Dog Ate Charcoal – What to Do Next

A dog’s curiosity may lead them to eat things they shouldn’t such as charcoal. It might not be considered toxic but charcoal can still cause plenty of problems inside the dog’s body.

What happens if a dog eats charcoal?

This will depend on a number of factors such as the amount of charcoal ingested and the dog’s body weight. For example, a large dog that ate a tiny amount of natural charcoal may end up being completely fine. A small dog or a puppy, on the other hand, may suffer from a number of symptoms, even if they were to only eat a single charcoal briquette.

Possible signs and symptoms may include a lack of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. One of the main dangers of charcoal is the risk of obstruction. Large pieces of charcoal briquettes may cause blockage along the dog’s intestinal tract or stomach.

Another health risk comes from charcoal that has been treated with petroleum products like lighter fluid. Dogs that eat treated charcoal may end up with further issues such as the development of sores and irritation in the mouth. Petroleum product poisoning may also cause excessive vomiting and hypersalivation.

What to do if your dog ate charcoal

We would call the vet or pet poison hotline to be on the safe side. If identified early enough (within a few hours of the dog ingesting the charcoal), it might be possible to get the charcoal out by inducing vomiting. This, however, shouldn’t be done at home. You should have the vet diagnose and treat as necessary.