Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog ate Xanax. Should I rush them to the vet or hospital now?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Border Collie | Female | spayed | 40 lbs

My dogs 40Lb and 70Lb got a hold of my xanax prescription and ate up to 10mg of xanax combined. They seem fine but do they need to go to the hospital? Is there a risk of OD?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on August 25th, 2019

Generally, you don't want to exceed 4mg total dose daily. You may see excessive lethargy or sedation and maybe some ataxia (wobbly gait). Rarely, Xanax may cause nervous system excitement or liver issues.
If the ingestion was within the past 2 hours, the safest option would be to have them seen at the nearest veterinary ER. Vomiting can be induced via injection to get any medication out before it is absorbed.
If you can't take them to a vet now, you can monitor for the above symptoms and have them seen if necessary.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on November 20th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Regardless of who got into this, that would be a very high dose of this and this requires a veterinary evaluation as soon as possible. If this happened within the last 2 hours, they may still be able to induce vomiting to retrieve some of the contents of the pills and start a decontamination process. They may also require supportive care as needed to keep them comfortable as some animals that are overdosed can experience deep sedation among other possible side effects. Good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My dog ate Xanax and is acting strange. What to do if vet is closed?

This is a potentially toxic dose and I would recommend seeing an emergency veterinarian. Alprazolam (Xanax) can cause sedation and disorientation or hyperexcitability. At high doses it can effect the blood pressure or lead to muscle tremors. Since you’re not sure if she ate the pill you could also contact the Pet Poison Helpline - they might be able to better determine if her symptoms are consistent t with ingestion and can recommend whether or not you need to seek treatment. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My German Shepherd ate Xanax. Should I be concerned about an overdose?

Xanax has a wide margin of safety in dogs, and a total dose of 0.5 mg in a large-breed dog would not be expected to cause any problems at all - in fact, the commonly-used dosage range for a dog this size goes up to 2 mg. So Izzy may be a bit more drowsy than usual, but otherwise should be just fine :)

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

What if my dog eats a 1mg Xanax pill? Will it be safe for them?

A 1mg pill should not be dangerous if either dog got ahold of it. Dogs can safely take xanax, and 1mg is within the dose range for both dogs. It's on the higher end for your smaller dog, but it's still ok. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate a Klonopin pill while on Xanax. Is this an emergency?

Oh no, that was naughty of Heaven Lee to eat the Klonopin! Klonopin is used in dogs as a short term treatment for epilepsy. As long as she is at least 1kg (2.2 pounds), she will have ingested at most the highest recommended dose of the medication according to Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. There are also no interactions between Xanax or Klonopin. She should be fine from this ingestion, but you may see some side effects of the drug such as sedation or ataxia. If you see any significant effects, such as GI effects (vomiting, constipation, diarrhea), or increased salivation, I would have Heaven Lee seen by a vet.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate Lexapro. Should I be worried? What do I do immediately?

Duke is 80lbs, so about 36.4kg. He ingested 0.55mg/kg of Lexapro. With doses as low as 0.3mg/kg, you can see incoordination and lethargy, although there is typically no toxic damage to organs. To be safe, if Duke ate the Lexapro within the past 2 hours, I would take him to your vet now to induce vomiting. If it's been longer than 2 hours, you will have to monitor him for signs of toxicity (tremors, incoordination, seizures, lethargy), and if you see any of those signs, take him to a vet right away.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate my Effexor antidepressant. What should I do immediately?

This is a very high dose for a 20lb dog and some effects are likely to be seen. If it was eaten within the last 90 minutes, then it's best to take him to a vet so they can induce vomiting and give other treatment to prevent absorption of the drug. At this dose he is in danger of having tremors and possibly seizures, it's best to take him to the vet as soon as possible for treatment and monitoring. I hope that helps and all is well with Griffin.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate Adderall and is acting restless. What should I do?

Contact your veterinarian right away. Adderall falls within a group of drugs known as amphetamines. According to the PetPoisonHelpline website, ingestion of amphetamines in dogs can produce the following symptoms: agitation, aggression, panting, sedation, elevated heart rate, hypertension, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures. Treatment may include decontamination (if appropriate), IV fluids, thermoregulation, heart and blood pressure monitoring, and supportive care.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share