Emergency — phone the vet now
Within 30–60 minutes for many toxins
Suspected poisoning in a dog or cat
Phone Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 and your vet — bring the packaging or a sample, do not wait for symptoms.
Recognise the signs
- Vomiting or diarrhoea, sometimes with blood
- Drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Tremors, twitching, seizures
- Wobbliness, weakness, collapse
- Pale, yellow, or very red gums
- Excessive thirst or urination
- Difficulty breathing
First aid steps
- Remove the pet from the source — secure any remaining product.
- Phone Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 (paid service ~£35) for species-specific advice, or your vet directly.
- Take the packaging, the plant, or a photo — the active ingredient drives treatment.
- If advised by the vet, drive to the practice immediately.
Do NOT
- Do not induce vomiting unless explicitly told to by a vet — some toxins (corrosives, petroleum products) cause more damage on the way back up.
- Do not give salt water, mustard, hydrogen peroxide, or any home emetic — these are not safe and can themselves cause harm.
- Do not give milk — it does not neutralise toxins.
- Do not wait for symptoms to confirm poisoning — many toxins have a symptom-free window where treatment is most effective.
While transporting to the vet
- Bring the packaging, vomit sample, or a piece of the plant in a sealed bag.
- Note the approximate time of ingestion and amount, even if you are guessing.
- Keep the pet warm and quiet; place a vomiting pet on towels and on its side.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Seizures, collapse, or unresponsiveness
- Difficulty breathing or blue/grey gums
- Known ingestion of grapes, xylitol, lilies (cat), antifreeze, or rodenticide regardless of current state
- Repeated vomiting with blood
Common causes
- Foods: chocolate, grapes/raisins/sultanas, xylitol, onion/garlic, alcohol
- Medications: ibuprofen, paracetamol, antidepressants
- Garden/household: slug pellets, rodenticides, antifreeze, lily plants (cats)
- Spring/autumn: bluebells, daffodil bulbs, conkers, acorns
- Recreational: cannabis edibles, vapes containing nicotine
What the vet will need to know
- Suspected substance and brand name
- Active ingredient (read from packaging)
- Approximate amount ingested
- Estimated time of ingestion
- Pet's weight
- Any current symptoms and when they started
Aftercare
- Treatment varies by toxin: induced vomiting, activated charcoal, IV fluids, specific antidotes.
- Hospitalisation often required for monitoring liver, kidneys, or clotting.
- Repeat bloods may be needed at 48–72 hours and beyond depending on toxin.
- Identify the source at home and remove permanently.
Prevention
- Keep all human medications in closed cupboards, ideally above counter height.
- Store rodenticide in tamper-proof bait stations, never loose.
- No lilies in a household with cats — even pollen on fur is dangerous.
- Check antifreeze containers and car parking spots for spills in winter.
- Save the Animal PoisonLine number (01202 509000) in your phone now.
Frequently asked questions
Should I phone Animal PoisonLine or my vet first?
Either works. Animal PoisonLine has comprehensive species-specific data and is roughly £35 — often cheaper than an out-of-hours vet consultation for a non-symptomatic case. For symptomatic pets, phone the vet directly and get moving.
How long do I have once my pet has eaten something toxic?
It depends entirely on the substance and amount. For some (xylitol, antifreeze) the window is under an hour. For others (rodenticide, grapes) symptoms appear days later but treatment is most effective in the first hours. Treat all known ingestion as urgent.
Can I just give milk or bread to soak it up?
No. Milk and bread do not neutralise toxins and may delay you getting proper treatment. Only give food or water if specifically told to by a vet.