Accidents are called accidents for a reason. Despite how hard we may try, sometimes our sneaky, curious pets eat things that they shouldn’t. However, knowing when to rush them to the veterinary hospital and when to watch them at home can be difficult and stressful. To try to calm those nerves, our experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) have some advice to offer!

A. If your pet is showing life threatening signs such as seizures, trouble breathing, not responding to you or are unconscious, or if they are bleeding, you should take them immediately to the nearest veterinary hospital. Be sure to take any packaging of the substance they got into with you, as that will help the veterinarian treat your pet.

B. If your pet is showing mild signs or even if they aren’t any signs at all after ingesting something potentially hazardous, do not wait for the signs to worsen before getting help. Reach out to your local veterinarian, a local veterinary emergency hospital or the APCC at (888) 426-4435 for guidance and a plan for your pet.

Once you call APCC, our experts will be able to determine the risk to your pet, if they need care at a veterinary hospital or if you can watch them at home, and let you know what signs to watch for that indicate a more serious problem. We will also work together with your veterinarian to provide expert guidance and a detailed treatment plan, should your pet need veterinary care.