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What's toxic to dogs and cats, and how much does it take?

Most lists tell you a thing is dangerous and stop there. These say what it does to the animal and, where a published figure exists, how much of it matters.

Emergency numbers

ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435. Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, $85 per incident. Both charge a fee. Call your own vet or the nearest emergency clinic first.

The three worth knowing tonight

Lilies and cats

Emergency

Every part of a true lily or daylily causes fatal kidney failure in cats — petals, leaves, pollen, and the water in the vase. Licking pollen off her own fur while grooming is enough. If treatment is delayed 18 hours, the kidney damage is generally irreversible.

Source

Dog flea treatment on a cat

Emergency

Dog spot-on products run 45–60% permethrin. Cat-safe ones are under 0.1%. Cats cannot break it down and it causes tremors, seizures and death. A cat can also be poisoned just by grooming a dog that was treated a day ago.

Source

One acetaminophen tablet

Emergency

Cats cannot process acetaminophen. Signs have been reported at 10 mg/kg — a single regular 325 mg tablet can kill an average cat. There is no safe dose.

Source