Can I Give My Dog Activated Charcoal Pills?

For humans, consuming activated charcoal pills may potentially help for a number of circumstances. It could, for example, be used as a remedy for treating poisoning, or a remedy to treat health issues like flatulence or upset stomachs. What about for dogs though? Is it safe to use on dogs for similar health issues?

Yes, giving your dog activated charcoal may help under certain circumstances. For example, if your pet ingested a poison or something else that’s toxic then activated charcoal may help buy your dog some time until he is taken to the vet for further treatment. Activated charcoal can act like a magnet and prevent the toxic substance from getting absorbed by the body as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract.

We strongly recommend calling the vet first for advice before you try to administer some activated charcoal to an animal. The dosage from human-use activated charcoal pills may not be appropriate for a dog. It’s also important to note that not every toxin will bind to activated charcoal so administering it may end up being a useless, time-wasted endeavor.

In what could be a potential life-threating situation, we strongly recommend calling your vet now and follow the steps he or she advises to ensure your pet doesn’t suffer from further complications, especially if it’s related to the ingestion of toxic substances.