If your dog or cat swallowed something that could be toxic, call Petfolk SouthPark at (980) 580-8079 right away, before any signs appear, and keep the packaging. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark is a veterinary clinic on Old Sardis Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, that assesses and stabilizes pets who ate something toxic.
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital now if your pet is having a seizure, has collapsed, is struggling to breathe, won't respond to you, or is bleeding with no clear cause. Bring the packaging with you.
What should I do first if my pet ate something toxic?
Call a vet first, because the exact product, the amount and the time decide the treatment.
Move your pet away from the source and pick up whatever is left.
Grab the packaging, the pill bottle or a photo of the plant.
Estimate how much and when. "Half a 3.5-ounce dark chocolate bar about 30 minutes ago" is far more useful than "some chocolate."
Call. Call Petfolk SouthPark, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, which answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 888-426-4435. A consultation fee may apply.
Should I make my dog throw up at home?
No, not unless a vet tells you to. Cleaners, batteries and petroleum products can burn again on the way back up, home methods like salt can cause their own poisoning, and hydrogen peroxide can inflame the stomach. Never try to make a cat vomit at home. When vomiting is the right move, the Petfolk SouthPark vet gives a medicine that works quickly and more safely.
Which foods, plants and medicines cause the most trouble for Charlotte pets?
Keep these common kitchen foods, medicines and plants out of reach, and call Petfolk SouthPark right away if your pet eats one.
Grapes and raisins can injure a dog's kidneys, and even small amounts matter for some dogs.
Chocolate: the darker it is, the bigger the risk.
Xylitol, a sweetener in some sugar-free gum, candy and peanut butter, drops a dog's blood sugar fast. The FDA has warned pet parents about it.
Human pain relievers: ibuprofen and naproxen harm a dog's stomach and kidneys, and acetaminophen is especially toxic to cats.
Lilies: every part, even the pollen or vase water, can injure a cat's kidneys.
Sago palm, often grown in pots on patios: every part contains a toxin called cycasin, and the seeds hold the most (NC State Extension, Cycas revoluta plant profile).
Rodent and snail baits: effects can be delayed by days, so treatment can't wait for signs.
Swallowed socks and toy parts can block the gut instead; the vomiting and diarrhea page explains what that looks like.
How does Petfolk SouthPark treat a pet that ate something toxic?
The Petfolk SouthPark vet confirms what was eaten and when, checks heart rate, temperature and alertness, then treats for that toxin and timing. Treatment can include medicine to make your pet vomit, activated charcoal to bind what's left, fluids, and blood work to check kidney and liver values over the next day or two. You get an estimate before treatment begins. If your pet needs monitoring overnight, the vet will explain where that can happen.
What these visits look like at Petfolk SouthPark (October 2025 to September 2026):
About 1 in 30 sick visits (3%) was for a pet that ate something it shouldn't have, and dogs were 72% of those patients.
More than 1 in 4 of these visits (28%) included blood work, and about 1 in 6 (17%) included x-rays to look for swallowed objects.
Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, 85% of these visits were booked the same day, and 44% fell on a Saturday or Sunday.
After my puppy ate a few grapes ... I called Petfolk instead. What a difference! They were sympathetic, professional, and transparent about their care plan and costs over the phone. R.D T., Google review
What if my pet seems fine after eating something?
Call Petfolk SouthPark anyway, because grapes, xylitol and rat bait can cause harm hours or days before a pet looks sick, and treatment works best early. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark is at 4914 Old Sardis Rd, Unit C5, Charlotte, NC 28211, and a veterinarian in SouthPark can tell you by phone whether to come in.
Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark, or see all veterinary services in SouthPark.
If your pet ate something it shouldn't have
Off Old Sardis Road, in Unit C5