Common poisoning symptoms in pets include: vomiting, drooling, incoordination, seeming drunk, swelling of the mouth, abnormal body temperature, twitches and tremors, breathing difficulty, seizures, passing out.

Contact your vet immediately. Alternatively, contact your local pet poison helpline.

• Remove your pet from the source of the poison
• Call your vet for advice, even if your pet seems fine
• If you can safely do so, collect a sample of the poison to bring with you to the vet, along with any packaging.

Ethylene glycol – Antifreeze is super toxic to pets, but it’s sweet, and your pet might be tempted to take a lick.

Artificial sweeteners (xylitol) – Artificial sweeteners trick your pet’s insulin levels, causing low blood sugar and even liver damage. They’re commonly used in human sweets like chewing gum, and available in granulated form for baking.

Household Medicines – Never give your pet human medication, except under veterinary supervision. Keep any medication safely locked away from their reach – even over-the-counter medications, such as Ibuprofen or Paracetamol, can be deadly to them. If you believe your pet has ingested human medicines, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Rat poison (anticoagulants) – mouse and rat poison works by stopping blood from clotting, causing bleeding. If your pet ingests it, or eats mice/rats that have ingested it themselves, they can start having the same symptoms. These are usually delayed – so even if your pet seems fine, contact your veterinarian for advice.

Lily (flower) – Something as small as nibbling on a lily leaf, or even grooming lily pollen off their fur, can poison your cat.

Insecticide (Permethrin) – Permethrin is an insecticide often used in dog-only flea treatments. When used in cats, it causes nasty symptoms like vomiting, fevers and seizures.

Do not use dog-only medicines on cats, and if your cat shares the house with a dog, let your vet know so that they can recommend a safe alternative.

Bleach – Household bleach is an irritant to pets, and ingestion causes drooling and irritation of the mouth, which may cause them to paw at their face. Industrial bleach is much more toxic, and can create chemical burns on their skin, and, if ingested, down their esophagus.

Cleaning products (Benzalkonium chloride) – Not all bleach-free alternatives are pet-safe. Many non-bleach disinfectants contain benzalkonium chloride, which is an irritant to pets. Try using diluted soap, which is less irritating.

Hand sanitizer (alcohol) – Alcohol is toxic, and it only takes a small dose for our pets to get sick. Keep potential sources, like hand sanitizer or open drinks, safely away from your pets.

Cigarettes (nicotine) – Nicotine is dangerous to pets, especially for birds. All nicotine products are toxic, including nicotine patches, e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Pets are especially likely to consume flavored tobacco products.

Ethylene glycol – Don’t use antifreeze on outdoor water features your pet has access to, and clean any spills promptly. If you must use it, opt for an alternative, such as propylene glycol, which is less toxic if ingested.

Artificial sweeteners (xylitol) – Xylitol is commonly used in human sweets like chewing gum, and available in granulated form for baking. Don’t feed your pets human foods, and safely store containers away from their reach.

Household Medicines – Never give your pet human medication, except under veterinary supervision. Keep any medication safely locked away from their reach, and dispose of any unused medicines safely. If you believe your pet has ingested human medicines, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Rat poison (anticoagulants) – Store rat poison safely out of your pet’s reach. Avoid using rat poison in any areas your pet has access to – this includes not using rat poison in your yard. If possible, keep your pet inside, as they might get poisoned from eating poisoned prey.

Lily (flower) – Do not have lilies anywhere in your home or garden, ensure you remove any lilies from bouquets that are given to you before you go home, and do not let your cat play in boxes that have contained lilies.

Insecticide (Permethrin) – Do not use dog-only medicines on cats, and if your cat shares the house with a dog, let your vet know so that they can recommend a safe alternative.

Bleach – Bleach is toxic to pets. Try using pet safe alternatives. If you must use bleach, dilute thoroughly, as diluted bleach is much less toxic. Encourage your pet to drink water to wash and dilute the bleach. If symptoms do not subside in 30 minutes, or if your pet starts vomiting, call your vet for advice. In the case of industrial bleach pet poisoning, always contact your veterinarian immediately.

Cleaning products (Benzalkonium chloride) – Many non-bleach disinfectants contain benzalkonium chloride, which is an irritant to pets. Try using diluted soap, which is less irritating.

Hand sanitizer (alcohol) – Keep potential sources of alcohol, like hand sanitizer or open drinks, safely away from your pets.

Cigarettes (nicotine) – Nicotine is dangerous to pets. Do not smoke inside with your pet, and keep ashtrays and nicotine products out of their reach.

Ethylene glycol –  Symptoms of Ethylene glycol poisoning in pets include incoordination, thirst, drooling, vomiting, drowsiness, lethargy, excessive urination, progressing to seizures, coma and death.

Artificial sweeteners (xylitol) – Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in pets include vomiting, weakness, incoordination, lethargy, tremors, seizures

Rat poison (anticoagulants) – Symptoms of anticoagulant poisoning in pets include lethargy, weakness, pale gums, breathing difficulties, lameness, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine, bruising, bleeding

Lily (flower) – Symptoms of lily poisoning in cats include vomiting, reduced appetite, drooling, lethargy, and weakness. After this kidney failure starts to develop, which may cause: increased and then reduced urine output, more vomiting, depression, thirst, painful kidneys, convulsions

Insecticide (Permethrin) – Symptoms of insecticide poisoning in pets include drooling, vomiting, incoordination, zoomies (hyperexcitability), tremors and twitching, fever, and seizures.

Bleach – Symptoms of bleach poisoning in pets include drooling, irritation, pawing at the mouth, chemical burns, and sometimes vomiting blood.

Hand sanitizer (alcohol) – Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in pets include drunkenness, lethargy, vomiting, incoordination, low body temperature, possibly progressing to seizures or respiratory problems with higher doses.

Cigarettes (nicotine) – Symptoms of nicotine poisoning in pets include vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, elevations in heart rate and respiration rate, depression, tremors, ataxia, weakness, seizures, cyanosis, coma, and cardiac arrest.

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