My dog ate Ex-Lax. Is it dangerous? Should I make him throw up?

Poor pup! Depending on how big your dog is, it's hard to say whether toxicity from the chocolate in the medication will be a problem. As far as the laxative itself, this will probably cause diarrhea but would not be expected to cause any serious toxicity issues. The safest bet would be to have your dog seen by a vet right away, but if this isn't possible, you will need to monitor her closely for the next 24-48 hours. If you see symptoms such as tremors, seizures, or repeated episodes of vomiting, then this would be an emergency and there would be no other option except getting her to a vet immediately.

Ex-lax contains sennosides which cause water to stay in the intestinal tract which can help with constipation. They can cause diarrhea if too many are ingested, and sometimes abdominal cramping and discomfort as well. I agree that the amount of cocoa present is probably negligible, and I would guess that only 4 laxatives are unlikely to have much of an effect although it could take several hours for diarrhea to appear. I am a little concerned about the cause of Hercules' constipation however - it is rare for dogs to become constipated unless they have an underlying problem like kidney disease, high calcium levels, or bones or a foreign object causing a blockage in the colon. If the constipation continues or if you notice significant diarrhea you should see a vet.

Hello, I am sorry for your concerns. I do not think you need to rush to the emergency clinic as the side effects from overindulging in Ex Lax are not really too serious. The ingredient, Senna, can take up to 8 hours for it to have an effect, so there may be a delay in the possible development of diarrhea if this happens. You did not indicate how much Darby ate, but I generally recommend a wait & see approach with this. It amazes me how many dogs manage to not develop much in the way of GI upset from these laxatives. Hope this helps. Take care.

By looking at Jax weight and the amount of dark chocolate present in the cookies ingested he might just get a bit of tummy upset if anything at all. This means just some gastro-intestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhoea. If you think you can induce vomiting safely, I would do so for extra reassurance . If not I would just monitor him and take him to your vet if worried. Leave water down, if vomiting offer small amounts little and often.

Oh no, that was naughty of Junior! Cocoa is toxic to dogs, but it depends on how much was in the donut as to whether or not it leads to toxic symptoms. In looking up the ingredients, I see that it contains less than 2% of cocoa, so the amount in this little donut is not likely to cause toxic symptoms. Junior should be ok, but keep an eye on him for now. To be safe, you can take him into a vet to safely induce vomiting. I don't recommend inducing vomiting at home. That's because hydrogen peroxide (which is used at home to induce vomiting) can and does cause severe esophagitis and gastritis, often worse than the initial problem, so it's always preferred to advise emergency care. Take him into a vet now to induce vomiting.

That's a fair amount of chocolate, and if any of those chocolates were dark chocolate, that is very concerning. Dark chocolate is the most toxic type, and takes the least amount to cause toxicity. I would take your dog into a vet immediately, as they can give her a shot to induce vomiting. They can also give her activated charcoal. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

The effects of chocolate on a pet depends on a few factors: how big the pet is, how much they ate, and how dark the chocolate is. The darker the chocolate, the higher the concentration of theobromine, the ingredient that pets are sensitive to. Cocoa powder can have up to 10 percent theobromine. It's all dependent on how dark the chocolate is, where the cacao beans are grown and the brand. According to Hershey's, the theobromine content for their different types of chocolate is as follows. 1½ ounce Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar - 74 milligrams 1½ ounce Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar - 184 milligrams 1½ ounce semi-sweet chocolate chips - 165 milligrams 1½ ounce unsweetened baking chocolate - 466 milligrams 1 Hershey's Kiss - 8.2 milligrams 2 tbsp chocolate syrup - 70 milligrams Theobromine is digested and metabolized very slowly in dogs. The alkaline substance increases the heart rate and slows blood pressure. It also increases urination, causing dehydration. In addition, many digestive problems can occur. Symptoms to watch for generally occur in the first 12 hours. They include: Diarrhea Excitability Increased urination Irritability Muscle tremors Rapid pulse Restlessness Vomiting Left untreated, the dog can develop seizures and die from ingesting too much chocolate. This is where it is important to know exactly how much your dog has eaten. It's important to contact your veterinarian if your dog eats chocolate. In mild cases, you'll be advised to induce vomiting within the first two hours and then watch for signs of chocolate poisoning. If anything alarming occurs, seek veterinary care immediately. If veterinary care is necessary, charcoal is used to absorb as much theobromine as possible. The stomach may be pumped to remove additional chocolate before it digests. The heart is closely monitored and arrhythmias will be treated if they occur. IV fluids may be ordered to prevent dehydration. Seizures will be treated with medications. According to the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center, ingesting 20 milligrams of theobromine can cause mild poisoning. Ingesting 60 milligrams can lead to seizures. A lot of this depends on the dog's size.