Animal PoisonLine: What to Do if Your Dog May Have Eaten Something Harmful
This blog has been written from a Facebook Live I hosted with Dr Nicola Robinson BSc MA VetMB MRCVS, Head of Service at the Veterinary Poisons Information Service and Animal PoisonLine, and Sarah from Barkshire Dog Training.
We spoke about what Animal PoisonLine does, some of the less obvious things that can be harmful to dogs, common myths and what to do if you think your dog may have eaten, licked or been exposed to something potentially poisonous.
Here are some of the key points Nicola shared with us.
What is Animal PoisonLine?
Animal PoisonLine is the only 24-hour specialised emergency telephone service in the UK dedicated to helping people who are worried their pet may have been exposed to something harmful or poisonous.
It is run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service, also known as VPIS. VPIS has supported veterinary professionals since 1992. Animal PoisonLine was launched in 2017 so people could contact the team directly for an initial risk assessment.
When you call, you speak to a highly trained member of a multidisciplinary team, which includes vets, veterinary nurses, toxicologists and scientists.
The service is a triage line. The team assesses what your dog has been exposed to and advises whether you need to go to your vet for immediate treatment or whether your dog can safely remain at home while you monitor them.
This advice is tailored to your individual dog and situation. The risk can depend on several factors, including:
Your dog’s size and weight
The exact product or substance involved
How much they may have been exposed to
When the exposure happened
How they were exposed, for example by eating, inhaling or through their skin
Whether they are already showing any signs
Around 8 out of 10 people who call Animal PoisonLine are advised that an immediate visit to the vet is not required. For those who do need veterinary treatment, the team explains why they need to go and how urgently they should get there.
Animal PoisonLine does not give detailed treatment plans to members of the public. If treatment is needed, your vet can contact VPIS directly for specialist advice on managing the case.
Not everything harmful has “poison” written on the packaging
Most of us know that things such as chocolate can be harmful to dogs. However, Nicola explained that some of the more serious cases involve everyday things people may not realise could present a risk.
This is not a complete list. It is a reminder that it is always worth getting advice about your dog’s specific exposure rather than guessing.
Mouldy food
Very mouldy food can cause neurological signs in dogs. This includes food found in bins, compost heaps or discarded during a walk.
Nicola explained that the signs can develop very quickly, with many cases showing signs within half an hour. A dog may begin to have involuntary tremors, which can progress to seizures depending on how much they have eaten and the size of the dog.
Some people give mouldy bread or mouldy cream cheese to their dog because they do not realise it can be toxic.
Pure tea tree oil
Nicola described cases in which pure tea tree oil had been applied to a dog’s skin, perhaps to an area with a rash. Even a few drops on a small dog can cause serious signs, including temporary paralysis of the back legs.
Human medication and medicated creams
It is important to remember that a medicine may contain more than one active ingredient. Nicola gave the example of some vitamin D sprays. The form and amount of vitamin D may not be the main concern, but the product may also contain xylitol, which can be fatal to dogs if enough is consumed.
Products applied to human skin can also cause problems. Nicola highlighted:
Some prescription vitamin D creams used for psoriasis
Hair growth products containing minoxidil
Dogs may be exposed by licking the person’s skin, through a spill or by coming into contact with residue on bedding. Nicola explained that cats and dogs can be so sensitive to some hair growth treatments that licking the person’s hair or lying on and licking a pillowcase may be enough to make them unwell.
She also made an important distinction between everyday cosmetics and medicated products. Products such as body lotion, sun cream and facial moisturiser have been extensively safety tested for human use and are generally more likely to be low risk than a cream containing medication. However, if you are unsure what was in a product or how much your dog has licked, contact Animal PoisonLine for advice.
HRT gels and repeated exposure
HRT gel can be absorbed through a dog’s skin, particularly in areas with less fur, such as the stomach. The main concern is repeated or chronic exposure.
For example, a dog could be exposed regularly by lying across someone’s lap after the gel has been applied. This may be particularly relevant for smaller dogs, dogs with thin coats and dogs who routinely sleep in close contact with people.
Autumn crocus
Autumn crocus is not the same as spring crocus. Autumn crocus is a different species containing a very harmful toxin. Dogs can become extremely unwell after exposure.
Nicola’s warning was not to search simply for “crocus” and assume the information applies to both plants. Correct identification matters.
Common myths and frightening stories online
One of the roles of VPIS is toxic vigilance. This means monitoring information in the public domain and helping to make sure people receive accurate, up-to-date information about poisoning risks.
During the Live, we discussed a widely shared story suggesting that a dog had died after visiting a tulip farm, despite not eating tulips or tulip bulbs.
Nicola explained the difference between correlation and causation. Something happening after an event does not necessarily mean that event caused it. The signs shown by the dog were not the signs VPIS associates with tulip exposure, and the service had information from more than 1,600 cases involving dogs who had eaten tulips.
This did not mean dismissing the family’s experience. It meant correcting an alarming conclusion that could leave people frightened to walk their dogs in parks with tulips when the evidence did not support that fear.
Social media can help information travel quickly, but it can also spread claims without the detail needed to assess an individual dog’s risk. Nicola’s advice was not to rely on “Dr Google” when you are worried. Get accurate advice directly from people who specialise in veterinary toxicology.
Recreational drugs found on walks
Human and veterinary medicines are the largest group of substances VPIS receives calls about. This group also includes recreational drugs. Nicola said calls about cannabis have become increasingly common. Dogs may find it in a home, on the street, in bushes or in faeces during a walk.
Signs can include:
Becoming very wobbly
Appearing spaced out
A lower heart rate
A falling body temperature
Alternating between being subdued and stimulated
If your dog is showing signs and you are concerned, Nicola advised going straight to your vet rather than delaying the journey to call Animal PoisonLine. Your vet can then contact VPIS if specialist treatment advice is needed.
Other drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, are stimulants. The signs can therefore look different, with dogs appearing much more hyperactive or jumpy and potentially looking as though they may have a seizure.
Vapes and nicotine products
Calls involving vaping fluid have increased significantly over the past ten years. The risk depends on the specific product, including whether it contains nicotine and at what concentration.
Nicola explained that nicotine is generally not absorbed easily from the stomach and many cases are mild, although it should not be dismissed completely. Some nicotine pouches may also contain xylitol, which can be the greater concern.
Keep the packaging and check the product’s nicotine percentage or concentration before calling, as this helps the team assess the risk accurately.
What to do if you think your dog has been exposed to something harmful
1. Do not panic, but do not guess
Something that looks frightening may not require treatment. Equally, a very small amount of another substance may be serious. The risk cannot be judged by the number of tablets, licks or mouthfuls alone.
2. Get advice quickly
If your dog is not showing serious signs, call Animal PoisonLine for an individual risk assessment. Do not wait for signs to develop before asking for help. Waiting could mean missing the early decontamination window in which a vet may be able to remove or reduce absorption of the poison.
If your dog has collapsed, is unconscious, is having convulsions or is struggling to breathe, contact your vet immediately.
3. Have as much information ready as possible
The team will guide you through the questions. If you can, have the following ready:
Your dog’s age, breed and weight
The product, brand name and packaging
The active ingredients, if shown
The maximum and minimum amount they may have been exposed to
The earliest and latest time the exposure could have happened
Whether the substance was eaten, inhaled or came into contact with the skin
Any signs your dog is showing
It is okay if you do not know everything. The team is experienced in asking careful questions to establish the likely range.
4. Do not try to make your dog sick at home
Do not give salt water or attempt your own treatment. Nicola explained that Animal PoisonLine has handled cases of salt poisoning where the original substance the dog had eaten would not have caused a problem.
Trying to make a dog vomit can also create additional risks depending on the substance involved. Get professional advice first.
How to contact Animal PoisonLine
Animal PoisonLine is open 24 hours a day.
Telephone: 01202 509 000
Website: www.animalpoisonline.co.uk
The current fee is:
£35 between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday
£45 at all other times, including weekends and bank holidays
If Animal PoisonLine advises you to attend your vet, tell the veterinary team that you have already called. Your vet can contact VPIS for detailed treatment advice if needed. Your vet may charge for this professional consultation. If that happens, Animal PoisonLine states that it will refund the fee you paid for your initial call so you are not charged twice for its services.
The most important message
If you think your dog has eaten, licked or been exposed to something potentially harmful, do not guess and do not wait for signs to appear. Keep calm, gather the packaging or product information if you can and get accurate advice quickly.
For around 8 out of 10 callers, Animal PoisonLine can provide the reassurance that an immediate vet visit is not needed. For the dogs who do need treatment, the team can make sure their families know how urgently to act and help the treating vet access specialist advice.
Thank you so much to Nicola for sharing her knowledge with us, and to Sarah from Barkshire Dog Training for joining me for this important conversation.
If you would like to watch the whole Facebook Live, which is now on YouTube here
The telephone number, fees and opening hours in this article were checked against the official Animal PoisonLine website on 24th August 2026. If you need the service, please check its website for the latest information.