Poisoning is one of the top reasons pet owners call emergency veterinary hospitals. Many toxins are common household items — food on the counter, plants in the living room, medications in a purse. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled over 400,000 calls in 2022. Most poisoning cases are preventable with awareness. This article covers the highest-risk toxins for dogs, cats, and small mammals, with specific signs and emergency actions for each.
Pending expert review. If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxin, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680) immediately. Do not wait for signs of illness.
Emergency Contacts
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 — 24/7, $95 consultation fee
- Pet Poison Helpline: (800) 213-6680 — 24/7, fee applies
- Your veterinarian or nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital
Bring the product label, plant name, or food item when you call — the more specific the information, the better the guidance.
Toxic Foods: Dogs
- Xylitol: Extremely dangerous. Found in sugar-free gum (especially Trident, Orbit), some peanut butters (check labels), baked goods, dental products, some vitamins. Even small amounts cause precipitous blood sugar drop and, in larger amounts, acute liver failure. Signs: weakness, vomiting, seizures, jaundice. Fatal if untreated. Emergency treatment immediately.
- Grapes and raisins: Cause acute kidney failure in some dogs; the mechanism is still unknown and there is no safe amount established. Even one grape has caused kidney failure in some dogs. Raisins are more concentrated and therefore more dangerous per unit weight.
- Chocolate: Contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs metabolize slowly. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate most dangerous; milk chocolate requires larger amounts. Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, muscle tremors, elevated heart rate, seizures. A 50 lb dog ingesting 2 oz of dark chocolate warrants a call to poison control.
- Onions, garlic, leeks, chives: All forms — raw, cooked, powdered. Cause oxidative damage to red blood cells (Heinz body anemia). Toxicity is cumulative; a small amount daily over days is more dangerous than a one-time exposure.
- Macadamia nuts: Cause weakness, hyperthermia, tremors, lethargy. Not typically fatal but significant clinical signs. Mechanism unknown.
- Alcohol: Rapid absorption; much more dangerous for pets than humans. Signs: vomiting, disorientation, low blood sugar, respiratory depression, coma.
- Raw yeast dough: Rises in the warm stomach; produces alcohol as it ferments. Causes both gastric dilation and alcohol toxicosis simultaneously.
- Avocado: Persin in the fruit, pits, and leaves causes vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. The pit also poses a choking/obstruction risk.
Toxic Foods: Cats
Cats are obligate carnivores with extremely limited liver metabolism (lack of specific glucuronosyltransferases). This makes them vulnerable to many compounds that dogs can handle:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Fatal to cats. Causes methemoglobinemia (inability of blood to carry oxygen) and liver failure. A single regular-strength tablet (325 mg) can kill a cat. Signs: brown/muddy gum color, facial edema (puffy face), rapid breathing, lethargy. Emergency treatment required immediately.
- Onions and garlic: Even more toxic to cats than dogs, gram for gram. Baby food containing onion powder is a commonly overlooked source.
- Raw fish (repeated feeding): Contains thiaminase which destroys thiamine (vitamin B1); thiamine deficiency causes neurological disease. Not a risk from occasional feeding.
| Toxin | Dogs | Cats | Key Signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xylitol | Critical | Moderate | Seizures, liver failure |
| Grapes/Raisins | Critical | Low risk | Acute kidney failure |
| Chocolate (dark) | Dangerous | Moderate | Tremors, cardiac arrhythmia |
| Acetaminophen | Dangerous | Fatal | Liver failure, methemoglobin |
| Onions/Garlic | Dangerous | Very dangerous | Heinz body anemia (cumulative) |
| True Lilies | Low risk | Fatal | Acute kidney failure in cats |
Toxic Plants
Life-threatening for cats — true lilies: All parts of Lilium (Easter lily, tiger lily, stargazer lily, Asiatic lily) and Hemerocallis (daylily) species cause acute kidney failure in cats. Eating even a few petals or leaves is potentially fatal. Pollen on paws groomed off is sufficient for toxicity. Keep all true lilies permanently out of homes with cats.
Highly toxic for both dogs and cats:
- Sago palm (Cycas revoluta): All parts toxic; seeds most concentrated. Causes liver failure. Found in landscapes in warm climates and as indoor decorative plants.
- Oleander: Causes cardiac arrhythmias. All parts toxic, including water in which flowers were placed.
- Autumn crocus (Colchicum): Causes multi-organ failure; far more toxic than spring crocus.
- Yew (Taxus): All parts except the red berry flesh. Causes sudden cardiac death; animals may be found dead without premonitory signs.
- Castor bean: Ricin source; extremely toxic; small amounts lethal
Moderate toxicity (still require veterinary evaluation): Azalea, rhododendron, tulip and hyacinth bulbs, kalanchoe, foxglove, pothos, philodendron, dumb cane (Dieffenbachia).
The ASPCA maintains a searchable toxic plant database at aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants.
Medications
- NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen): Common cause of dog and cat poisoning. Causes gastric ulcers and kidney failure. Even one or two tablets causes significant toxicity in a small dog.
- Acetaminophen: Toxic to both dogs and cats; deadly to cats (see above).
- Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs): Dropped or chewed tablets are a frequent cause of poisoning. Cause seizures, sedation, cardiac arrhythmias.
- ADD/ADHD medications (amphetamines): High toxicity; cause severe agitation, hyperthermia, seizures, cardiovascular collapse.
- Veterinary flea products containing permethrin: Safe for dogs; causes severe neurological toxicity in cats (tremors, seizures). Never apply dog flea products to cats; do not allow a cat to contact a treated dog until the product is fully dry.
Household Products
- Antifreeze (ethylene glycol): Sweet taste attracts pets. Initial signs mimic intoxication; within 12–24 hours causes acute kidney failure. Antidote (fomepizole in dogs, ethanol in cats) must be given within hours. Fatal if treatment delayed beyond the initial window.
- Rodenticides (rat poison): Three main types with different mechanisms: anticoagulants (signs delayed 3–5 days), bromethalin (neurotoxic; rapid onset), zinc phosphide (releases toxic gas in stomach). All require prompt treatment; some have antidotes, some do not. Know which product is in your home.
- Bleach and cleaning products: Cause oral and GI irritation; rarely fatal with typical exposures. Dilute with water; do not induce vomiting for caustic substances.
- Essential oils (diffused and topical): Cats are particularly sensitive. Tea tree oil, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, clove oil — cause neurological signs and liver toxicity. Keep diffusers out of rooms cats occupy for extended periods.
Safe storage rule: Treat all human medications, cleaning products, and yard chemicals as you would in a home with a toddler. Locked cabinets, not just closed ones. Purses left on the floor are a common source of medication ingestion — pills fall out of non-childproof containers easily.