Pet Toxicity Reference
Things toxic to dogs and cats — 39 substances, what to do
Foods, plants, human medications, and household chemicals that poison pets. Every entry has symptoms, a timeline, what to do right now, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center line. If you're here because something already happened, scroll to the substance or call now.
Or Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Both lines charge a consultation fee.
Foods toxic to dogs and cats
Common kitchen items — chocolate, grapes, xylitol, onions — that cause real emergencies. Some kill at small doses.
- Alcohol Emergency
Dogs metabolize ethanol more slowly than humans on a per-bodyweight basis, and they are far smaller — meaning a beer left on the floor ca…
Read what to do - Avocado Emergency
The short answer: probably not in a life-threatening sense if your dog ate a small amount of flesh.
Read what to do - Caffeine Emergency
Caffeine is in the same methylxanthine family as theobromine (the chocolate toxin) — and is often MORE concentrated in coffee grounds, te…
Read what to do - Chocolate Emergency
Chocolate contains theobromine, which dogs metabolize about three times slower than humans.
Read what to do - Corn cob Emergency
Often yes.
Read what to do - Grapes & raisins Emergency
Yes.
Read what to do - Macadamia nuts Emergency
Macadamia nuts are one of the few common toxins where vets honestly say 'we do not yet know exactly why'.
Read what to do - Mushrooms Emergency
Treat every wild mushroom as potentially fatal.
Read what to do - Nutmeg Emergency
Nutmeg toxicity in dogs is dose-dependent.
Read what to do - Onion & garlic Emergency
All allium plants — onion, garlic, leek, chives, shallot — damage red blood cells in dogs and cats.
Read what to do - Raw Dough Emergency
Raw bread or pizza dough is one of the most under-appreciated dog emergencies.
Read what to do - Salt Emergency
Sodium poisoning (hypernatremia) in dogs is dose-dependent.
Read what to do - Stone fruit pits Emergency
Cherry, peach, plum, apricot, and nectarine pits are dangerous to dogs in two ways at once: physical obstruction (a peach pit is the size…
Read what to do - Xylitol Emergency
Xylitol is one of the most acutely toxic household ingredients for dogs.
Read what to do - Canned tuna (cats)
Canned tuna is one of the most popular cat treats and one of the most misunderstood.
Read what to do - Cooked bones
Cooked bones splinter easily and can injure the mouth, throat, stomach, or intestine.
Read what to do - Milk & dairy (cats)
Most adult cats are lactose intolerant — they lose the lactase enzyme needed to digest milk sugar after kittenhood.
Read what to do - Raw Eggs
This is NOT one of the acute pet-tox emergencies.
Read what to do - Raw fish (cats)
The short answer: occasional small amounts of raw fish are usually fine for healthy cats.
Read what to do
Plants toxic to dogs and cats
Indoor + outdoor plants. Lilies are the leading cause of cat kidney failure; sago palms kill dogs.
- Azalea Emergency
Azaleas and rhododendrons (Rhododendron species) are some of the most common landscape plants in the US, and one of the more dangerous.
Read what to do - Castor Bean Emergency
Castor bean (Ricinus communis, also called castor oil plant) contains ricin — one of the most potent natural toxins known.
Read what to do - Foxglove Emergency
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is the plant source of digoxin and digitoxin — the same cardiac glycosides used as a heart medication in hu…
Read what to do - Lilies (cats) Emergency
Yes.
Read what to do - Lily of the valley Emergency
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is unrelated to true lilies (Lilium / Hemerocallis — those are kidney-toxic for cats specifically).
Read what to do - Oleander Emergency
Oleander (Nerium oleander, also called rose laurel) is one of the most acutely cardiotoxic plants commonly found in US landscapes.
Read what to do - Sago palm Emergency
Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) — and closely related cycads often confused with it (cardboard palm, coontie, false sago) — is among the most…
Read what to do - Yew Emergency
Yew (Taxus species — English yew, Japanese yew, and others) is one of the most acutely fatal plants for dogs in the United States.
Read what to do - Aloe Vera
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is a popular indoor and outdoor succulent — and one of the more common 'my dog ate my plant' calls to vets i…
Read what to do - Peace Lily
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is NOT a true lily despite the name — that confusion matters because true lilies (Lilium / Hemerocallis) are k…
Read what to do - Philodendron
Philodendron is one of the most popular indoor houseplants in the US — many varieties, all sharing the same toxin: insoluble calcium oxal…
Read what to do - Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum, also called devil's ivy or golden pothos) is one of the most common indoor houseplants in the US — and one of…
Read what to do
Medications dangerous to pets
Human OTC drugs that poison pets at doses we routinely take. Often the most common emergency call.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Emergency
Yes — especially for cats.
Read what to do - Aspirin Emergency
Yes — especially for cats.
Read what to do - Ibuprofen (Advil) Emergency
Yes.
Read what to do - Imodium (loperamide) Emergency
Often yes.
Read what to do - Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Benadryl (active ingredient: diphenhydramine) is sometimes recommended by vets for mild allergies, motion sickness, or as a mild sedative…
Read what to do
Household chemicals + other hazards
Pest poisons, essential oils, cleaners, antifreeze — things every household has but pets shouldn't touch.
Don't see your substance?
We cover 39of the most common pet toxins in depth. For substances not in this directory, check the ASPCA's full toxic plant database or call the Animal Poison Control Center directly — they can advise on virtually anything.
Common questions about pet poisoning
- What should I do if my pet ate something I think is toxic?
- Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435, 24/7 in the US) immediately. Note the substance, approximate amount, and time of ingestion. Take the packaging or a photo to the vet. Do not induce vomiting at home unless directly told to by a vet.
- What are the most common pet poisonings?
- Chocolate, grapes/raisins, xylitol (sugar-free sweetener), onions/garlic, and human medications (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Benadryl) are the most common pet poisoning emergencies in the United States. For cats specifically, lily plants are the leading cause of acute kidney failure.
- Can I induce vomiting at home if my pet ate something poisonous?
- Not without veterinary guidance. Some toxins (caustic substances like bleach, or phosphide rodenticides) cause more damage on the way back up. Even when vomiting is the right move, the timing and method matter. Always call your vet or ASPCA APCC first.
- How fast do pet poisoning symptoms appear?
- It depends on the substance. Chocolate symptoms appear 2-12 hours after ingestion; grape toxicity may not show clinically for 24-72 hours but kidney injury is already occurring. Some rat poisons cause no symptoms for 3-5 days. Never wait for symptoms to call the vet.
- Are cats more sensitive than dogs to most poisons?
- For many human medications and essential oils, yes. Cats lack key liver enzymes (UDP-glucuronosyltransferase) that mammals normally use to process drugs and certain plant compounds. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, tea tree oil, and lilies are all more dangerous to cats than dogs.