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Add This to Your Pet First Aid Kit

To me, this is one of the most important things to have in your First Aid kit (for your pets and yourself) – activated charcoal capsules.

To me, this is one of the most important things to have in your First Aid kit (for your pets and yourself) – activated charcoal capsules.

I’ve shared this information in the past (on TruthaboutPetFood.com) but it is worth repeating. I feel strongly that every household should have them in their medicine cabinet or first aid kit because – I’m confident activated charcoal saved my little dog’s life.

I prepare my pets food myself – 2 dogs, 4 cats. And the food is cooked – lightly cooked. But even though my pets get all home prepared pet food, a year or two ago my little dog (8 pounds) suddenly got very, very sick. Vomiting and diarrhea. A trip to the vet and several hundred dollars later, the assumption was made he had some type of bad bacteria in his gut. He was put on antibiotics for 10 days which helped, until day 11. Exactly one day after the antibiotics ended, he was very, very sick again. Kirby had some type of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

My veterinarian wanted to put him on a different antibiotic. Instead, I took the advice of a friend that suggested I give the little guy activated charcoal. I was told he would be better within 30 minutes. I rushed to the health food store, returned home and gave Kirby one capsule. Had I not seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it. He was very sick, head and tail low. 30 minutes later – he was head and tail held high, trotting around the house just like himself.

From ASPCA Tips to Manage a Poison Emergency:

“Activated charcoal adsorbs a chemical or toxicant and facilitates its excretion via the feces. It basically acts like a magnet, attracting and holding the toxicant to its surface so that it passes through the gastrointestinal tract without being absorbed by the body. It is administered when an animal ingests organic poisons, chemicals or bacterial toxins or if enterohepatic recirculation of metabolized toxicants can occur. Enterohepatic recirculation occurs with some compounds that are metabolized in the liver. The metabolites are emptied in the bile and are reabsorbed in the intestines, which would allow for a persistent pharmacological effect. The recommended dose of activated charcoal for all species of animals is 1-3 gm/kg body weight. Repeated doses of activated charcoal every 4-8 hours at half the original dose may be indicated when enterohepatic recirculation occurs.

Activated charcoal can be given orally with a large syringe or with a stomach tube. In symptomatic or uncooperative animals, anesthesia may be needed. A cuffed endotracheal tube should be used in the sedated or clinically depressed animal to prevent aspiration.

Activated charcoal should not be given to animals that have ingested caustic materials. These materials are not absorbed systemically, and the charcoal may make it more difficult to see oral and esophageal burns. Other chemicals that are not effectively absorbed by activated charcoal include ethanol, methanol, fertilizer, fluoride, petroleum distillates, most heavy metals, iodides, nitrate, nitrites, sodium chloride, and chlorate.”

For me, I am a firm believer in activated charcoal capsules. I’ve taken them myself when I felt I had a food poisoning – and it helped me within minutes. The brand of activated charcoal I use is Country Life (purchased at a health food store) – 260 mg (4 gram). Kirby – my little 8 pound dog – was given a dose of one capsule that first day, and repeated on the second day.

Please consult with your veterinarian before giving your pet activated charcoal.

 

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food

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5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Sage

    July 17, 2015 at 4:30 pm

    I too keep activated Charcoal capsules in my kitchen cabinet – current brand is Nature’s Way from Whole Foods Market. The label for this brand lists (human) dose of 2 capsules or 560 mg so 1 capsule would be 280 mg which is close to Susan’s brand. I take just ONE capsule for indigestion on rare occasions and they work instantly as Susan mentions. Have also given them to my dogs over the years with great results.

    One word of warning – charcoal reportedly can also absorb valuable food NUTRIENTS so it should not be taken repeatedly or every day. Usually just ONE dose is all that’s needed and if a problem persists beyond a day or so, a Vet visit is important. Also, if a pet is really sick and FOAMING at the mouth it could have ingested poison and not bacteria which would be a Vet Emergency. Years ago a neighbors cat ingested poison and was foaming very badly. Fortunately the Vet was able to save her!

  2. Gitta

    July 17, 2015 at 11:08 pm

    “The recommended dose of activated charcoal for all species of animals is 1-3 gm/kg body weight.”

    1 gm (gram) = 1000 mg
    1 kg (kilogram) = 2.20462 lbs

    A 40 pound dog would need 18 gm or 18000 mg at the low end of the recommended dose. If one capsule contains 280 mg, then the dog would need to ingest 64 capsules. At the high end (3 gm or 3000 mg) it would take 193 capsules.

    I too swear by it for minor discomforts. A poisoned dog clearly needs to be seen a veterinarian and I suspect the above recommendation is meant for acute poisoning requiring large doses. Just hate to think somebody trying to give a whole bottle of capsules.

    “260 mg (4 gram)”
    Not sure how to interpret this. 4 gram = 4000 mg.

    • Sage

      July 19, 2015 at 4:00 pm

      A super HIGH dose of charcoal would be used to treat POISONING such as ingesting Rat Poison or other chemicals (NOT for milder food poisoning from BACTERIA) and should ONLY be administered by a VET or for humans – a medical doctor or hospital. The ASPCA quote above references a POISON EMERGENCY and SUSAN described her pet as having a serious BACTERIAL infection which was not responsive to antibiotics and could be treated with a LOW dose of Charcoal. As she mentions, the LOW dose she used worked very well. CHARCOAL Capsules are sold at Whole Foods Markets and most health food stores and on line, and if used according to the directions they are quite safe and effective.

  3. Karen Mitchell

    July 17, 2015 at 11:47 pm

    So what made your dog very very sick, Giardia?
    I too feed my pets all natural and been researching for the past 6 years. In my research I have learnt that charcoal is a no no in any form, unless you use it in an acute poisoning situation, as you did. Burnt food as charcoal is the most dangerous form, but I prefer to play it safe and avoid all forms.
    Just thought I would put my two bobs worth in there. Cheers

  4. Juanita

    September 14, 2015 at 8:37 am

    I have an 80 lb pit bull. How should be the dosage for him if ever needed? We to out in the country a lot and never know. if there is poison ivy or other poisonious plants, even flowers can be poisonous.

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