My dog just ate something — what do I do?

Step 1 — identify what was eaten

Before calling anyone, establish: what exactly was it, how much, and when. Check the bin, the floor, the packet. If it was medication, find the box. If it was food, check the ingredients for hidden toxins (xylitol in gum, grape juice in sauce). The more specific you can be, the more useful the advice you receive.

Step 2 — do NOT do these things

• Do not induce vomiting at home — hydrogen peroxide damages the oesophagus and stomach. Vomiting worsens chemical burns and can dislodge foreign body obstructions. Only induce vomiting on explicit vet instruction.
• Do not give milk — an old myth with no therapeutic value.
• Do not wait for symptoms — for raisins, xylitol, batteries, and naproxen, the damage occurs before symptoms appear. The treatment window is 1–2 hours.
• Do not search for home remedies — call a vet or poison control instead.

Step 3 — call your vet or poison control

Have ready: your dog's weight, the exact product or food, quantity eaten, and when. Your vet will advise whether to come in immediately, monitor at home, or proceed to an emergency clinic. If your regular vet is closed, use their out-of-hours number or go directly to the nearest emergency vet.

What was it? Quick reference

For hands-on first aid guidance while waiting for emergency vet care, dog first aid and emergency advice covers stabilising your dog before the vet arrives.

Signs something is seriously wrong

• Repeated vomiting or retching
• Pale, white, or blue-tinged gums
• Collapse or inability to stand
• Seizures or muscle tremors
• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme lethargy or unresponsiveness
• Bloated or hard abdomen
• Blood in vomit or stools

Any of these: go to an emergency vet immediately — do not call first.

Emergency vs monitor-at-home: how to decide

The single most important factor is what was eaten, not how your dog seems right now. Many serious toxins (raisins, xylitol, naproxen) cause delayed symptoms — a dog can appear completely normal for 12–48 hours while kidney or liver damage progresses. Do not use "seems fine" as your assessment criterion.

Go immediately — do not call first: if your dog is showing collapse, seizures, extreme lethargy, pale gums, rapid breathing, or obvious abdominal distension. These are signs of a crisis in progress.

Call your vet now, then decide: everything else. Your vet can advise whether the substance and quantity warrant an immediate visit or careful monitoring. Most calls result in "come in" for toxic substances and "watch carefully" for physical objects in large dogs.

Safe to monitor at home (with vet guidance): a tiny lick of mildly toxic food in a large healthy adult dog with no symptoms — but only after speaking to a vet or poison control first. Never decide to monitor without that call.

What to tell poison control

Have these ready before you call: your dog's exact weight in kg or lbs. Your dog's breed and age. The product name or food — have the packaging. Approximately how much was eaten and when. Any symptoms already showing. Any medications your dog is on. Your vet's number. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435. They will calculate a dose-per-kg risk assessment in real time.