My dog ate an asthma inhaler—what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Asthma inhalers are toxic to dogs and can cause collapse or death.

What to do now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note what, how much and when.
  3. Bring the packaging.
  4. Keep your dog calm.
  5. Remove what is left.

Don't

  • Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Asthma inhalers are used in human and veterinary medicine for asthma and other respiratory diseases.[1] They often contain beta-agonist drugs that expand the lungs, with or without steroids that decrease inflammation in the lungs.[1]

Signs to watch for

  • Collapse
  • Death
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much is dangerous?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

What signs should I watch for?

The listed signs are collapse and death.

What should I do now?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now; note what, how much and when, and bring the packaging.

Sources

  1. Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

The same page for cats →

Other things dogs eat

BaclofenBatteriesBenzodiazepinesBeta-blockersBlack Widow SpiderBones (turkey, chicken, steak)BromethalinBrown Recluse SpiderCaffeineCalcium Channel BlockersCamphorCannabis (THC)