1. How the grade is computed
per_kg = amount_g / body_weight_kg
Divide ingested grams by body weight (kg), then compare against food- and species-specific thresholds.
- 🟢 Safe: below watch threshold
- 🟡 Watch: watch ≤ per_kg < danger
- 🟠 Danger: danger ≤ per_kg < emergency
- 🔴 Emergency: ≥ emergency threshold
2. Special cases
- Dark chocolate (cacao %): Scaled as g × (cacao% / 70). 10g of 85% = effective 12.1g.
- Xylitol: product_g × concentration → pure xylitol grams, then compared.
- Grapes/raisins: Idiosyncratic — fatalities from a single grape reported. Conservative thresholds.
- Lilies (cats): Grooming pollen alone can cause AKI. Emergency regardless of dose.
3. Per-food thresholds (g/kg)
| Food | Dog (watch/danger/emerg) | Cat |
|---|---|---|
| 🍫 Dark chocolate (70%+) | 1.25 / 2.5 / 4 | 0.7 / 1.5 / 2.5 |
| 🍫 Milk chocolate | 9 / 18 / 26 | 5 / 10 / 15 |
| 🍫 White chocolate | 50 / 200 / 400 | 30 / 100 / 200 |
| 🧅 Onion (raw/cooked) | 5 / 15 / 25 | 1 / 4 / 8 |
| 🧄 Garlic | 1 / 3 / 5 | 0.2 / 0.8 / 1.5 |
| 🍇 Grapes / raisins | 0.1 / 1 / 3 | 0.1 / 1 / 3 |
| 🍬 Xylitol (gum, sweets) | 0.1 / 0.5 / 1.5 | — |
| 🌰 Macadamia nuts | 0.5 / 2 / 5 | — |
| 🍺 Alcohol (beer, liquor, bread dough) | 0.5 / 2 / 4 | 0.3 / 1.5 / 3 |
| ☕ Coffee / caffeine | 0.5 / 2 / 4 | 0.3 / 1 / 2 |
| 🥑 Avocado | 10 / 30 / 100 | 8 / 25 / 80 |
| 🍭 Sugar-free candy (may contain xylitol) | 1 / 3 / 6 | — |
| 🥖 Raw bread dough | 3 / 10 / 20 | 2 / 6 / 12 |
| 🧂 Nutmeg | 0.05 / 0.2 / 0.5 | 0.05 / 0.15 / 0.4 |
| 🧂 Salt (excess) | 1 / 2 / 4 | 0.5 / 1.5 / 3 |
| 🐟 Raw fish (thiaminase) | 50 / 200 / 500 | 20 / 100 / 300 |
| 🥚 Raw egg | 30 / 100 / 300 | 20 / 80 / 200 |
| 🍄 Wild mushroom | 0.1 / 1 / 3 | 0.1 / 1 / 3 |
| 🌷 Lily (cats) | 10 / 50 / 200 | 0.01 / 0.1 / 0.5 |
| 🫐 Raisin / currant | 0.02 / 0.2 / 0.6 | 0.02 / 0.2 / 0.6 |
4. References
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
- Pet Poison Helpline — toxin library
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Toxicology
5. Emergency action checklist
- Save the remaining food/packaging for the vet
- Note ingestion time and estimated amount
- Do NOT induce vomiting at home without vet advice
- Call the nearest 24h emergency vet
- Continuously monitor consciousness, breathing, vomiting