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Pet ate something toxic? What to do now

Call your vet or an animal poison line right away — don't wait for signs. These steps come from veterinary and welfare organisations; the numbers are from their official pages.

Updated:

What to do, step by step

  1. Stay calm and act straight away.
  2. Move your pet away from the substance.
  3. Check that your pet is breathing and acting normally.
  4. Call your vet or an animal poison line right away. Tell them what happened, when and where.
  5. Do not wait for signs of illness — call even if your pet seems fine.
  6. Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to. It can do more harm than good.
  7. Do not give home remedies such as salt water, and don't act on random tips from the internet.
  8. Note what your pet ate, roughly how much and when.
  9. If you can do it safely, take the packaging, label, plant or substance with you to the vet.

24-hour help by country

Only numbers we found on an official page. Your own vet is always a good first call.

  • United States · Animal poison lineASPCA Animal Poison Control Center(888) 426-443524 hours a day, 365 days a year · A consultation fee may applyOfficial page
  • United States · Animal poison linePet Poison Helpline(855) 764-766124/7 · $99 per incidentOfficial page
  • United Kingdom · Animal poison lineAnimal PoisonLine (Veterinary Poisons Information Service)01202 509 00024 hours a day · £35 per call 8am–8pm Mon–Fri, £45 at other timesOfficial page
  • Australia · Animal poison lineAnimal Poisons Helpline1300 869 73824/7 · From AUD 79 (private service)New Zealand: 0800 869 738Official page
  • Slovenia · Emergency vetUniverza v Ljubljani, Veterinarska fakulteta — Klinika za male živali+386 30 716 190Emergency number reachable 24 hours a day (dogs and cats) · The call is freeOfficial page
  • Croatia · Emergency vetSveučilište u Zagrebu, Veterinarski fakultet — Sveučilišna veterinarska bolnicaNo phone lineEmergency intake 24 hours a day — come in without callingThe emergency desk does not answer phone calls.Official page

Your country isn't listed? Call your own vet or the nearest emergency vet clinic.

Sources

  1. RSPCA
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control
  3. Pet Poison Helpline
  4. PDSA
  5. International Cat Care

General information from the sources below, not reviewed by a vet and not a substitute for veterinary advice. When in doubt, call your vet.