My Dog Ate My Nebulizer Treatment

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Many people and pets suffer from a lung condition called asthma. One of the main treatments for this condition is called a nebulizer. We’ll talk more about this later in the article. But what happens if a dog eats a nebulizer treatment? Can a nebulizer treatment make a dog sick?

Has your dog eaten a nebulizer treatment? Are you worried the nebulizer treatment 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. Can My Dog Be Lactose Intolerant?

We’ve put together information about nebulizer treatments and whether they can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!Advertisement

If you’re worried your dog has swallowed the drugs in an asthma inhaler contact your vet straight away or, out of hours, your nearest Vets Now pet emergency clinic or hospital.

ventolin-inhaler-02-1 Millions of people in the United States suffer from asthma. Many of these people have inhalers to use during an attack. These inhalers are composed of a small pressurized canister that contains a solution of asthma medicine fitted into a plastic casing that releases a precise dose of the medicine in an aerosol form. The medicine contained in many asthma inhalers is albuterol, a drug used to relax the muscles in the lungs and allow the air passages to open.

Dogs suffering from albuterol toxicity will typically need to stay in the hospital for 12 – 48 hours. Treatment will include sedation, aggressive IV fluids, blood work (to monitor the electrolyte levels), drugs to slow the heart rate down, and heart and blood pressure monitoring. With prompt and appropriate treatment, albuterol toxicity is rarely fatal, although pets with heart conditions and pets on medications that interact poorly with albuterol are at higher risk for serious complications.

The size and (we think) the smell of the inhalers make them very attractive and interesting to our dogs. Dogs are easily able to puncture the canister if they chew on it. Since the canister is pressurized, the entire contents are released instantly, resulting in almost certain overdose of the medication. In an overdose, these drugs affect both the muscles of the lungs as well as the muscles of the heart. The results are immediate, severe, and include the following:

Veterinary Medical Center of CNYs Emergency veterinarians are available 24/7/365 to help you and your pet through these types of emergencies, but we will be just as happy if you can avoid them! Keep these and all other medications out of reach of your pets. Also avoid disposing of used canisters in trash cans that are accessible to pets. Used inhalers can still contain enough medication to be dangerous.

Diagnosis of Albuterol Toxicity in Dogs

If you are the owner of a young dog, you will know how they just get into anything; they are so curious. The years of puppyhood are fraught with trials as they explore everything with their mouths. Older dogs are not so curious but to be safe it is wise to treat all dogs like young toddlers; put every single thing that may harm them away, preferably under lock and key as some dogs are really good at opening cupboards. Asthma inhalers and albuterol give off an unusual smell that will attract a dog to it thinking it is a treat. Their jaws are more than capable of chewing through the puffer. Unfortunately, the side effects of a single massive dose of albuterol are almost immediate and symptoms such as panting and rapid heartbeat combined with the inability to walk means that you should take your dog to the clinic without delay for medical help.

Often these effects take hold within ten minutes, so it should be considered an emergency situation and appropriate action must be taken to save your pet. Your veterinarian will do a physical examination and check the heart rate (normal is around 130 to 150 beats per minute, albuterol can raise it to a very rapid 250 plus beats per minute). Blood tests will be taken to analyse the blood potassium level which can fall because of the overdose. Normal potassium levels are around 3.5 to 6.0 but below 2.5 is dangerously low and could threaten your dog’s life.

Common Nebulizer Treatment

One of the most common asthma nebulizer treatments is a medication called albuterol. This drug works to relax the muscles of the lungs and widen airways to make it easier for the person to breathe.

Nebulizer medication is usually contained in a small ampule made of plastic. So, what happens if a dog eats this nebulizer treatment?

FAQ

What happens if a dog eats albuterol?

Do not induce vomiting at home. Dogs suffering from albuterol toxicity will typically need to stay in the hospital for 12 – 48 hours. Treatment will include sedation, aggressive IV fluids, blood work (to monitor the electrolyte levels), drugs to slow the heart rate down, and heart and blood pressure monitoring.

What happens if my dog eats nebulizer?

Asthma inhalers often contain beta-agonist drugs (that expand the lungs) or steroids (that decrease inflammation in the lungs). When asthma inhalers are chewed on and punctured by dogs, it can result in severe, acute poisoning.

Is liquid albuterol poisonous to dogs?

Unfortunately, albuterol and similar human medicines can be very toxic to dogs. The inhalers we use have many doses inside them.

How long does albuterol poisoning in dogs last?

The prognosis for dogs with albuterol toxicosis that receive prompt treatment is generally good. Clinical signs may persist for 24 to 48 hours, depending on the albuterol dose consumed and the method of exposure.