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Many pet parents keep Imodium on hand to treat common diarrhea. It’s one of the most popular treatments for this condition. When your dog sees you taking Imodium, he may believe you’re eating a yummy treat. If he finds the medicine within his reach, your canine companion may eat one or more Imodium tablets. But what happens if a dog eats Imodium?
Has your dog eaten Imodium? Are you worried the Imodium 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 Imodium and whether it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is Imodium?
Imodium (also referred to generically as loperamide) is a synthetic opioid. Like all opioids, Imodium also causes constipation. And this is why the medicine is used to treat diarrhea; it’s not very good at treating pain and is quite effective for diarrhea.
While Imodium is safe for humans (when used as directed), what about dogs? Can Imodium make a dog sick?
Imodium & Dogs
Veterinarians do prescribe Imodium for dogs in some instances. The most common dose of liquid Imodium is 0.3 to 0.6 mL per pound of body weight, given 2-3 times a day. The liquid form is easy to mix into your dog’s food. Your vet may recommend a different dosage, so always check with them before giving your dog Imodium.
However, you should only give your dog Imodium if directed to do so by your vet. Imodium can be toxic in certain instances and doesn’t work on all types of diarrhea.
Certain dog breeds, such as herding dog breeds, should not take Imodium. These dogs have a genetic mutation that keeps the dogs from breaking down Imodium.
Canine diarrhea caused by an infection or toxins should not take Imodium. In these cases, the dog’s body tries to get rid of the infection or toxins. Stopping diarrhea in these instances could make a dog very ill.
Finally, dogs with certain health issues should not take Imodium, including liver or kidney disease, Addison’s disease, trouble breathing, and more. These dogs may experience worse side effects from Imodium than healthy dogs. In addition, dogs that are very young or old should not take Imodium for the same reason.
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Ask a Vet Live NowWhat to Do If Your Dog Has Eaten Imodium
The first thing to do is not to panic and figure out how many Imodium tablets your dog has eaten. It’s also a good idea to check the product packaging for the dose of Imodium in the pills your dog ate. Check to see if your dog is showing any symptoms, and write these down. With this information, you’re ready to call the vet.
If your fur baby has recently swallowed Imodium, the vet may try to pump the dog’s stomach. This works to remove the medication from your dog’s system. The vet may also induce vomiting or use activated charcoal to keep your dog’s system from absorbing the medicine.
The prognosis is best for dogs who receive prompt treatment after eating Imodium. In the future, it’s best to keep this and all medications out of your dog’s reach. Prevention is always the best medicine.
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Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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