Pet emergency calculators — if your pet ate something dangerous

Toxicity calculators by toxin

Each calculator uses standard veterinary references (ASPCA APCC, Pet Poison Helpline, Merck Veterinary Manual). Enter your pet's weight + how much they ate — the calculator returns a severity band and what to do next.

• "My dog ate ___" — triage hub Unified entry point: pick the toxin, get a 60-second action plan + the specific calculator. Best starting point if you're not sure where to begin.
• Dog chocolate toxicity calculator Methylxanthine dose by chocolate type + dog weight. 5-band severity (no risk → severe → lethal).
• Dog grape toxicity calculator Grapes can cause acute kidney injury at unpredictable doses. Calculator + when-to-ER decision tree.
• Dog raisin toxicity calculator Raisins are ~4-5× more concentrated than grapes. Same nephrotoxic mechanism, lower threshold dose.
• Dog xylitol toxicity calculator Sugar-free gum, peanut butter, baked goods. Causes hypoglycemia within 15-60 minutes. ER-level emergency.
• Dog ibuprofen toxicity calculator Advil + Motrin + Rx ibuprofen. Severity bands by weight × tablet strength. GI ulceration at 50 mg/kg, kidney injury at 100 mg/kg.
• Dog wild-mushroom poisoning guide Photographic identification of 11 toxic species + 6 toxicity syndromes. Amanita phalloides is lethal at 5g for a 10kg dog.
• Cat + Tylenol emergency guide Acetaminophen is lethal to cats at 10 mg/kg — a single regular-strength Tylenol kills a 4 kg cat. No safe dose, no exceptions.
• Dog marijuana / THC toxicity calculator THC dose math by product type (flower, edible, oil, concentrate). Cannabis exposures up 765% since 2018. Vet-client privilege protects honest disclosure.
• Cat grape + raisin toxicity guide Grapes are presumed toxic to cats. Less mapped than dogs but treat any exposure as a precaution. Hotline call worth it regardless of dose.
• Cat essential oil toxicity guide All essential oils toxic to cats (missing glucuronyl transferase). Tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, citrus, lavender. Diffusers + topical + ingestion routes.
• Cat + lilies — emergency guide True lilies (Lilium, Hemerocallis) cause acute kidney failure in cats. Any exposure = ER. No dose calc — just the action plan.
• Common toxic foods reference Onion, garlic, macadamia, avocado, alcohol, caffeine — toxic doses + symptoms for each.
• Dewormer reference guide OTC vs prescription dewormers, which worm needs which drug, when to skip the OTC and call a vet.
• Flea + tick prevention guide Comparison of collars, topicals, orals. Seresto controversy, isoxazoline class FDA alerts.

Decision framework — when to call vs when to ER

The exact thresholds vary by toxin (each calculator's output gives you the toxin-specific bands), but a general rule of thumb:

• "No risk" band on the calculator + your pet is acting normal: observe at home, no action needed.
• "Mild" band + pet acting normal: call your regular vet during business hours. They'll either say "watch for X symptoms" or ask you to come in.
• "Moderate" band OR any pet that's vomiting / lethargic / not themselves: call a 24/7 poison hotline (numbers above) — they triage for the cost of a consultation fee, often saving you an unnecessary ER visit.
• "Severe / lethal" band OR pet with seizures / collapse / persistent vomiting / breathing distress: go to the nearest emergency vet immediately. Don't wait for the hotline to call back.

What NOT to do

• Do not induce vomiting at home unless your vet specifically tells you to. The wrong method (especially for caustic substances or sharp objects) makes the injury worse.
• Do not give milk — it doesn't dilute most toxins and can cause GI upset on top of the original problem.
• Do not wait to "see if symptoms appear" for known severe toxins (xylitol, lilies in cats, grapes). Methylxanthines, anticoagulants, and nephrotoxins all have delayed onset — by the time symptoms appear, treatment is harder.
• Do not Google generic "first aid" without confirming the specific substance. Treatment for chocolate is different from treatment for xylitol, which is different from treatment for ibuprofen.

Build a pet first-aid kit before you need one

The first 60 seconds of an emergency are easier when supplies are already in your hands and not in a drawer somewhere. Minimum kit: veterinary contact card, pet poison hotline numbers, gauze + bandages, muzzle (an injured pet may bite anyone, including their owner), tick remover, hydrogen peroxide 3% (ONLY use under vet guidance), towel/blanket, transport carrier.