Most toxicity is a matter of dose relative to bodyweight, which is why this matters more for a Westie than for a big dog.
A quantity a Labrador would shrug off can be a genuine emergency in a 17-pound terrier. Two squares of dark chocolate is the classic example.
The short version
- Small dogs reach a dangerous dose at far smaller quantities.
- Xylitol, grapes and raisins are the ones people most often underestimate.
- Do not induce vomiting at home. Some substances do more damage coming back up.
- Call poison control or your vet first, before doing anything else.
The foods that matter most
| Food | Why it is dangerous | Risk to a 17 lb dog |
|---|---|---|
| Xylitol (sugar-free gum, peanut butter, baked goods) | Causes a rapid crash in blood sugar, then liver failure | Severe — a single piece of gum can be enough |
| Grapes and raisins | Kidney failure; the mechanism is still not fully understood | Severe — no established safe dose |
| Chocolate | Theobromine affects the heart and nervous system | High — dark and baking chocolate are worst |
| Onions, garlic, leeks, chives | Damages red blood cells; cumulative over days | Moderate to high, including cooked and powdered |
| Macadamia nuts | Weakness, tremors, hind-limb collapse | Moderate |
| Alcohol and raw dough | Dough ferments in the stomach, producing alcohol | High |
| Cooked bones | Splinter and perforate the gut | High |
| Very fatty foods | Triggers pancreatitis | Moderate, and common at holidays |
Non-food hazards
| Hazard | Where it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Human medication | Bags, bedside tables, dropped tablets | Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are highly toxic to dogs |
| Antifreeze | Garage, driveway spills | Sweet-tasting and lethal in very small amounts |
| Rodent bait | Sheds, garages, neighbors’ yards | Often fatal; symptoms can be delayed for days |
| Slug pellets | Garden borders | Rapid tremors and seizures |
| Lilies, sago palm, azalea | Houseplants and yards | Sago palm is frequently fatal |
| Batteries and magnets | Toys, remote controls | Chemical burns and gut perforation |
| Compost and moldy food | Garden heaps, trash | Tremorgenic mycotoxins cause seizures |
What to do in the first ten minutes
- Remove the dog from the source and take the packaging with you.
- Work out how much and when, as precisely as you can. This determines the whole response.
- Call your vet or a pet poison line immediately. Do this before searching online.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to. Corrosives and petroleum products cause more damage coming back up.
- Do not give milk, salt or hydrogen peroxide. Home remedies commonly make things worse.
- Go in if you are told to, and take the packaging with you.
The Pet Poison Helpline provides a 24-hour poison control service and searchable toxin database. Save the number in your phone now rather than looking for it during an emergency.
Symptoms that mean go now
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea, particularly with blood.
- Tremors, twitching or seizures.
- Unsteadiness, collapse or sudden weakness.
- Pale, white or very red gums.
- Labored breathing or a racing heart.
- Sudden lethargy or disorientation.
- A distended, painful abdomen — also a bloat sign.
With several toxins, notably rodent bait and xylitol, a dog can appear fine for hours or days. Waiting to see is the wrong strategy when you know what was eaten.
Some of these signs overlap with ordinary illness — the conditions this breed is genuinely prone to helps separate a poisoning from a bad day, and what changes in an older Westie covers the same signs in a geriatric dog.
Prevention that actually works for a terrier
Westies are small, fast, and inclined to investigate anything at nose height. Height-based storage is not the protection people assume, and a dog that digs finds things a dog that does not will never reach — terrier digging is a hazard as well as a nuisance.
- Latched bins, not lidded ones. A determined terrier tips a pedal bin.
- Bags off the floor. Bags with gum or medication in them are a common route.
- Check the yard for mushrooms, compost access and gaps into a garage.
- Ask neighbors about rodent bait if your dog has yard access.
- Brief guests and children that food is not shared, especially at holidays.
- Read peanut butter labels before using it in a food toy.
What is actually fine
Plenty of the panic online is unfounded, and a short list of safe options is useful when you want to reward a dog without adding calories.
Carrot, cucumber, green beans, plain cooked chicken, blueberries, plain pumpkin and small amounts of apple without seeds are all fine for most dogs.
Portion still counts. Treats of any kind should stay under a tenth of daily intake — our guide to feeding and portions covers why weight is one of the commonest findings in the breed.
Frequently asked questions
How much chocolate is dangerous for a small dog?
It depends on type and bodyweight. Dark and baking chocolate carry far more theobromine than milk chocolate, and a 17-pound dog reaches a dangerous dose at a much smaller amount than a large breed. Call poison control with the weight, type and quantity.
Are grapes really toxic to dogs?
Yes, and there is no established safe dose. A small number has caused kidney failure in some dogs while others are unaffected, and the mechanism is not fully understood. Treat any ingestion as urgent.
What is xylitol and why is it dangerous?
A sugar substitute in sugar-free gum, some peanut butters, baked goods and mouthwash. It causes a rapid crash in blood sugar and can lead to liver failure. Very small amounts are dangerous to a small dog.
Should I make my dog vomit if it eats something toxic?
Not unless a vet or poison control tells you to. Corrosive substances and petroleum products cause further damage coming back up, and home remedies like salt or hydrogen peroxide can be harmful in themselves.
My dog seems fine after eating something toxic. Do I still call?
Yes. Several toxins, including rodent bait and xylitol, have delayed effects. If you know what was eaten, act on that rather than on how the dog looks.
Keep the numbers somewhere findable
Your regular vet, the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic and a poison control line — on the refrigerator and in your phone, before you need them.
If you have just adopted, add them during the first week. What to expect in the first 30 days with a rescue Westie covers the rest of the setup, and planning for your dog if something happens to you covers the emergency card that matters if you are the one taken ill.
