Pet Poisoning Claims Are Up More Than 30% Since 2020

From chocolate and grapes to fertilizer and gum, pets have a habit of getting into things that may be poisonous to them.

Our team at pet medical insurance provider Trupanion, found that the number of poison-related claims among Trupanion insured pets has increased by 30% in dogs and 50% in cats since 2020.

Key Findings

• Trupanion has received more than 71,000 poison-related claims since 2020
• Grapes and raisins are the most common source of poison-related claims
• The cost of poison-related claims ranged from $558 for onions to $1,705 for anti-freeze and detergents

The 10 Most Common Pet Poisons in the United States

Grapes and raisins are the most commonly identified source of poison-related claims among Trupanion pets, with more than 11,000 instances since 2020. Chocolate is the second leading cause of pet poisonings, followed by drugs/medications, rodenticides, various types of plants and xylitol.

Below is a look at the ten most common pet poisons and the average cost of treatment across the United States. The drugs/medication category includes both human and veterinary drugs/medications.

The Ten Most Common Pet Poisons in Canada

Just like in the United States grapes and raisins are the most common identified source of poison-related claims in Canada. However, when we look at the ten most common poisons in Canada, there are some differences from the US. For example, poisonings from plants and cannabis are more common in Canada (4th and 5th respectively), while poisonings from rodenticides and xylitol are less common.

The average cost of treatment is represented in Canadian currency.

Pet Poisonings in Each State

The number of poison-related claims in each state varies significantly depending on the population of the state. California, the most populous state, had the most claims overall with 8,206. Wyoming, the least populous state, had the fewest number of claims with 22.

Louisiana had the highest rate of poison-related claims with 1.75 claims per 1,000 pets. Followed by Utah (1.59), Maine (1.58), South Dakota (1.50) and Colorado (1.37).

Arkansas had the lowest rate of poison-related claims with .65 claims per 1,000 pets. Followed by West Virginia (.68), Wyoming (.73), Rhode Island (0.73) and Iowa (.75).

Pet Poisonings in Each Province

The number of poison-related claims in Canadian provinces varies from 7,222 in Ontario to 269 in Manitoba. Prince Edward had the highest rate of poison-related claims at 2.02 per 1,000 pets. Quebec had the lowest rate of any province with more than 250 poison-related claims at .94 claims per 1,000 pets.

The Most Common Pet Poisons Statewide

Grapes, chocolate and drugs/medications are the most common identified sources of pet poisoning, but there are some differences when we look at the most common pet poisons on a state level.

For example, rodenticides are a common source of poison-related claims in Arizona but not in Washington. Georgia, meanwhile, is the only state where alcohol and caffeine are among the top sources of pet poisonings.

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Arizona

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Drugs/Medications
3. Rodenticides
4. Chocolate
5. Plants

The Most Common Pet Poisons in California

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Chocolate
3. Drugs/Medications
4. Plants
5. Rodenticides

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Colorado

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Drugs/Medications
3. Chocolate
4. Rodenticides
5. Plants

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Florida

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Chocolate
3. Drugs/Medications
4. Plants
5. Xylitol/Gum

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Georgia

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Chocolate
3. Drugs/Medications
4. Plants
5. Alcohol and Caffeine

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Illinois

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Chocolate
3. Drugs/Medications
4. Plants
5. Rodenticides

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Indiana

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Drugs/Medications
3. Chocolate
4. Xylitol/Gum
5. Rodenticides

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Massachusetts

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Chocolate
3. Drugs/Medications
4. Plants
5. Rodenticides

The Most Common Pet Poisons in New York

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Chocolate
3. Drugs/Medications
4. Plants
5. Rodenticides

The Most Common Pet Poisons in North Carolina

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Drugs/Medications
3. Chocolate
4. Rodenticides
5. Xylitol/Gum

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Ohio

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Drugs/Medications
3. Chocolate
4. Xylitol/Gum
5. Rodenticides

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Pennsylvania

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Drugs/Medications
3. Chocolate
4. Rodenticides
5. Plants

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Texas

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Chocolate
3. Drugs/Medications
4. Plants
5. Rodenticides

The Most Common Pet Poisons in Washington

1. Grapes/Raisins
2. Drugs/Medications
3. Chocolate
4. Plants
5. Xylitol/Gum

Signs of Poisoning in Cats and Dogs

Different types of poison will have different effects in pets but there are some common signs to look out for.

Signs of Poisoning in Cats

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Skin inflammation or sweliing
• Unsteady gait
• Tremors and/or seizures

Signs of Poisoning in Dogs

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Tremors and/or seizures
• Pale or discolored gums
• Unsteady gait

Methodology

Trupanion looked at the number of poison-related claims from January 2020 – December 2025. Claims are broken down nationally (United States and Canada), by state and by province.

It is important to note that while claim counts and rates can provide insight into insured pet activity, fluctuations in these figures may be influenced by evolving clinical practices and various external factors, rather than representing a definitive shift in toxicant ingestion. Further investigation into the environmental and behavioral variables is warranted to confirm the primary drivers behind these data trends.

The “food-other” category is comprised of various types of food-related poisons, including alcohol, caffeine, mushrooms, macadamia and zinc.