Emergency Help
If your dog has eaten something that might be poisonous, act now. Do not wait to see whether symptoms appear.
- Anguilla Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Antigua & Barbuda Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Australia Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 Consultations from AUD 75. Open 24 hours a day.
- Bahamas Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Barbados Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- British Virgin Islands Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Canada Pet Poison Helpline +1 855 764 7661 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day.
- Cayman Islands Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Dominica Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Grenada Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Jamaica Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Montserrat Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- New Zealand Animal Poisons Helpline 0800 869 738 Open 24 hours a day. Fee not confirmed for New Zealand callers.
- Puerto Rico Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- St Kitts & Nevis Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- St Lucia Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- St Vincent & the Grenadines Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Trinidad & Tobago Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Turks & Caicos Islands Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- US Virgin Islands Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- United Kingdom Animal PoisonLine 01202 509 000 Charged per call: £35 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, £45 at all other times. Open 24 hours a day.
- United States ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center +1 888 426 4435 A consultation fee may apply. Open 24 hours a day, every day.
- United States Pet Poison Helpline +1 855 764 7661 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day.
We do not list a poison helpline for your country yet. Contact your own vet or the nearest emergency vet straight away.
What to do right now
- Stay calm and act quickly. Move your dog away from the food or substance and put it out of reach.
- Do not make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to. Some substances do more harm coming back up. Never give salt, push your fingers down your dog’s throat or give large amounts of cooking oil to make a dog vomit.
- Note what, how much and when. Work out exactly what your dog ate, roughly how much and how long ago. Keep the packaging, a sample or a photo of the label.
- Call your vet or a poison helpline. Follow their advice. If they tell you to come in, bring the packaging or sample with you.
Phone your own vet first
If your own vet is open, call them first. Out of hours, call your nearest emergency vet or the animal poison helpline for your country above.
Signs of poisoning to watch for
Signs depend on what was eaten. Some appear straight away; others, such as those caused by rat poison, may not appear until days later. Common signs include:
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Blood in the stools or urine
- Weakness, tiredness or an unsteady walk
- Tremors, twitching or seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Pale or yellowish gums
- Drinking or urinating much more than usual, or loss of appetite
Go to an emergency vet straight away if your dog
- is struggling to breathe
- has gums that look blue or purple
- has a seizure lasting more than two minutes, or more than one seizure in 24 hours
- keeps trying to vomit without bringing anything up
- is weak, shaking, unsteady or vomiting after eating something that might be toxic
Call ahead on the way if you can, so the team is ready for you.