---
title: "Signs of Poisoning in Dogs and Cats: What to Look For, and Why Not to Wait"
url: https://pawmultiverse.com/signs-of-poisoning-in-dogs-and-cats/
description: "Pet Poison Helpline lists the signs of poisoning by body system: vomiting and drooling, pale gums and collapse, thirst and little urine, yellow gums. Why you should phone before signs appear."
source: Paw Multiverse (https://pawmultiverse.com), free to cite with a link
---

# Signs of Poisoning in Dogs and Cats: What to Look For

Published by Paw Multiverse (A.I.T. Multiverse Consulting Ltd) · Last updated 7 November 2026

**Know or suspect your pet has eaten something harmful?** Phone your vet or your [national animal poison line](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-poison-control-by-country/) now, before any signs appear. Pet Poison Helpline says the sooner a poisoned pet is treated, the better the outcome. [Find an emergency vet](https://pawmultiverse.com/find-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](https://pawmultiverse.com/disclaimer/).

## 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](https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/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](https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/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](https://pawmultiverse.com/antifreeze-poisoning-in-pets/) and [grapes and raisins](https://pawmultiverse.com/can-dogs-eat-grapes/). Source: [Pet Poison Helpline, Know the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats](https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/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](https://pawmultiverse.com/can-dogs-eat-xylitol/). Source: [Pet Poison Helpline, Know the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats](https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/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](https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/signs-of-poisoning-in-dogs-and-cats/). More: [onions and cats](https://pawmultiverse.com/can-cats-eat-onions/).

## 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](https://pawmultiverse.com/my-dog-ate-something-what-to-do/) and [my cat ate something](https://pawmultiverse.com/my-cat-ate-something-what-to-do/).

## Sources

- [Pet Poison Helpline, Know the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats](https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/signs-of-poisoning-in-dogs-and-cats/), read 7 November 2026.

Sources last checked 7 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? [Tell us](https://pawmultiverse.com/contact/).

## Related pages

[Poison lines by country](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-poison-control-by-country/), [find an emergency vet](https://pawmultiverse.com/find-emergency-vet/), [human foods dogs can eat](https://pawmultiverse.com/human-foods-dogs-can-eat/) and [pet emergency: who to call](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-emergency/).

**In a hurry?** Every emergency, poison and winter-danger page in one list, with the poison line numbers at the top: [pet emergency: what to do right now](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-emergency-what-to-do-now/).

**Rat or mouse bait?** Any amount needs a vet: [is rat poison dangerous to dogs?](https://pawmultiverse.com/my-dog-ate-rat-poison/)

**New gadgets and toys?** Chewed batteries burn: [are batteries dangerous to dogs?](https://pawmultiverse.com/my-dog-ate-a-battery/)

**Big, deep-chested dog?** Know the signs of bloat (GDV), a surgical emergency: [bloat (GDV) in dogs](https://pawmultiverse.com/bloat-gdv-in-dogs/)

**Dog being sick?** The red flags and when to call: [dog vomiting: when to worry](https://pawmultiverse.com/dog-vomiting-when-to-worry/)

**Cat being sick?** The red flags and when to call: [cat vomiting: when to worry](https://pawmultiverse.com/cat-vomiting-when-to-worry/)

**Is your pet's food on a recall list?** Check the barcode on the bag against five official registers in the US, UK, Canada and France. [Check your bag](https://pawmultiverse.com/check-your-bag/) · [Recalls this week](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-food-recalls/this-week/)