My Dog Ate Ambien What Should I Do?

Reviewed By Tom •  Updated: 01/30/23 •  3 min read
Dog Severe Toxicity Level
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Dog Ate Ambien

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Some people have a lot of trouble sleeping for various reasons. When the issue is causing major life disruptions, doctors may prescribe Ambien to their patients. And like other medications, a curious dog may try to eat the medication. He may believe he’s missing out on a great snack! But what happens if a dog eats Ambien?

Has your dog eaten Ambien? Are you worried that Ambien will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.

We’ve gathered information about Ambien and whether it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!

It is strongly recommended to contact a Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian.

What is Ambien?

Ambien, also called Zolpidem, is a prescription medication to treat insomnia in adults. The medicine helps a person get to sleep faster and have a better night’s rest. This medication is in a class of drugs called sedative-hypnotics. Ambien has a calming effect on the brain.

Ambien works to reduce stress & anxiety by causing sedation in humans. It’s available in pill form.

While this medication is safe for humans, what about dogs? What happens if a dog takes Ambien?

Ambien & Dogs

Unfortunately, Ambien can make a dog sick pretty sick. The medication can have the opposite effect on a dog as it does on a human. It’s possible that a dog may become overly excited and show other behavioral changes after eating Ambien.

Symptoms of Ambien Ingestion in Dogs

You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten Ambien:

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.

Treatment of Ambien Ingestion in Dogs

If your fur baby has recently eaten Ambien, the vet may try to induce vomiting and use activated charcoal to remove the medication from your dog’s system.

Otherwise, the vet will treat symptoms as they occur. For instance, if your dog is sedated, the vet may keep your dog calm in a dark place until the medication wears off. On the other hand, if your canine companion is showing CNS (central nervous system) excitement, the vet may give your dog a sedative to calm him down.

It’s highly probable that your dog will have to be hospitalized at least overnight. The vet may require this to monitor your dog’s condition.

The prognosis is best for dogs that receive prompt medical attention after eating Ambien. In the future, it’s best to keep Ambien and all medications out of your dog’s reach. You’ll both be happier for it!

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Tom

Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!

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