Pet Poisoning Treatment in Boynton Beach, FL, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Boynton Beach is a vet in Boynton Beach, FL, that treats dogs and cats who swallowed or licked something toxic. If you think your pet was poisoned, call (561) 200-1214 right away, even if your pet seems fine. Many poisons work for hours before signs show.

Seizures, collapse or trouble breathing? Go straight to a 24-hour emergency hospital, such as Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) at 2246 North Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach. Petfolk Boynton Beach is a primary and urgent care clinic, not an emergency hospital.

Call (561) 200-1214 or walk in. Same-day care is available.

What should I do if my dog bit a cane toad?

Act fast. Cane toads live across South Florida, and the University of Florida's IFAS extension says they can turn up almost any time of year, with more after spring and summer rain. Their skin gives off a toxin that hits dogs within minutes. UF/IFAS advises:

1. Wipe the inside of your dog's mouth well with a wet rag.

2. Rinse the mouth with a garden hose for about 10 minutes, head pointed down so the water runs out, not down the throat.

3. Call Petfolk Boynton Beach or head in.

Signs to watch for are heavy drooling, very red gums, head shaking, crying, wobbly walking and, in bad cases, seizures. Seizures mean go to the 24-hour hospital, not the clinic.

Which household items are toxic to pets?

These are the poisoning calls Petfolk Boynton Beach sees most often:

• Chocolate, especially dark and baking chocolate

• Grapes and raisins, which can damage a dog's kidneys

• Sugar-free gum and candy with xylitol

• Human medicine, such as ibuprofen, cold pills or ADHD medicine

• Rat and mouse bait

• Lilies, which are very harmful to cats, even the pollen

• Sago palms, a common Florida yard plant, where every part is toxic

Across Petfolk, about 1 in 33 sick visits is for a pet that swallowed something it shouldn't have, and dogs make up about three quarters of those visits (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).

How does the vet treat poisoning?

At Petfolk Boynton Beach, treatment depends on what your pet ate, how much, and how long ago. The vet may:

1. Make your dog vomit, if it's safe and the timing is right. Never try this at home without a vet's advice.

2. Use medicine that limits how much toxin the body takes in, when it fits the case.

3. Run blood work in the in-house lab to check the liver and kidneys.

4. Take digital x-rays when a pet swallowed a sock, toy or wrapper.

5. Talk you through home care, or a move to a 24-hour hospital if your pet needs round-the-clock care.

You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. Fear Free handling is standard here, which helps a pet who already feels awful.

What to bring on the way in

Grab the package, the plant, or a photo of the toad. Note the time it happened and roughly how much is missing. If you can't reach the clinic, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 can help (fees may apply).

Night-time toad habits in Boynton Beach

Cane toads roam mostly at night, and UF/IFAS notes they breed in canals, ditches and retention ponds and turn up in yards, school grounds and golf courses. UF/IFAS suggests bringing pet food and water bowls inside at night, because they draw toads in. Walk your dog on a leash after sunset, and turn on the yard light before you let your dog out.

They saved my cat from an accidental od of insulin.

Donna M., Google review

Head to Boynton Beach Blvd

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Boynton Beach is at 7375 Boynton Beach Blvd, Suite 435, Boynton Beach, FL 33437. Call (561) 200-1214 so the team can get ready before you arrive. For upset stomachs after a scare, see vomiting and diarrhea treatment in Boynton Beach.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Boynton Beach, or see all veterinary services in Boynton Beach.