Pet Poison Lookup Database
Instantly check whether a food, plant, medication or household chemical is safe or toxic to dogs and cats. Includes severity, symptoms, and what to do next — plus 24/7 poison-hotline numbers.
ASPCA: +1 (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline: +1 (855) 764-7661 (fees apply, 24/7).
Symptoms: Vomiting, lethargy, acute kidney failure within 24–72 h
What to do: Emergency vet immediately — no safe dose exists.
Symptoms: Hypoglycemia within 30 min, liver failure within 24 h
What to do: Emergency vet NOW. Found in sugar-free gum, peanut butter, toothpaste.
Symptoms: Vomiting, GI ulcers, kidney failure
What to do: Emergency vet — even one pill can be fatal to a cat.
Symptoms: Brown gums, difficulty breathing, liver failure
What to do: Emergency vet. Cats lack the enzyme to metabolize it.
Symptoms: Drunken gait, then kidney failure within 24–72 h
What to do: Emergency vet within 3 hours — antidote is time-critical.
Symptoms: Vomiting, lethargy, kidney failure within 24–72 h
What to do: Emergency vet — even pollen or vase water can kill a cat.
Symptoms: Vomiting, dark stool, liver failure
What to do: Emergency vet — 50%+ mortality even with treatment.
Symptoms: Bleeding, weakness, seizures (varies by type)
What to do: Emergency vet — bring packaging so vet identifies active ingredient.
Symptoms: See Xylitol above
What to do: Emergency vet immediately.
Symptoms: Vomiting, hyperactivity, tremors, arrhythmia
What to do: Call vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435). Dark & baker's chocolate most dangerous.
Symptoms: Weakness, pale gums, dark urine (hemolytic anemia)
What to do: Call vet — cats far more sensitive than dogs.
Symptoms: Weakness in hind legs, tremors, hyperthermia
What to do: Usually self-limits in 24–48 h but call vet.
Symptoms: Wobbly gait, dilated pupils, urine dribbling
What to do: Vet — recovery usually 12–24 h; edibles with chocolate/xylitol more dangerous.
Symptoms: Restlessness, arrhythmia, seizures
What to do: Vet if a coffee grounds / tea / caffeine pill ingestion.
Symptoms: Drooling, oral ulcers, vomiting
What to do: Rinse mouth with water/milk — do NOT induce vomiting. Call poison control.
How it works
Veterinary Toxicology, Toxicokinetics, and Poison Emergency Decontamination
Companion animals possess unique metabolic vulnerabilities that render common human foods, household plants, and over-the-counter chemicals severely toxic or fatal. In veterinary toxicology, the severity of poisoning is governed by the toxic dose equation: $Dose (mg/kg) = rac{ ext{Quantity Ingested (mg)}}{ ext{Patient Body Weight (kg)}}$.
Under emergency standards established by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) and the Pet Poison Helpline:
Top 5 Lethal Household Pet Toxins: 1. Xylitol / Birch Bark Extract (Dogs): Hypoglycemia + Acute Hepatic Necrosis (Dose: > 0.1 g/kg) 2. Lilies / Lilium & Hemerocallis (Cats): Fatal Acute Renal Tubular Necrosis (A single bite/pollen) 3. Dark Chocolate / Theobromine & Caffeine: Cardiac Arrhythmias + Seizures (Dose: > 20 mg/kg) 4. Human NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen): Perforating Gastric Ulcers + Acute Renal Failure 5. Anticoagulant Rodenticides (Rat Poison): Internal Hemorrhaging (Depletes Vitamin K1)
Immediate Emergency Action Protocols
- DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING AT HOME WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE: Administering hydrogen peroxide to cats is ineffective and causes severe hemorrhagic gastritis. In dogs, inducing vomiting is strictly contraindicated if the ingested substance is caustic (bleach, battery acid), a hydrocarbon, or if the animal is sedated or seizing (causes fatal pulmonary aspiration).
- Call Emergency Toxicology Hotlines:
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
- Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661
Identify pharmaceuticals with Pet Pill Identifier, locate 24/7 care via Emergency Vet Finder, check medication dosages using Pet Medication Calculator, and explore toxic plant databases at ASPCA APCC.
Examples
- ChocolateTOXIC — dark and baker's most dangerous
- LilyDEADLY for cats — even pollen or vase water
- XylitolDEADLY — hypoglycemia within 30 min