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Does anyone in your home take a medication called Seroquel (Quetiapine)? If so, then it’s important to keep this away from your dog.
What is Seroquel?
Seroquel, also called quetiapine, is an antipsychotic medication that’s used to treat schizophrenia, mania, and depression in those who have bipolar disorder. This drug works to restore the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.
In humans, this medication can help to improve concentration, reduce hallucinations, and help people feel more positive, feel less nervous, and more. Seroquel may also help some people improve their mode, sleep, appetite and energy levels.
While this medication is helpful for humans, it can be poisonous to dogs.
Dogs Ingesting Human Medications
Our fur babies are curious about everything. When they see us eating something, they assume it’s something yummy and want it too! A small treat once in a while is OK; however, if a dog somehow gains access to our medications, this can have disastrous effects.
If your dog can reach prescription bottles, he may chew the bottle and also eat some of the medicine inside. This is one way a dog can get to our human medications.
Another way is if we accidentally drop a pill on the floor and can’t find it, or our dog jumps on it fast and swallows it. Dogs eating human medications and being poisoned is a major problem.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Seroquel Poisoning in Dogs
You may notice signs about 1-2 hours after your dog ingests a Seroquel tablet, unless he’s eaten an extended release pill. The signs to watch for include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Seizures
- Fever
- Tremors
- Sensitivity to sounds/noises
- Depression
- Dilated pupils
- Vocalization
- Blindness
- Excessive salivation
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty walking
- Disorientation
- Coma
If you believe your dog has swallowed a Seroquel pill, then be sure to call the vet immediately. This could be a life-threatening medical emergency and time is of the essence
When calling the vet, be sure to let the vet know the dose of the pill, when your dog ate them and about how many pills your fur baby has eaten.
Treatment of Seroquel Poisoning
The vet may choose to induce vomiting if your fur baby recently ate the pill and is not sedated. They may also use activated charcoal, which tries to prevent the medication from being absorbed into the digestive tract. In addition, your dog may require IV fluids to keep him hydrated if he’s vomiting or passing diarrhea. The vet may also use other medical treatments to support your dog and relieve symptoms.
The prognosis for your dog is very good, if he receives quick treatment from your vet. And the best way to keep this type of accident from happening in the future is to keep all medications out of your dog’s reach, and quickly find and pick up any pills that are accidentally dropped. Then you won’t have to worry about your dog eating your medication.
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Aisling O'Keeffe, MVB CertSAM ISFMCertAdvFB
This article has been reviewed and approved by an independent Veterinarian: Aisling qualified as a vet 7 years ago from University College Dublin. She has worked in a mixture of UK small animal hospitals along with Irish practices. She worked for 3 years in a feline-only hospital where she further developed her feline medicine and surgery skills. She currently lives and works in a small animal hospital in Cork, Ireland.
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