Most pet poisonings at home happen quietly: a dropped tablet under the couch, a lick of cleaner left to dry on the tiles, a pretty bunch of lilies on the table. Pets don’t “know better”; they explore with mouths, paws and noses, and small bodies can be overwhelmed fast.
If you’re here because your dog (or cat, bird or rabbit) has chewed, swallowed or licked something worrying, the safest approach is to act early, keep good notes, and get expert advice before symptoms settle in. The sections below focus on the household hazards vets see again and again, what to watch for, and what to do in the first minutes and hours.
Fast triage: what to do right now
- Remove access to the substance and any spills. Put other pets away.
- Check your pet: breathing, alertness, wobbliness, repeated vomiting, seizures, collapse.
- Collect details: product name, strength, active ingredients, how much, when, and your pet’s weight. Take a photo of the label.
- Call for advice: your vet, an emergency vet, or the Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia) 1300 869 738, which operates 24/7.1
- Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to. It can make some poisonings worse, and it’s unsafe if your pet is drowsy, having seizures, or struggling to breathe.5, 6
Common household poisons (and why they matter)
Human medications
Tablets are a leading cause of accidental poisoning because they’re small, easy to swallow, and often flavoured or coated. Even “ordinary” pain relief can be dangerous.
- Ibuprofen (and related anti-inflammatories) can cause stomach ulceration, bleeding and kidney damage in dogs; cats are even more susceptible at lower doses.5
- Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is particularly risky for cats and can cause severe poisoning; never give it unless a vet has prescribed a pet-specific dose and plan.5
Store all medicines in a closed cupboard, not a bedside drawer or handbag. Pets learn routines quickly: rattling bottles can become a cue to investigate.
Cleaning products and household chemicals
Many cleaners irritate the mouth, eyes, skin and airways. Some can burn the oesophagus or stomach if swallowed. The risk isn’t limited to drinking from a bottle; a pet can be poisoned by licking paws after walking through a wet area.
Use cleaners as directed, keep pets out until surfaces are dry, and store concentrates up high in a latched cupboard.
Garden and garage products
Insecticides, snail and rodent baits, fuels, solvents and antifreeze can all cause life-threatening poisoning. Packaging is often not pet-proof.
If a pet might have accessed a bait or chemical, treat it as urgent even if they look normal, and call a vet or poisons service with the product details and timing.1
Food and drink hazards: the usual culprits
Sharing food feels harmless until it isn’t. Some human foods contain compounds pets can’t process safely, and the toxic dose can be surprisingly small.
Chocolate (dogs especially)
Chocolate contains methylxanthines (notably theobromine, and also caffeine). Dogs metabolise these slowly, so effects can build with dose and time. Signs often include vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, tremors, abnormal heart rhythm and seizures, with darker chocolate generally more dangerous than milk chocolate.7
If chocolate has been eaten, contact your vet promptly with the type (dark/milk/baking), the amount, and your dog’s weight.
Grapes, raisins and sultanas (dogs)
Grapes and dried vine fruits can cause acute kidney injury in dogs. The exact toxic dose isn’t predictable, so any ingestion is treated as significant, especially if it’s recent enough for veterinary decontamination to help.8, 9
Xylitol (dogs)
Xylitol is a sweetener found in many sugar-free products (some gums, lollies, baked goods, peanut butter and some oral-care items). In dogs it can trigger a rapid insulin surge leading to dangerous low blood sugar, and in some cases severe liver injury.6
This one moves quickly. If you suspect xylitol exposure, call a vet immediately and keep the packaging.
Alcohol and caffeine
Alcohol and caffeinated products can cause serious nervous system and heart effects in pets. Keep drinks, coffee grounds, tea bags and energy products well out of reach, and don’t leave cups where a curious animal can tip them.
Poisonous plants and flowers
Plants are a common “slow burn” hazard: a nibble during the day, then signs later that evening. The same plant can affect species differently, and cats are often at higher risk because grooming concentrates pollen and sap on the tongue.
Lilies: a high-risk emergency for cats
True lilies (genus Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) can cause acute kidney failure in cats. Exposure may include chewing leaves or petals, or ingesting pollen while grooming. Early treatment is time-critical, and delayed care worsens outcomes.10
If there is any chance your cat has contacted lilies, remove the plant from the house and call a vet or poisons helpline immediately.1, 10
Other common risky plants
Many popular indoor and garden plants can cause irritation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, heart effects or worse depending on the species and amount eaten. If you’re unsure about a plant, treat it as potentially toxic until confirmed safe, and bring a photo to your vet.
Signs that can suggest plant poisoning
Plant poisonings range from mild mouth irritation to severe systemic illness. Watch for:
- drooling, pawing at the mouth
- vomiting or diarrhoea
- weakness, wobbliness, unusual sleepiness
- difficulty breathing
- tremors or seizures
These signs aren’t specific to plants, but they are enough to justify a same-day vet call, especially if you know chewing occurred.
Safer routines at home (simple, realistic prevention)
Storage that actually works
Good storage is boring, and that’s the point. Aim for “closed, high, latched”. Childproof latches can help, but assume a determined dog can learn patterns and a cat can exploit gaps.
- Keep medicines in a closed cupboard (not benches, bedside tables, or handbags).
- Store cleaners and concentrates together, up high, with lids properly tightened.
- Keep baits, insecticides and garden chemicals in a locked area.
- Use a lidded bin for food scraps (especially chocolate wrappers, bones, and coffee grounds).
Household “hot spots” worth checking
- bathroom: pain relief, toothpaste, cosmetics
- laundry: detergents, stain removers, pods
- kitchen: chocolate, grapes/raisins, xylitol products, coffee
- garage/shed: pesticides, fuels and solvents
- living areas: handbags, pill organisers, pot plants
First aid and emergency response (what helps, what harms)
When a poisoning is suspected, early professional advice is more valuable than home remedies. Some exposures need urgent decontamination; others become more dangerous if vomiting is induced or if you attempt to “neutralise” the substance with food or milk.
- Do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by a veterinarian or poisons professional.5, 6
- Do not give activated charcoal unless told to; it is not appropriate for all toxins (and it does not bind some substances, including xylitol).6
- Do bring evidence: packaging, plant sample (sealed), or clear photos.
- Expect questions about timing, quantity, and your pet’s weight—write it down so you don’t have to guess under pressure.3
A calm, practical bottom line
Most household poisonings are preventable, and many are treatable when help is sought early. Keep the high-risk items secured, learn the small handful of “repeat offenders” (medicines, chocolate, grapes/raisins, xylitol, lilies), and make it easy to act fast by saving your vet and poisons numbers in your phone.1
References
- Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia) – Contact (24/7)
- Animal Poisons Helpline – About (service overview and 24/7 operation)
- Animal Poisons Centre – Poisons information hotline (information typically requested)
- Animal Poisons Centre – About (evidence-based poisoning management advice)
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Toxicoses from human analgesics in animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Xylitol toxicosis in dogs
- RSPCA South Australia – Chocolate is toxic for pets (theobromine; signs; seek vet advice)
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Food hazards (grapes/raisins section)
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine – Grape and raisin toxicity (dogs; AKI; treat any ingestion as serious)
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Houseplants and ornamentals toxic to animals (lilies; renal failure in cats)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom