Leek

Yes, leeks are toxic to cats. As members of the Allium family, they contain compounds that cause oxidative damage to red blood cells, which can lead to hemolytic anemia. Any part of the plant — raw, cooked, or in seasoned food — is dangerous.

Early symptoms are gastrointestinal: vomiting, drooling, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which can appear within hours. The more serious danger is anemia, which may not appear for several days — signs include pale gums, weakness, lethargy, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, and red or brown urine.

Remove your cat's access to any remaining leek and note how much was eaten and when, then call a vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) immediately — do not wait for symptoms to appear. Do not induce vomiting at home; a professional will decide whether decontamination is appropriate.

GI signs like vomiting and diarrhea can appear within hours, but the dangerous red-blood-cell damage is often delayed — anemia may not become apparent for several days after ingestion. Because of this delay, a follow-up bloodwork check is typical even after initial symptoms seem to resolve.

Yes, leeks are toxic to dogs. They belong to the Allium family and contain compounds that can damage red blood cells, causing gastrointestinal upset and potentially hemolytic anemia. Any part of the plant is dangerous, and this includes cooked leeks or dishes seasoned with them.

Initial signs appear within 24 hours and include drooling, oral irritation, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The more dangerous delayed signs — which can appear days to about a week later — are anemia-related: lethargy, pale gums, rapid heart and respiratory rate, weakness, exercise intolerance, and dark or bloody urine.

Remove any remaining leek and estimate how much was eaten and when. Do not induce vomiting at home — your vet or poison control will direct decontamination based on dose and timing. Call a vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) immediately, even for small amounts, because toxic dose depends on your dog's body weight and symptoms can be delayed by several days.

GI symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea can appear within 24 hours, but the more serious complication — hemolytic anemia from red blood cell damage — is delayed and may not show up for several days to about a week after ingestion. Because of this delay, bloodwork follow-up is common even when a dog initially appears fine.