg senior cat chewed a cat treat that had a tiny button battery inside and started pawing at her mouth within 20 minutes—do I need emergency care? Yes, this is an emergency. A button battery in a cat’s mouth can start generating an electric current that… Dogs · Emergency guide My 5 kg dachshund licked the hydrocortisone cream off his paw after I applied it. Is he in danger? Yes, contact your vet or the ASPCA poison line at 888-426-4435 now. Hydrocortisone cream is meant for human… Cats · Emergency guide My 5 kg cat licked hydrocortisone cream off a guest's finger at a BBQ. He seems fine now, but should I worry? Yes, call your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control line at 888-426-4435 now. Hydrocortisone is a steroid absorbed… Dogs · Emergency guide My 25 kg pregnant dog licked a spot of cat flea treatment off her paw. Is this dangerous? Yes, call your vet or the ASPCA poison line (888-426-4435) now. The ingredients safe for cats can cause… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg kitten had a seizure from dog flea drops, the vet treated her. What happens next? Your vet will keep her for observation, likely on IV fluids and anti-seizure medication. They'll monitor her… Dogs · Emergency guide My 8-week-old puppy just licked an unknown substance off the floor and seems wobbly. What do I do right now? Call a vet or the ASPCA poison line at 888-426-4435 immediately. A wobbly gait is a serious sign, and a… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog ate a whole tube of cat hairball remedy two hours ago, and the vet gave him activated charcoal. What happens next and how long do I watch him? The vet will likely monitor him for tremors, vomiting, or a "drunk" walk for at least 12-24 hours after… Dogs · Emergency guide My 7 kg beagle snatched a guest's ibuprofen chew off the coffee table at a party. He swallowed it whole about 20 minutes ago. What do I do? Call your vet or a pet poison helpline immediately. Ibuprofen is highly toxic to dogs, and a single chew for… Cats · Emergency guide How can I stop my 5 kg curious cat from licking the dog flea treatment off my 20 kg Labrador after it's applied? Keep them separated for at least 24 hours after application, ideally in different rooms. Put an Elizabethan… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg cat licked a drop of phenol-based antiseptic off a cotton ball. How much of this is dangerous for a cat her size? Even a single drop is a serious risk and requires an immediate call to your vet. Phenol is rapidly absorbed… Dogs · Food safety My 10 kg dog got into a guest's gym bag at a BBQ and drank from a whey protein shaker that was left out. Should I be worried? Check the ingredient list for xylitol first — if it's present, call your vet now. If it's just plain whey… Dogs · Emergency guide How many poinsettia leaves would a 12 kg dog need to eat before it's considered a serious emergency? The risk is more about the individual dog's reaction than a strict leaf count. Even one leaf can cause… Dogs · Food safety My 8 kg dog grabbed a chunk of fresh durian flesh that fell on the floor during a family dinner. He ate it in two bites. What should I do? Watch him closely for vomiting, diarrhea, or signs of abdominal pain over the next 6-12 hours. Durian is very… Cats · Emergency guide My 3 kg cat licks raisins daily — is it dangerous? Yes, it's dangerous. Raisins can cause kidney failure in cats, especially in small breeds. Watch for signs… Cats · Emergency guide My cat chewed an aloe vera leaf and got the yellow latex — is that worse than the clear gel? Yes — the yellow latex contains aloin and anthraquinones, which irritate the large intestine and cause… Dogs · Food safety My 8 lb dog ate a handful of blackcurrants — any signs to watch for over the next few hours? Blackcurrants are safe for dogs in small amounts. The main concern is sugar content, which can cause mild… Dogs · Food safety Are dog treats with sweetcorn safe? My 10 kg beagle loves them but I worry about the cob. Plain sweetcorn kernels are safe for dogs. The cob is dangerous — it can cause intestinal blockage and is a… Cats · Food safety Can crawfish give my cat diarrhoea? My 3 kg cat has a sensitive stomach. Plain cooked crawfish tail meat is safe for cats. However, cats with sensitive stomachs or allergies may… Dogs · Emergency guide How do I keep my dog away from boric acid roach bait? My 15 kg lab loves to eat anything. Boric acid is used in insecticides like roach baits and ant killers. Store products in sealed containers in… Dogs · Toxicity calculator My 9 kg terrier licked slug bait an hour ago — when will seizures start and how urgent is this? Metaldehyde from slug bait is absorbed rapidly and can cause seizures within 30 minutes to 3 hours. Signs… Cats · Food safety My 4 kg cat ate a whole raw jicama cube 30 minutes ago — what symptoms appear and when? None. Jicama is safe for cats, so you won't see poisoning symptoms. The only risk is a stomach upset if she… Dogs · Emergency guide My 15 kg dog ate a whole bag of training treats that list raisins as the last ingredient. Should I be worried? Yes, this is an emergency. The amount of raisin doesn't matter—even a few in a treat can cause sudden kidney… Dogs · Emergency guide My 6 kg dog ate half a cup of raisins; urgent? Yes, urgent. Raisins are toxic to dogs, especially small breeds. A 6 kg dog could be severely affected by…

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