Common toxic foods:

• Grapes and raisins — can cause sudden kidney failure; no safe amount is known

• Xylitol (artificial sweetener in gum, peanut butter, candy, baked goods) — causes rapid blood sugar crash and liver failure

• Chocolate — especially dark chocolate and baking chocolate; causes heart arrhythmias, seizures

• Onions, garlic, leeks, chives — destroy red blood cells; toxic even in small amounts

• Macadamia nuts — cause weakness, vomiting, tremors

• Alcohol and yeast dough — rapidly absorbed; causes seizures, respiratory failure

• Avocado — toxic to dogs in larger amounts; causes vomiting and diarrhea

• Coffee, tea, caffeine — causes cardiac arrhythmias and seizures

Common household toxins:

• Human medications — ibuprofen, acetaminophen (Tylenol), antidepressants, sleep aids, ADD medications (the #1 cause of pet poisoning calls to ASPCA)

• Rat and mouse poison (rodenticide) — causes internal bleeding; symptoms may not appear for days

• Certain plants — sago palm (extremely toxic, causes liver failure), azaleas, rhododendrons, lilies, oleander, foxglove

• Cleaning products — bleach, disinfectants, laundry pods, drain cleaner

• Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) — sweet-tasting, extremely deadly in tiny amounts

• Batteries, pennies (zinc toxicity)

Signs of poisoning:

• Vomiting or diarrhea (may be bloody)

• Drooling excessively

• Tremors or seizures

• Sudden weakness or collapse

• Pale, yellow, or bluish gums

• Difficulty breathing

• Loss of coordination

What to do:

• Call poison control immediately — have the product name, amount eaten, and your dog's weight ready

• Follow their instructions — they will tell you whether to induce vomiting or go to the ER

• Do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed to — for some toxins (like corrosives or petroleum products), it causes more damage on the way back up

• Bring the packaging or a sample of what your dog ate to the vet