Emergency
9 entries · show all
- AlcoholEmergencyNever give a dog alcohol. Dogs are far smaller and far more sensitive than people, and the dose that causes dangerous depression is much lower than most owners expect.
- CaffeineEmergencyNever let a dog have caffeine. Concentrated sources — coffee grounds, pills, energy drinks — are far more dangerous than a lick of milky tea.
- ChocolateEmergencyNever feed chocolate. It contains theobromine, which dogs clear far too slowly to handle safely. How dangerous a given amount is depends on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog.
- Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currantsEmergencyNever feed grapes or anything dried from them. They cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, there is no known safe amount, and treatment works best before any symptoms start.
- Ibuprofen and other human anti-inflammatoriesEmergencyNever give a dog human anti-inflammatories. They cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure at doses close to a single tablet for a small dog.
- Paracetamol / acetaminophen (Tylenol)EmergencyNever give a dog paracetamol. It is not a safe human painkiller to share, and it damages red blood cells and the liver. If your dog is in pain, ask a vet for a drug licensed for dogs.
- Raw yeast doughEmergencyNever let a dog eat raw dough. It carries two separate emergencies at once: the dough keeps rising inside the stomach, and the yeast produces alcohol.
- Wild mushroomsEmergencyTreat any wild mushroom a dog eats as an emergency. The dangerous species are not reliably distinguishable from the harmless ones, and the deadliest ones cause a deceptive recovery before liver failure.
- Xylitol (birch sugar)EmergencyA veterinary emergency. Xylitol causes a dog's pancreas to dump insulin, and blood sugar can crash within 10–30 minutes. Phone a vet before you read anything else on this page.