If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic 2025: Vet Backed Emergency Advice 🐶🐱

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Panicked because your dog ate chocolate or your cat got into your houseplants? You’re not alone—and acting fast can save your pet’s life.

I’m Dr. Duncan Houston, veterinarian and founder of Ask A Vet. Here’s what to do immediately if you think your pet has eaten something toxic, including emergency tips, what to avoid, and how to know if it’s life-threatening.

🚨 First Steps – If You Know or Suspect Poisoning

• 🔒 Remove access to the toxin immediately
• 📦 Save the packaging (label, ingredients, dose)
• 📞 Call a vet or poison hotline right away
• 📝 Note when it was eaten and how much (estimate if needed)

Do NOT:

• Force vomiting unless a vet tells you to
• Give food, water, milk, or oil
• Wait and see “if they’re okay”

☠️ Common Household Toxins (Dogs & Cats)

Foods

• Chocolate (the darker, the worse)
• Grapes/raisins
• Onions, garlic, leeks
• Xylitol (in gum, mints, peanut butter)
• Macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine

Plants

• Lilies (especially toxic to cats)
• Sago palm
• Oleander
• Aloe vera
• Pothos, philodendron

Medications

• Ibuprofen, aspirin, Panadol (paracetamol)
• Antidepressants, ADHD meds
• Heart or blood pressure pills
• Vet meds not meant for their species or dose

Cleaning & Chemicals

• Bleach, disinfectants
• Essential oils (especially tea tree, eucalyptus)
• Rodent poison, slug bait

🧪 Signs of Toxicity

• Vomiting, diarrhea
• Excessive drooling or foaming
• Shaking, tremors, seizures
• Weakness or collapse
• Changes in heart rate or breathing
• Pale gums or jaundice

🏥 What Vets Might Do

• Induce vomiting with apomorphine (if safe)
• Administer activated charcoal to absorb toxins
• IV fluids to flush kidneys/liver
• Anti-seizure or anti-nausea medications
• Hospital monitoring for several hours or days

📦 Keep These On Hand at Home

• Hydrogen peroxide (3%) – only use if told to induce vomiting
• Phone numbers for vet and poison control
• Pet first-aid kit and muzzle (some animals become reactive)

🔗 Support Products from Ask A Vet

• Ask A Vet – 24/7 vet chat and fast triage for toxic exposures

📋 Summary Excerpt

If your pet eats something toxic, acting fast could save their life. A vet explains exactly what to do and what not to do in an emergency.

❓ FAQs

• Q: Should I make my dog vomit after eating chocolate?
  A: Only if your vet advises it. In some cases, vomiting makes things worse.
• Q: What if my cat chews a lily leaf?
  A: That’s an emergency. Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and require immediate care.
• Q: Can a small piece of onion harm my dog?
  A: Yes—even a small amount can damage red blood cells in some dogs.