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Why I Built PetToxCheck
"My dog ate a lily from the dining table. I didn't know lilies were toxic to dogs — I thought that was only cats. Six hours later, I was in an emergency vet clinic at 2 AM, staring at a $4,800 bill and a 50/50 survival prognosis."
She survived. But the vet told me something that haunted me: "If you'd known lilies were toxic and brought her in within the first hour, treatment would have been $300 instead of $4,800, and her chances would have been near 100%." One Google search, one hour sooner, would have changed everything.
That experience sent me down a rabbit hole I never expected. I started cataloging every common household substance that's toxic to pets — plants, foods, cleaning products, medications, even essential oils. What I found shocked me: most pet owners have no idea how many everyday items in their home can kill their animal.
I built PetToxCheck because I couldn't find a single resource that did three things well: tell you exactly how toxic something is, give you specific weight-based dosage thresholds, and walk you through precisely what to do in the first 15 minutes. Most sites just say "contact your vet" — which is correct but useless at 2 AM on a Saturday when your dog just ate a grape.
About the Author
R. L. Harmon
Pet Toxicity Researcher · Published under a pen name
I write under a pen name to keep the focus on the data, not on me. After my dog's poisoning, I spent two years researching veterinary toxicology full-time — reading case studies from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, studying dosage thresholds from veterinary journals, and compiling everything into a format that pet owners can actually use in an emergency.
What Makes This Site Different
Weight-based dosage tables
"Toxic" means nothing without context. A 10 lb Chihuahua and an 80 lb Labrador face very different risks from the same amount of chocolate. Every substance page includes weight-specific severity thresholds.
Symptom timelines — what happens and when
Most sites list symptoms. We show you the progression — what happens in the first hour, hours 2–6, and beyond. The timeline determines whether you have 30 minutes or 3 hours to act.
Every claim links to veterinary sources
When I say "xylitol causes hypoglycemia within 30 minutes," I link to the ASPCA Poison Control case data. Verify everything yourself.
Editorial Process
- 1 Research — I review veterinary toxicology databases (ASPCA APCC, WSU Veterinary Toxicology) and peer-reviewed literature.
- 2 Weight-based dosing — Every dosage table is calculated from published LD50 data and veterinary case reports, then cross-referenced with ASPCA guidelines.
- 3 Veterinary review — Content is reviewed for clinical accuracy by professionals with backgrounds in veterinary toxicology and emergency veterinary medicine.
- 4 Regular updates — Reviewed and updated at least annually, or sooner when new veterinary guidance is published.
Our Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC)
- WSU Veterinary Toxicology Helpline
- AVMA Poisoning & Toxins Resource
- Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
- Veterinary Information Network (VIN)
Medical Disclaimer
The information on PetToxCheck is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or nearest emergency vet clinic with any questions you may have regarding a potential poisoning situation. If your pet has ingested something toxic, contact your veterinarian or nearest emergency vet clinic immediately.
