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What is toxic to dogs?
Dogs are curious, opportunistic eaters. The ASPCA receives over 170,000 calls per year, with medications, food, and household products as the top categories. Here is what to watch for.
Top dog toxins by severity
Chocolate
TOXICTheobromine causes cardiac and neurological effects
FoodGrapes / Raisins
EMERGENCYUnknown mechanism, any amount can cause kidney failure
FoodXylitol
EMERGENCYCauses life-threatening hypoglycaemia and liver failure
Food / MedicationOnion / Garlic
TOXICHaemolytic anaemia via thiosulfate compounds
FoodMacadamia Nuts
TOXICHindlimb weakness and tremors - mechanism unknown
FoodAvocado
CAUTIONPersin - pit is main obstruction risk for dogs
FoodIbuprofen
EMERGENCYGI ulcers and kidney failure, one of the top ER causes
MedicationAcetaminophen
TOXICLiver damage - narrow margin between dose and toxicity
MedicationAspirin
CAUTIONDogs metabolise slowly; regular doses build to toxic
MedicationAntifreeze
EMERGENCYSweet taste; 3-hour treatment window before irreversible damage
HouseholdRat Poison
EMERGENCYMultiple types; anticoagulants cause internal bleeding
HouseholdSago Palm
EMERGENCYSeeds highly lethal; causes acute liver failure
PlantLily
CAUTIONMild in dogs vs catastrophic in cats
PlantApples (seeds)
SAFEFlesh safe; remove seeds and core
FoodASPCA top 10 toxin categories for dogs (2024)
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 2024 annual report. Based on over 170,000 calls.
- 1Over-the-counter medications (ibuprofen, antihistamines, sleep aids)
- 2Human prescription medications (antidepressants, ADHD stimulants, blood pressure)
- 3Food items (grapes, xylitol, onion, chocolate)
- 4Veterinary products (incorrect dose of pet medication)
- 5Household products (cleaning chemicals, batteries, glue)
- 6Rodenticides (rat and mouse bait)
- 7Insecticides (flea products, yard sprays)
- 8Plants (sago palm, foxglove, rhododendron)
- 9Garden products (fertilisers, slug bait, herbicides)
- 10Recreational drugs (marijuana - now #10 due to legalisation)
Dose dependency: why size matters
For many dog toxins, the severity depends entirely on how much your dog weighs versus how much they ingested. A 50kg Labrador eating one square of dark chocolate is a very different situation from a 3kg Chihuahua eating the same amount.
Chocolate
Dark chocolate: 1-2 oz/kg body weight causes severe toxicity. Baking chocolate is 5x more toxic than milk chocolate.
Xylitol
100mg/kg causes hypoglycaemia. 500mg/kg causes liver failure. A single stick of xylitol gum can be toxic to a small dog.
Ibuprofen
25mg/kg causes GI ulcers. 100mg/kg causes kidney failure. One 200mg tablet can be toxic to a dog under 8kg.
Always tell poison control your dog's current weight when you call - they will calculate the exact risk.
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Also see: What is toxic to cats - some items (lilies, acetaminophen) are far more dangerous for cats than dogs.