Activated Charcoal For Dogs Chocolate

Activated charcoal comes as tablets granules powder or even dog biscuits.

Activated charcoal for dogs chocolate.

Chocolate is toxic because it contains the alkaloid theobromine. Activated charcoal may help with preventing the absorption of the toxic elements of the chocolate from the intestines. Due to the high sugar content of chocolate it has an osmotic effect in the gastrointestinal tract pulling free water out of the vasculature. The charcoal is a black thick substance that comes in liquid powder or tablet form.

If your dog has eaten a poisonous substance your vet might recommend activated charcoal for dogs. Activated charcoal is a treatment administered to dogs that have consumed toxins. Theobromine is similar to caffeine and is used medicinally as a diuretic heart stimulant blood vessel dilator and a smooth muscle relaxant. If your pet consumed the chocolate less than two hours ago your veterinarian may induce vomiting and give him several doses of activated charcoal which works to move the toxins out of the body.

Try giving your dog activated charcoal as a last ditch effort. The most common way vets treat chocolate poisoning is to use fluids and iv drugs he says. Chocolate is one of those cases where activated charcoal is being used less and less. It s made from heating natural carbon resources like wood and coconut shells at high temperatures of 600 to 900 degrees celsius to make black charcoal.

Activated charcoal can help by preventing the theobromine the toxic component of chocolate from getting absorbed by the dog s body. In an ideal situation the substance would be administered to your dog one hour after they have ingested the toxin but there may be benefits outside of this timeframe too. Small dogs should receive a one teaspoon dose while dogs larger than 25 pounds should receive a two teaspoon dose. Use activated charcoal powder and mix it with some water according to the directions on the package so it s easy for your dog to swallow.

While rarely fatal chocolate ingestion often results in significant illness. For example they ll use a drug called apomorphine to force vomiting stomach pumping to flush the stomach with fluids and medicine called activated charcoal to prevent the chocolate from getting into your dog s blood. The latter makes it easy for you to feed your pooch directly. Don t use activated charcoal at home some vets may administer activated charcoal by mixing it into the dog s drinking water to treat your dog s chocolate poisoning problem.

Found in pharmacies activated charcoal is a pill powder liquid or granule that binds and absorbs poison like a super sponge and helps expel the toxins from the body through the excretion of feces.