When you catch your dog standing over an empty pill bottle or find your cat chewing on a houseplant, most people search online first, and within seconds they are looking at several different phone numbers and a lot of conflicting advice.
This page cuts through that. Below are the poison control resources our urgent care team trusts, what to gather before you call, and what not to do while you wait.
If your pet is having trouble breathing, seizing, collapsing, or is unresponsive, seek veterinary care immediately. If you are coming to Veterinary Urgent Care of the Desert, call us at (760) 851-0668 on your way in. If we are closed, or your pet needs overnight or advanced critical care, go to the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital.
When Should You Call Pet Poison Control?
Call as soon as you suspect exposure, even if your pet seems completely normal. Many toxins have a delay between ingestion and symptoms, and by the time signs appear the window for the simplest treatment may have closed. Waiting to “see how they do” is a common reason a manageable case becomes a serious one.
Reach out if your dog or cat may have eaten, licked, inhaled, or come into contact with:
- Medications, prescription or over the counter: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, antidepressants, sleep aids, blood pressure medication
- Foods: chocolate, coffee grounds, grapes or raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, raw yeast dough
- Xylitol, in sugar-free gum, candy, some peanut butters, and baked goods
- Household products: antifreeze, bleach, cleaners, paint thinner, essential oils, liquid potpourri, mothballs, nicotine and vape liquid
- Rodent bait and pesticides
- Marijuana, THC edibles, or other recreational drugs
- Plants: lilies, sago palm, oleander, azalea, lily of the valley
- Batteries, unknown chemicals, or anything you cannot identify
Lilies deserve a specific note for cat owners. Even small exposures, including pollen groomed off the fur, can cause kidney failure. Do not wait on that one.
Verified Pet Poison Control Numbers
Two of the most widely used animal poison control resources in the United States are ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and Pet Poison Helpline.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 Available 24 hours a day. An incident fee applies, which covers follow-up calls on the same case.
Both services may charge a consultation or incident fee. That fee can be helpful because the toxicology team can provide case-specific guidance based on your pet’s weight, the substance involved, the estimated dose, symptoms, and timing.
What to Have Ready Before You Call
The more of this you have in hand, the more useful the call will be:
- Your pet’s species, breed, age, and weight
- What they were exposed to, as specifically as possible
- The product packaging, label, or ingredient list
- The strength or concentration, if the label lists it
- Roughly how much was involved, including how much is missing from the container
- When it happened
- Any symptoms you are seeing now
- Known medical conditions and current medications
- Whether your pet has already vomited
If you come to our clinic, bring the packaging or a photo of the label and ingredient panel. It is one of the most helpful things an owner can walk in with.
What Not to Do at Home
Do not wait for symptoms. With many toxins, early treatment is far more effective than treatment after signs appear.
Do not induce vomiting on your own. Some substances cause more damage coming back up, and vomiting is dangerous in a pet who is already weak, disoriented, or struggling to breathe.
Do not give hydrogen peroxide unless a veterinarian or poison control expert specifically tells you to. This is the most common piece of internet advice we see, and it is not universally safe. It is the wrong choice for certain toxins, is not recommended for cats, and can injure the stomach lining. Make the call first.
Do not give milk, oil, salt, activated charcoal, or any other home remedy without professional direction.
Do not assume a small amount is fine. Toxicity depends on the substance, the dose relative to your pet’s weight, how long ago it happened, their age, and their medical history. A dose that is harmless for a 90-pound dog can be an emergency for a 9-pound one.
Do not rely on social media or forum advice. Strangers online do not know your pet’s weight, history, or what they actually ingested.
When to Contact Veterinary Urgent Care of the Desert
Poison control can identify the risk and outline next steps, but they cannot examine or treat your pet. In many cases they will tell you to get to a veterinary team, and that is where we come in. Our urgent care team treats toxin ingestion along with vomiting and diarrhea, bites and wounds, heatstroke, and other urgent concerns, with in-house lab work, digital radiology, and ultrasound on site so we can assess what is happening quickly.
If your pet may have eaten something toxic, we recommend calling poison control and contacting our clinic right away so we can help guide the next step. Call us at (760) 851-0668 before you drive over if you can. We are at 36955 Cook St, Suite 14a in Palm Desert, open 7am to 10pm Monday through Friday and 7am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday. We accept walk-ins for triage, and our virtual lobby lets you join the list from home and get a text when it is time to come in. Emergencies and critical patients are seen first.
We are not a 24-hour hospital. If your pet needs overnight hospitalization or advanced critical care, we will stabilize them and coordinate a transfer to a trusted 24-hour facility. If you are unsure whether your pet’s situation is critical, call us and we will help you decide where to go.
With toxin exposure, the difference between a routine visit and a serious one is usually time. Owners who call quickly, with the packaging in hand, give veterinary professionals the best chance to guide the right next step as early as possible.
Take thirty seconds now, before you need it, and save both poison control numbers in your phone alongside ours. And if you are reading this because something already happened, make the call. We are here.
Save These Numbers Before You Need Them
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435, 24/7, consultation fee may apply
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7, incident fee applies
Veterinary Urgent Care of the Desert: (760) 851-0668 Mon to Fri 7am to 10pm | Sat and Sun 7am to 8pm 36955 Cook St, Suite 14a, Palm Desert, CA 92211
FAQ
Who do I call if my dog ate something toxic?
Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Both are available 24/7 and staffed by toxicology professionals. Then contact a veterinary team. If you are in the Palm Desert area, you can reach us at (760) 851-0668.
Should I make my dog vomit if they ate poison?
Not on your own. With some substances, vomiting causes more harm on the way back up, and it is unsafe for pets who are already weak, disoriented, or struggling to breathe. Call poison control or a veterinarian first and follow their specific direction.
Can I give hydrogen peroxide to my dog?
Only if a veterinarian or poison control expert specifically instructs you to, including the amount. Hydrogen peroxide is the wrong approach for certain toxins, is not recommended for cats, and can irritate or injure the stomach. Never give more than one dose unless a veterinarian tells you to.
What information does pet poison control need?
Your pet’s species, breed, age, and weight; what they were exposed to and roughly how much; the product packaging or ingredient list; when it happened; any current symptoms; and any medical conditions or medications. Having the label in front of you makes the call significantly more useful.
Should I call poison control or go to the vet first?
If your pet is stable, call poison control or a veterinary team right away. Poison control can help determine whether the exposure is dangerous at that dose and what treatment may be needed. If your pet is showing serious signs like seizures, tremors, collapse, trouble breathing, extreme weakness, or severe disorientation, seek veterinary care immediately and call on the way.
Disclaimer: This article is for general pet health education only and is not a substitute for veterinary care or poison control guidance. If your pet may have been exposed to something toxic, contact a veterinarian or animal poison control resource right away. Treatment recommendations depend on your pet’s species, size, health history, the substance involved, the amount, and the timing of exposure.