Poisons & toxins
what to do
If you think your pet has eaten, licked or touched something it shouldn't, act quickly — many poisonings are very treatable when caught early. This guide covers common household and garden dangers and, most importantly, what to do right now.
Do
- Call us straight away — even if you're not sure, or your pet seems fine. With poisons, sooner is always safer.
- Keep any packaging, plant or label — it tells us exactly what we're dealing with.
- Note what, how much, and when as best you can.
Don't
- Don't wait to see if symptoms appear — some poisons do their damage before any signs show.
- Don't try to make your pet sick unless we've told you to — it can do more harm.
- Don't give milk, salt, food or any internet remedy.
Foods
Contains theobromine and caffeine — the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous.
Signs: Vomiting, restlessness, racing heart, tremors, seizures.
Can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, even in small amounts — and sensitivity is unpredictable.
Signs: Vomiting, lethargy, reduced or no urination.
Causes a rapid, dangerous drop in blood sugar and can damage the liver in dogs.
Signs: Weakness, wobbliness, collapse, seizures.
Damage red blood cells and cause anaemia (cooked, raw or powdered). Cats are especially sensitive.
Signs: Lethargy, pale gums, reduced appetite — often days later.
Cause weakness and tremors in dogs.
Signs: Hind-leg weakness, wobbliness, tremor, vomiting.
Alcohol is rapidly toxic; raw dough ferments in the stomach, making alcohol and gas.
Signs: Wobbliness, low temperature, a swollen stomach.
Household & cleaning
Tastes sweet and is extremely toxic — tiny amounts can cause fatal kidney failure, especially in cats. A true emergency.
Signs: Wobbliness, then seeming better, then kidney failure.
Concentrated nicotine is rapidly toxic.
Signs: Vomiting, tremors, racing heart, collapse.
Cause burns to the mouth, throat and gut.
Signs: Drooling, mouth pain, vomiting, reluctance to eat.
Concentrated detergent — cause vomiting, and breathing problems if inhaled.
Signs: Drooling, vomiting, coughing.
Cats in particular can’t process many oils — toxic by mouth or on the skin.
Signs: Drooling, wobbliness, low temperature.
Cause severe chemical burns if chewed or swallowed.
Signs: Drooling, mouth pain, vomiting.
Plants & garden
Every part — leaves, flowers, pollen, even the vase water — can cause fatal kidney failure in cats. One of the most dangerous of all.
Signs: Drooling, vomiting, then kidney failure.
The bulbs especially cause vomiting, drooling and heart or breathing problems.
Signs: Drooling, vomiting, wobbliness.
Affect the heart.
Signs: Drooling, vomiting, collapse, abnormal heartbeat.
Causes severe liver damage.
Signs: Vomiting, lethargy, yellow gums.
Cause stomach upset and can block the gut.
Signs: Vomiting, lethargy, straining.
Impossible to tell the safe from the deadly — treat any mushroom your pet eats as urgent.
Signs: Varies widely; from upset stomach to collapse.
Medications
Even one tablet can be fatal to a cat, and it is toxic to dogs too. Never give human painkillers to pets.
Signs: Wobbliness, brown/blue gums, swollen face or paws.
Cause stomach ulcers and kidney damage.
Signs: Vomiting (sometimes with blood), no appetite, lethargy.
Cause agitation, tremors, racing heart or heavy sedation.
Signs: Restlessness or drowsiness, tremors, wobbliness.
Dangerous to the kidneys.
Signs: Increased thirst, vomiting, lethargy.
Cause agitation and heart problems.
Signs: Restlessness, racing heart, tremors.
Garden & garage
Cause rapid tremors and seizures — act fast.
Signs: Twitching, tremors, seizures, high temperature.
Cause internal bleeding — and signs can be delayed for days, so call even if your pet seems fine.
Signs: Pale gums, bruising, bleeding, lethargy, breathlessness.
Follow the product instructions and keep pets off treated areas until fully dry.
Signs: Drooling, vomiting, skin or eye irritation.
In ponds, lochs and reservoirs in warm weather — can be rapidly fatal. Keep pets out of green, scummy water.
Signs: Vomiting, drooling, wobbliness, seizures, collapse.
When you call, try to have ready
- What your pet ate or touched (and the packaging or plant if you have it)
- Roughly how much, and how long ago
- Your pet's rough weight, and any existing health conditions or medicines
- Any symptoms you've noticed
This guide is a general reference and doesn't cover every poison or replace veterinary advice. If in any doubt, call us — it's always better to check. The Veterinary Wellness Centre.