Is Mothballs / repellent blocks toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: naphthalene balls / moth repellent
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Immediate emergency decontamination plus red-cell monitoring — naphthalene toxicity is delayed and severe. Lock wardrobes; use sealed alternatives.
Toxicity notes
Made of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene — chewed as toys or snacks they cause hemolysis, liver damage and neurologic signs; cats are especially sensitive.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Vomiting
- • Pale gums (hemolysis)
- • Weakness
- • Tremors
- • Liver failure signs
Symptoms can be delayed (e.g. onion/garlic-induced hemolysis may take days) — a pet looking fine right now is no reason to relax.
FAQ
How much causes poisoning?
Made of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene — chewed as toys or snacks they cause hemolysis, liver damage and neurologic signs; cats are especially sensitive.
Can I make my pet vomit at home?
Home-induced vomiting is not advised: corrosive cleaners, sharp bones or existing neurological signs make it dangerous, and improper technique risks aspiration pneumonia. Vomiting should be induced by a vet with proper drugs at the right moment — most effective within 1-2 hours. So “head to the clinic as soon as you know” beats “try to induce vomiting first”.
Even without symptoms, use the symptom checker to review what to watch for
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