What to Do if Your Dog Eats Something Toxic

If your dog eats something toxic, take them away from the source, find out what and how much they swallowed, and call your vet, an emergency clinic or an animal poison hotline right away. Do not wait for signs, and do not try to make your dog vomit or give home remedies. Those decisions belong to a vet or poison specialist.

Stay as calm as you can. A clear plan and a quick phone call are the two most useful things you can offer your dog.

What to do right now

1. Remove your dog from the area. Take away what is left of the substance, but protect yourself first. Some products need gloves.
2. Check that your dog is breathing and alert. If your dog has collapsed, is having a seizure or struggles to breathe, head for the nearest emergency clinic and call ahead. If your dog is trembling or convulsing, move them somewhere safe from stairs and furniture.
3. Work out what happened. What did your dog swallow, roughly how much, and when? Keep the packaging, label or plant sample. If your dog vomits, save a sample in a plastic bag.
4. Call for advice. Phone your veterinarian or a local emergency clinic. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply). Outside the US, call your local emergency vet. If you are heading to the clinic, call ahead so the team knows you are coming.
5. Follow the instructions you are given, and bring the packaging with you.

If you can, have someone stay with your dog until the risk is clear.

What to have ready when you call

The person on the line will want facts. Keep this information handy:

• Your dog's breed, age, weight and any symptoms
• The product name, active ingredient and strength, from the packaging
• How much your dog may have eaten, and when
• Whether your dog has vomited

The active ingredient, its concentration and the amount swallowed are what help a vet decide whether treatment is needed and what kind.

What not to do

• Do not make your dog vomit. Some substances, such as drain cleaner, do more damage on the way back up, and the decision belongs to a vet or poison specialist.
• Do not give home remedies or antidotes. For acids and alkalis in particular, trying to neutralize the chemical can make the injury worse.
• Do not give milk, unless a veterinary professional advises it. It is rarely helpful.
• Do not give activated charcoal from your own supply. It is less effective than what a vet provides.
• Do not wait for symptoms. Mouth burns can take hours to appear, and damage in the throat or stomach may not be visible at all.
• Do not rely on random websites. Toxicity advice online is often wrong, so check with a veterinary professional.
• Do not give your own medication.

Caustic products such as drain cleaner can burn the mouth and throat. A vet or poison specialist may tell you to rinse your dog's mouth with lukewarm water, angled away from the back of the throat. Do that only on their advice.

Signs of poisoning

Signs depend on the toxin and can be delayed, so a normal-looking dog is not necessarily a safe dog. Milder signs include tiredness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and nausea. More serious ones include agitation, heavy sedation, tremors, twitching, seizures and collapse.

What happens at the emergency clinic

When you arrive, staff will probably take your dog to a treatment area to check vital signs and stabilize them. Do not be alarmed if they whisk your dog away quickly. You may be asked whether the team can induce vomiting. Vets sometimes do this as a first decontamination step, and doing it sooner can help, but it is a decision for the clinic, not something to try at home.

The vet may consult ASPCA Animal Poison Control, then talk to you about likely signs and next steps, including any further treatment your dog needs. You will get a cost estimate for any extra treatment, and hospitalization may be needed if the toxin could cause serious problems. Some toxins also need a follow-up check with bloodwork.

Before you leave, make sure you understand any care at home and the warning signs to watch for.

Common culprits and why speed matters

• Foods. The AVMA lists alcohol, avocado, chocolate, coffee, grapes and raisins, garlic, onions, macadamia nuts, xylitol, raw yeast dough, fatty foods and salty snacks as foods to keep away from dogs. For chocolate, our toxicity calculator can help you gauge the situation while you call, but it never replaces advice from a vet or poison hotline.
• Human medications. They rank among the most commonly reported causes of pet poisoning. Examples include ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, aspirin, antidepressants, vitamins and iron.
• Rat and mouse poison. Eating the bait, or an animal that ate it, can cause serious or fatal illness. The active ingredients differ in strength, some have an antidote and others do not, and you cannot tell them apart by sight. Take the box with you.
• Antifreeze. Ethylene glycol can be fatal even in small amounts. Our guide to winter hazards for dogs explains why speed matters.
• Batteries and small objects. Coins, buttons, batteries, jewelry and screws can be swallowed and may need surgery to remove.

Our list of toxic household items for dogs helps you lock these away before they cause a problem.

When to call your vet

Always call when you suspect your dog has eaten something harmful, even if they seem fine. Go to an emergency clinic straight away if your dog:

• Collapses, seizes or has trouble breathing
• Is drooling, pawing at the mouth or crying in pain
• Vomits repeatedly
• Is very sleepy, wobbly or agitated

Keep the poison hotline numbers and your nearest 24-hour clinic saved in your phone.

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Editorial policy