Animal Poison Helplines by Country: Numbers, Fees, and What Works From Where
Animal poison helplines in the US, UK and Australia usually charge a fee. Their numbers, what each charges, and what to do if you live in Canada.
Written by thecanineledger
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If your dog has collapsed, is having a fit, is unconscious or is struggling to breathe: call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now. Don’t phone a helpline first. The UK’s Animal PoisonLine gives the same advice for signs such as “collapse, coma, convulsions, breathing difficulties”.
Animal poison helplines aren’t free. One US line says plainly that “veterinary poison control is allotted no tax dollars to support their existence” (Pet Poison Helpline, FAQ).
While a fee is the last thing you want to think about in a crisis, it helps to know before you call. This page lists the main helplines we could find for dog owners, what each charges, and where each one can be reached from. Every number and fee was checked on the service’s own website on 4 November 2026.
Our note: Fees and numbers change. Check them before you rely on them.
1. The helplines
| Country | Service | Number | Fee, as stated on its website on 4 November 2026 | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | ASPCA Poison Control | (888) 426-4435 | Not stated. “A consultation fee may apply.” | 24/7 |
| United States | Pet Poison Helpline | 855-764-7661 | USD 99 per incident (home page). Its FAQ says USD 85 | Not stated on the pages we read |
| United Kingdom | Animal PoisonLine | 01202 509 000 | GBP 35 (8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday) or GBP 45 (all other times) per call | 24 hours |
| Australia | Animal Poisons Helpline | 1300 869 738 | “from $79 AUD” | 24/7 |
| New Zealand | Animal Poisons Helpline (Australian service) | 0800 869 738 | Not stated separately | 24/7 |
| Canada | No national animal poison centre found | — | — | — |
About the numbers. The two US numbers are toll-free (888 and 855). US toll-free numbers may not work from outside the US. The Australian service lists separate numbers for callers outside Australia. Check before you travel.
Our note: One US helpline’s home page says USD 99 and its FAQ says USD 85, on the same day. We give both.
2. What the fee covers
Pet Poison Helpline. Its FAQ says the fee “covers not only the initial consultation, but also any follow-up consultations made with the pet owner and/or veterinarian.” You get a case number to give your vet.
ASPCA Poison Control. Its page says “A one-time consultation fee can help you avoid thousands in potential emergency vet costs.” It doesn’t give the amount.
Animal PoisonLine (UK). It is run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS). It charges per call and takes payment by card through an automated service. If you’re then sent to your vet, the vet can call VPIS’s professional line, but the PoisonLine warns that “your vet may charge a fee for calling VPIS.”
Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia). It says its consultants “have prior experience as senior emergency veterinarians or as clinical pharmacists”.
3. If you live in Canada
We found no national animal poison centre in Canada.
The Australian Animal Poisons Helpline lists a number for Canadian callers, +1917-722-5958, on its own website. We haven’t checked what that call costs from Canada. The two US helplines’ pages that we read don’t say whether they take calls from Canada.
Your best first call is your own vet, or the nearest emergency vet. Save that number in your phone now.
Our note: We haven’t confirmed whether the US helplines accept Canadian callers, or whether provincial poison centres will advise on pets.
4. Before you call
The UK’s Animal PoisonLine asks callers to have these ready:
- Your dog’s age, breed and weight.
- What it ate or was exposed to, with the product or brand name if you have the packet.
- How it was exposed: eaten, breathed in, or on the skin.
- How long ago, and roughly how much.
Keep the packet. Take it with you if you go to the vet.
Don’t make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to.
→ My Dog Ate Something: Why You Shouldn’t Make Them Vomit Without a Vet · → Emergency Signs in Dogs: When to Go Now, Not Tomorrow
5. Common poisons
→ Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs, With the Actual Evidence · → Xylitol: Where It Hides, and Why Minutes Matter · → Rat Bait and Slug Bait
6. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “The ASPCA line is free” | No. Its page says a consultation fee may apply, but doesn’t say how much. |
| “The UK PoisonLine costs £30” | Out of date. Its website says £35 or £45 per call, depending on the time. |
| “There’s a Canadian pet poison line” | We couldn’t find a national one. |
| “Toll-free numbers work from anywhere” | Not always. US toll-free numbers may not work from abroad. |
| “Call a helpline before the vet” | Not in an emergency. For collapse, fits or breathing trouble, go to a vet now. |
Sources
- ASPCA Poison Control. ⚠️ not peer-reviewed. Service’s own page, read 4 November 2026
- Pet Poison Helpline, home page and FAQ. ⚠️ not peer-reviewed. Service’s own pages, read 4 November 2026
- Animal PoisonLine. ⚠️ not peer-reviewed. Service’s own page, read 4 November 2026
- Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia), home page and About us. ⚠️ not peer-reviewed. Service’s own pages, read 4 November 2026
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.