My dog ate opioids or opiates – what should I do?
Call a vet nowCall your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Opioids can cause severe poisoning because they are rapidly absorbed by all routes of administration.
What to do right now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.
- Note what was eaten, how much, and when.
- Bring the packaging with you.
- Keep your dog calm.
- 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
Opioids and opiates are drugs designed to provide pain relief for animals and humans.[1] Accidental ingestion in oral or patch form can result in severe poisoning because opioids are rapidly absorbed by all routes of administration.[1]
Signs to watch for
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.
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?
Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.
How soon can it act?
Opioids are rapidly absorbed by all routes of administration.[1]
Sources
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