Signs of Poisoning in Dogs and Cats: What to Look For
Know or suspect your pet has eaten something harmful? Phone your vet or your national animal poison line now, before any signs appear. Pet Poison Helpline says the sooner a poisoned pet is treated, the better the outcome. Find an emergency vet
This page is not veterinary advice. It lists the signs Pet Poison Helpline publishes so you can describe them to a vet. Many poisons cause no signs at first; a pet that looks fine may not be fine. Not veterinary advice.
On this page (7 sections)
Stomach and gut
Pet Poison Helpline lists vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, not eating and nausea. Source: Pet Poison Helpline, Know the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats.
Internal bleeding
It lists coughing or vomiting blood, pale gums, a racing heart, weakness or lethargy, and collapse. Source: Pet Poison Helpline, Know the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats.
Kidneys
It lists bad breath with a "uremic" smell, not eating, vomiting, diarrhoea, drinking or urinating more, and passing little or no urine. Antifreeze and grapes are two causes with their own pages: antifreeze and grapes and raisins. Source: Pet Poison Helpline, Know the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats.
Liver
It lists yellow gums (jaundice), weakness or collapse from low blood sugar, dullness or odd behaviour, vomiting, diarrhoea and black, tarry stools. Xylitol is one cause: xylitol and dogs. Source: Pet Poison Helpline, Know the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats.
Why not to wait for signs
Pet Poison Helpline says its list is not complete and that the sooner a pet is treated, the better the outcome. Several common poisons, antifreeze and onion among them, look like nothing for hours or days. Source: Pet Poison Helpline, Know the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats. More: onions and cats.
What to have ready when you call
- What was eaten, with the packet, label or a photo of the plant.
- Roughly how much, and when.
- Your pet's weight, age and any medicines it takes.
The step-by-step pages: my dog ate something and my cat ate something.
Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline, Know the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats, read 7 November 2026.
Sources last checked 7 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Related pages
Poison lines by country, find an emergency vet, human foods dogs can eat and pet emergency: who to call.