Toxin Reference
What to watch for around the house.
A reference list of common toxins for dogs and cats — what they are and what early signs look like. Not a treatment guide. If your pet ate something, call us.
If your pet ate something
Don't wait for symptoms — call.
Many toxins are easier to handle in the first hour or two, before signs show up. Whether you saw it happen or just suspect it, give us a call so we can decide together what comes next.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control is available 24/7. A consultation fee may apply. Have the product, packaging, or plant ready when you call if you can.
If you're bringing them in
Bring the box, the bottle, or the plant.
The label tells us what the active ingredient is, and that changes what we do. If it's a plant, snap a clear photo or bring a leaf in a plastic bag. If you know how much and how long ago, write it down — those two numbers matter more than almost anything else.
For Dogs
Common canine toxins.
Chocolate
Dark and baking chocolate are the worst, but any chocolate can cause trouble depending on size and amount.
Signs to watch for
Vomiting, restlessness, panting, racing heart, tremors, seizures.
Xylitol (sugar-free gum, peanut butter, baked goods)
A sugar substitute hiding in more products every year — check labels on gum, mints, some peanut butters, and dental products.
Signs to watch for
Weakness, stumbling, vomiting, collapse, seizures.
Grapes & Raisins
Even small amounts have caused kidney failure in some dogs. There's no safe threshold.
Signs to watch for
Vomiting, lethargy, decreased appetite, decreased urine output.
Rodenticide (mouse & rat bait)
Comes in pellets, blocks, and grain — common around farms, sheds, and outbuildings. Different active ingredients work differently; bring the box if you can.
Signs to watch for
Bruising, bleeding from the nose or gums, weakness, pale gums, trouble breathing — often delayed by days.
Antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
Sweet-tasting and extremely toxic. Even a small puddle in a driveway is a real risk.
Signs to watch for
Wobbling like a drunk dog, vomiting, increased thirst — followed by kidney failure if not treated quickly.
Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Acetaminophen, Aspirin
Human pain relievers are not safe to give dogs. Never dose from your own medicine cabinet.
Signs to watch for
Vomiting, dark or bloody stool, decreased appetite, weakness.
Onions, Garlic, Chives, Leeks
Raw, cooked, powdered, or in table scraps — all forms cause red blood cell damage.
Signs to watch for
Lethargy, pale or yellow gums, dark urine, weakness.
Marijuana & THC Edibles
Dogs are far more sensitive than people. Edibles are especially dangerous because of dose and other ingredients (chocolate, xylitol).
Signs to watch for
Wobbliness, dribbling urine, dilated pupils, low heart rate, sensitivity to sound.
For Cats
Common feline toxins.
Lilies (Easter, Tiger, Asiatic, Day)
All parts of these lilies are dangerous to cats — petals, leaves, pollen, even the water in the vase.
Signs to watch for
Vomiting, lethargy, decreased appetite — followed by kidney failure if untreated.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
A single regular-strength tablet can be fatal to a cat. Never give human pain relievers.
Signs to watch for
Brown or blue-tinged gums, swollen face or paws, labored breathing, lethargy.
Antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
Cats are exposed in garages, driveways, and barns. Tiny amounts are lethal.
Signs to watch for
Wobbliness, vomiting, increased thirst — quickly followed by kidney failure.
Permethrin (dog flea products)
Many over-the-counter dog flea/tick spot-ons are toxic to cats. Never apply a dog product to a cat — and watch close contact between treated dogs and cats.
Signs to watch for
Tremors, twitching, drooling, seizures.
Rodenticide (mouse & rat bait)
Cats can be poisoned directly by bait or by eating a poisoned mouse. Bring the box if you can.
Signs to watch for
Weakness, bleeding from nose or gums, trouble breathing, bruising.
Essential Oils (tea tree, eucalyptus, citrus, pine, peppermint)
Diffusers and topical oils can sicken cats — they lack the liver enzymes to process many oils. Skin contact and inhalation both count.
Signs to watch for
Drooling, vomiting, tremors, low body temperature, trouble walking.
Onions, Garlic, Chives
Cats are more sensitive than dogs. Found in baby food, broths, table scraps.
Signs to watch for
Lethargy, pale gums, decreased appetite, dark urine.
Houseplants (Sago Palm, Dieffenbachia, Pothos, Philodendron)
Indoor plants that are common — and that cats love to chew.
Signs to watch for
Drooling, vomiting, mouth pain, decreased appetite.
A Note on This Page
This list is not exhaustive and isn't a substitute for a phone call. We don't publish doses, antidotes, or at-home treatments — what looks right on a page can be wrong for your specific pet, and over-the-counter advice has hurt animals out here. If you suspect a toxin exposure, call us or ASPCA Animal Poison Control. We'd rather take a call that turns out to be nothing than miss one that wasn't.
When in doubt, call.
We'd rather hear from you twice than not at all.