How and when to use activated charcoal for dogs

Dogs are curious creatures, sniffing and eating everything in sight. So, it’s no wonder they get into all sorts of surprises — from investigating yesterday’s trash to sniffing around the new cleaning solution. Their adventures may be gross but are often harmless.

Other times, your dog may end up consuming something toxic. This is where activated charcoal for dogs comes in. Charcoal binds to the toxic substance, decreasing the risk of your dog becoming poisoned.

👉 If you suspect that your dog ingested something toxic, notify Animal Poison Control Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. Go to source immediately: (888) 426-4435 

Activated charcoal is best administered by your pet’s veterinary clinic or under its supervision. If your dog’s veterinarian is unable to be present, consult with the vet’s office or a poison control line like Pet Poison Helpline or ASPCA over the phone before giving your dog any activated charcoal.

Activated charcoal is a medication for dogs that have consumed toxic content. Dogs can have activated charcoal in liquid, powder, or a combined slurry. We strongly discourage charcoal pills, capsules, or tablets since they don’t open well on the gastrointestinal tract.

How does activated charcoal work?

Activated charcoal is made by heating natural carbon resources, like wood and coconut shells, at temperatures of 600 to 900 degrees Celsius to make black charcoal. The activation process increases the surface area by removing molecules and creating cracks and crevices known as pores to encourage toxin binding. This allows the activated charcoal to absorb the toxins via these pores in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. And it works well, too. Activated charcoal can reduce toxins by 80% in just three hours.

Not all poisons bind to the pores as some are too small, making activated charcoal effective on only specific toxins. Activated charcoal is used in conjunction with cathartic sorbitol. Sorbitol works through the process of osmosis to help move the toxins out of the system. The treatment detoxifies your dog’s system, flushing out the activated charcoal with the toxins as feces.

Consult your vet or Animal Poison Control during any potential poisoning event, as they will know if your pet is properly hydrated to receive the activated charcoal. The charcoal pulls body water into the gastrointestinal tract, so if your pet is already dehydrated, this could turn a bad situation even worse. If the toxin was ingested within 2-4 hours, there’s a possibility your veterinarian may opt to induce vomiting instead. In many cases, it’s better to get the poison out than let it run its course.

Clinical signs of poisoning in dogs

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Seizures
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Nosebleeds
• Blood in stool
• Bruising

Dosage and scheduling

Activated charcoal dosage for dogs depends on weight. A study in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care recommends 1 to 5 grams of activated charcoal for each kilogram of weight of your dog. It takes about 2-4 hours for something to clear the stomach, and the effectiveness of AC decreases over time as exposure increases, so act quickly if you think your dog has ingested something poisonous.

Your veterinarian may recommend repeating doses of activated charcoal every 6-12 hours for a few days, depending on the toxic substance in question.

Experts agree that the most effective use of activated charcoal in dogs is for poisoning. But this is only effective to a degree, as activated charcoal doesn’t protect against all toxins.

Toxins that bind to activated charcoal

If your dog has ingested any of the following, activated charcoal would be effective in decontaminating your pet.

• Acetaminophen
• Anticoagulant rodenticides
• Aspirin
• Bromethalin
• Chocolate
• Digoxin
• Ibuprofen
• Marijuana
• Narcotics
• Nonpolar compounds
• Organophosphate/carbamate insecticides
• Prescriptions
• Pyrethrins/Pyrethroids
• Salicylates
• Strychnine

Toxins that do not bind to activated charcoal

If your dog has ingested any of the following, activated charcoal would be not effective in decontaminating your pet. In some cases, it might even make things worse, especially if your pet is dehydrated.

• Alcohols. They’re found in rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, mouthwash, fragrances, vanilla extract, facial toner, and windshield wiper fluid.
• Heavy metals. They can be found in cosmetics, batteries, electronics, and fireworks (arsenic, copper, iron, lead, lithium).
• Inorganic toxins. These are found in furniture polish, multi-purpose cleaners, bleach, detergent, tooth-whitening products, fertilizers, and nail glue removers (ammonia, borates, bromide, fluoride, chlorate, cyanide, iodide, nitrates, nitrites, phosphorus, sodium chloride).
• Petroleum distillates. They’re found in gasoline, kerosene, xylene, transmission fluid, lip gloss, and pesticides.
• Miscellaneous chemicals. These include caustic alkalis, metaldehyde, mineral acids, nitrates, paraquat, ethylene glycol, and xylitol.

Unfortunately, activated charcoal isn’t always effective. And in some circumstances, the supplement shouldn’t be administered at all. Keep an eye on your dog’s symptoms for the following red flags:

• Vomiting or seizures. Avoid giving your dog activated charcoal if your dog is actively vomiting, experiencing seizures, or showing other signs of toxicity.
• Neurological issues. Dogs with neurological issues cannot have the supplement.
• Trouble swallowing. If your dog is having difficulty swallowing normally, they could aspirate. This is life-threatening as your pet could inhale the activated charcoal into their lungs, causing pneumonia.

Side effects of activated charcoal for dogs

Not all dogs will have side effects, and many side effects of activated charcoal are mild, including black feces, vomiting, eye irritations, and constipation. Activated charcoal can cause severe symptoms if misused which could have life-threatening implications.

Dogs with specific conditions should avoid treatment. In most cases, this means those animals with gastrointestinal hemorrhaging and bowel impaction. Additionally, dogs suffering from dehydration shouldn’t use the medication. Severe symptoms range from hypernatremia to aspiration and gastrointestinal blockages.

Potential reactions with other drugs and medications

Due to the nature and purpose of activated charcoal to remove and bind to toxins, it can also push out recently taken medications at the same time as the toxins. This decreases the absorption of oral medications. Leave three hours or more before taking any medications following charcoal treatment.

Most people and vets administer activated charcoal orally via a syringe, but sometimes a stomach tube may be necessary if your pet isn’t agreeable or able to swallow. Administer the supplement slowly. Offer your dog small parts of the dosage at a time and remember to allow enough time for them to ingest.

If your dog’s interested in eating, they can consume the charcoal on their own. To encourage eating, ASPCA suggests serving dog food on top of the activated charcoal in a dog bowl.

With our recommended brand of ToxiBan,  you should only give the sorbitol-containing version one time. If repeated doses are needed, go with the non-sorbitol type.

• ToxiBan without Sorbitol
• ToxiBan with Sorbitol