What to Do If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic

Step 1: Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

Your pet needs you to remain calm. Panicking makes it harder to communicate effectively with your vet and can also distress your pet further. Take a breath and focus on gathering the information you need to get help quickly.

Do not attempt to induce vomiting unless you are specifically instructed to do so by a vet or animal poison specialist. Inducing vomiting is appropriate for some toxins but can cause serious additional harm with others (for example, caustic substances, hydrocarbons, or certain toxins that are more dangerous when brought back up through the oesophagus).

Step 2: Gather Information

Before you call your vet, try to establish: what your pet ate (or what you suspect they ate); an estimate of how much was consumed; when it was eaten (how many minutes or hours ago); your pet's current symptoms, if any; your pet's weight (approximately, if you don't know exactly).

If your pet ate a packaged product, keep the packaging and take it with you to the vet — the full ingredient list and product name will help the vet calculate the dose of any toxic compounds. If your pet ate a plant, take a photograph of it or, if safe to do so, a small sample in a sealed bag.

Step 3: Call for Help Immediately

Contact your vet as soon as possible. Most veterinary practices have an out-of-hours emergency number — keep this number saved in your phone before an emergency occurs. Tell them what your pet has eaten, how much, when, and any symptoms you have noticed.

If you cannot reach your own vet: in the UK, you can call the Animal Poison Line on 01202 509 000 (charges apply — typically around £35 per call). This is a specialist veterinary toxicology service staffed by qualified professionals who can advise on risk level and urgency. The PDSA also offers a 24-hour veterinary advice line.

Do not call NHS 111 for a pet — this service is for humans only. In an emergency, any registered veterinary practice in the UK is legally obliged to provide first aid treatment.

Step 4: Keep Your Pet Safe While You Seek Help

Keep your pet as calm and still as possible — exercise increases the circulation of many toxins through the body. Keep them warm and comfortable. If you have other pets, separate them. If your pet has vomited, do not let them re-ingest the vomit.

Do not give your pet any milk, salt water, or human medications (including paracetamol, ibuprofen, or aspirin) in an attempt to treat the poisoning — these can cause additional harm. Wait for specific guidance from your vet.

Step 5: At the Vet

Bring all packaging, plant samples, and any information you have gathered. Be honest and precise about what and how much your pet ate — vets are not there to judge you, and accurate information allows them to provide the most appropriate treatment.

Treatment will depend on what was eaten, how long ago, and your pet's current condition. It may include induced vomiting, activated charcoal to reduce absorption of the toxin, intravenous fluid therapy to support organ function, specific antidotes where they exist (such as Vitamin K for rodenticide poisoning), and supportive care while the toxin is metabolised and eliminated.

Afterward, your vet will advise on home monitoring and any follow-up needed. Some toxins — such as certain rodenticides or antifreeze — cause delayed effects, and your pet may need monitoring over several days even if they appear well initially.

Preventing Accidental Poisoning

Many cases of pet poisoning are preventable. Keep cleaning products, medications, and chemicals in secure cupboards. Store human food safely out of reach — including food in handbags, shopping bags, and on counters. Check your garden for toxic plants and remove them. Know which foods are toxic to your specific pet and keep them safely stored.

Use TreatCheck to check the safety of any food before offering it to your pet. If you are unsure about any food or substance, it is always better to check first rather than assume it is safe.