Does your dog suffer from diarrhea or do you suspect poisoning?
charcoal tablets are the drug that is first and most often against Diarrhea or poisoning used in dogs.
But what are charcoal tablets, when exactly are they used and how are they dosed correctly?
You can find the answers to this question and lots of other helpful information about charcoal tablets in dogs in this article.
In a nutshell: Can I give my dog charcoal tablets?
Yes, charcoal tablets are suitable for dogs! Charcoal tablets consist of activated charcoal, can be bought over the counter and are the only medication that dog owners can administer immediately if their dog is poisoned.
Charcoal tablets are therefore one of the most important components of the medicine chest.
Effect of charcoal tablets in dogs – how do they work?
Charcoal tablets bind the toxins in the case of poisoning and diarrhea in the digestive tract within a relatively short time after administration.
The toxin is absorbed like a sponge and encased by the activated carbon. This prevents further poison from entering the body via the stomach.
The poison bound in this way can be excreted without causing further damage to the dog’s body.
Areas of application of charcoal tablets
Charcoal tablets are only used in two areas in dogs. At poisoning and at Diarrhea.
Activated charcoal tablets are freely available in pharmacies or in drugstores such as DM or Rossmann. In addition to the activated charcoal comperettes, there are alternatives in the form of liquid activated charcoal or pure charcoal powder and belong in every emergency pharmacy.
In case of poisoning
In the case of poisoning, the use of charcoal tablets is that First Aid Means first choice and should always be in stock.
Charcoal tablets may also be administered without hesitation if poisoning is suspected.
The activated charcoal prevents the dog from absorbing the poison from the intestine into its circulatory system. It is therefore important that the charcoal tablets are given to the dog as soon as possible after ingestion of the poison. The faster the tablets are administered, the higher their effectiveness.
activated charcoal works against poisoning poison bait, household toxins, industrial toxins as well as against poisonous plants.
If you suspect or have a conscience that your dog has ingested poison, a visit to the vet is unavoidable after administering the activated carbon and can even make the difference between life and death.
Activated charcoal is not an antidote!
Does your dog have poisoning directly through the bloodstream, such as from a snake biteis the gift of activated charcoal ineffective.
What to do in case of poisoning
If you suspect that your dog has ingested poison, the most important thing is to remain calm and try not to panic.
It is perfectly normal for the worst images and fears to come up in this situation.
However, if you panic now, this will have a negative effect on your dog.
Of course there is a walk to vet now at the top.
However, it is important for the subsequent treatment that the veterinarian knows which poison the dog has ingested.
If the incident occurred at home, if possible, bring the existing poisonous source or part of a poisonous plant with you to your veterinarian.
If your dog picked up something during the walk, secure it and then pass it on to the police later.
Don’t let your dog run. Carry him to the car, trying to keep his body as still as possible.
If you must drive to your vet, if possible, find someone to drive so you can keep a close eye on your dog.
In case of diarrhea
Activated charcoal can be given for diarrhea. However, it should always be borne in mind that diarrhea can have many triggers.
If diarrhea persists for more than 2 days, a vet visit should be considered to rule out viral infections or parasites.
If you give your dog activated charcoal for diarrhea, you must use a lower dose than for poisoning.
Activated charcoal can also be mixed very well with light foods because it is tasteless.
Danger! Activated Charcoal and Salt Water / Sodium Chloride!
Contrary to popular belief, dogs suffering from salt poisoning (excessive intake of seawater, salt lick) should be given to dogs suffering from sodium chloride poisoning no activated carbon be administered!
In this case, the vet will focus on vomiting!
Charcoal Tablets Dosage – How Much Can I Give My Dog?
The charcoal tablets are administered in different doses in the case of poisoning and diarrhea.
It’s a good idea to bring this up with your doctor the next time you visit the vet so they can work out the exact dose for your dog.
Dosage in case of poisoning
The rule of thumb for dosing the activated carbon at poisoning reads:
1 gram of activated charcoal per 1 kilogram of dog body weight.
Important!
For most tablets, the activated carbon content is in milligram specified. If an emergency has now occurred, it often happens that the number of tablets is incorrectly calculated due to sheer stress.
Most commercially available tablets are given in milligrams. It is therefore important that you calculate in advance how many tablets your dog needs and have this number in stock.
If you have a large dog, you may need several packs at once. Therefore, the administration of syrup is recommended for large dogs.
How many charcoal tablets for diarrhea?
Would you like to give your dog charcoal tablets as a treatment for Diarrhea give, the dosage is lower than for poisoning.
At the beginning of the treatment try it with 2 tablets. If you do not see success, you can use the following dosage recommendation for diarrhea:
0.5 milligrams of activated charcoal per 1 kilogram of dog body weight.
If your dog continues to have diarrhea despite being given activated charcoal, you should see your vet after 2 days at the latest to avoid dehydration.
How fast do charcoal tablets work?
5 minutes after ingestion by the dog, the activated charcoal achieves its full effect.
What is the best way to administer the charcoal tablets to my dog?
What makes administering activated charcoal a bit complicated is the amount that is needed.
Administration of activated charcoal – tablets and charcoal powder
Depending on the body weight of the dog, the Number of the tablets to be administered vary greatly. With a mastiff weighing 80 kilograms, if 250 milligrams of tablets are administered, it can quickly become over 300 tablets.
This large number of tablets is easiest to administer via tasty wet food with lots of sauce.
Also powder is easiest about wet food administered.
Administration of activated charcoal syrup
The easiest way to dose syrup is with a syringe. It is administered directly into the dog’s mouth.
Danger
Activated charcoal syrup is black. It may be that the entire environment is also colored upon administration.
waste not wasting your time with poisoning by trying to force the pills on him.
A gift of activated charcoal does not replace a visit to an animal species.
Are there any side effects from charcoal tablets for dogs?
Activated charcoal has very few side effects. If the dosage is too high, constipation or flatulence can occur.
Far more often it happens that the dosage, just at poisoning, too deep is applied and unbound residues of the toxins get into the bloodstream via the gastrointestinal tract.
Which charcoal tablets are suitable for dogs?
All types of charcoal tablets and syrup that are available over the counter in retail outlets are suitable for the dog.
Can charcoal tablets harm the dog?
Activated charcoal tablets should not be a regular part of your dog’s feeding schedule and should only be used in emergencies.
Charcoal tablets will not harm your dog as long as they correct be used.
Too much activated charcoal causes constipation in the dog.
Conclusion
Activated charcoal tablets are an absolute must in every dog owner’s emergency pharmacy.
Because they have relatively few or no side effects, activated charcoal tablets can also be used if poisoning is suspected.
Have you already had to use activated charcoal? Leave us a comment with your story, we are curious!