Dogs are known for getting into stuff that they’re not supposed to. A pill or medicine box is no exception. If you find out that your dog has eaten a 1 mg Ativan pill, it can be quite stressful. What should you do in such a situation?
Well, there is good news. You don’t need to panic if your dog ate 1 mg of Ativan because it’s highly unlikely he’ll suffer from any symptoms of an overdose. If you find him experiencing any negative reactions, though, take your dog to the vet immediately.
Keep reading below for more information and symptoms of dog poisoning after Ativan.
Before scrolling further down to the answer to this question, can check out these other helpful guides: My Dog Ate Melatonin and My Dog Ate Coconut Oil
What Happens If My Dog Ate 1 Mg Ativan?
There is good news. One mg of Ativan (Lorazepam) usually won’t have too much of a detrimental impact on your dog, unless he or she is a little or toy breed!
In veterinary settings, lorazepam may occasionally be used “off-label” to address behavioral issues, including seizures or anxiety. Except if your dog is really, really small, the recommended doses for Ativan vary from 0.25 to 0.5 mg per pound of canine body weight, so it is unlikely that your dog may have an overdose.
However, it would be wise to take your pet to the veterinarian right away for a full check-up if it exhibits any signs like increased lethargy, nausea, vomiting, or agitation.
Can Ativan Hurt Dogs?
We’ve all been there. You accidentally knock the morning pill off the nightstand while searching for it while still partially blind from lack of sleep. On the other hand, your dog has almost devoured it by the time you even reach the ground. But before you freak out because your dog ingested an Ativan tablet, let’s take a look to see if the medicine may actually harm your dog.
Generally speaking, human medicine is for humans, whereas canine medicine is for canines. Nevertheless, there’s really no need to worry right away if your overenthusiastic dog thinks that a 1 mg Ativan tablet is a treat.
The active ingredient in Ativan is lorazepam. It is a member of the benzodiazepine drug class, which calms the brain and central nervous system when used. It has a calming effect like Valium, and as you’ll see in the section ahead, it is occasionally purposefully given to dogs to help them cope with stressful situations.
Two key factors, notably the dog’s weight and the dosage amount, decide how severely Ativan will impact your dog. Veterinarians often provide Ativan at a dosage of 0.25 to 0.5 milligrams per pound of body weight every 8 to 12 hours or so. That implies that if your dog is a huge Great Dane, there’s a strong likelihood that 1mg of Ativan won’t adversely affect him in any obvious way.
However, the Ativan will start working much more quickly if you’re attempting to keep an energetic puppy no bigger than the size of your hand under control. Regardless of the size of the dog, you should keep an eye out for any signs. Ativan poisoning symptoms can include:
- Increased sedentary behavior
- Lack of coordination
- Nausea
- Throwing up
- Aggressive behavior
- Irritability
- Cardiovascular or respiratory depression
It’s crucial to keep in mind that no two dogs are alike, so you must compare your dog’s behavior to what it usually does. For instance, it can be more difficult to detect increasing sedentary behavior in a dog that likes spending the entire day in the sun.
What Do I Do If My Dog Ate Ativan?
As was already said, your dog’s weight has a significant impact on how severely they react to Ativan. There shouldn’t be any cause for concern if you follow the 0.25 mg/pound general rule of thumb and your 40-pound dog consumes one mg of Ativan.
Although your dog may appear drowsier than usual and even unsteady, the incident shouldn’t be too detrimental to them. Keep an eye on them during the day and alert your veterinarian if you see any unsettling side effects like those listed above.
But, if your dog weighs closer to 4 pounds and you notice him ingesting one mg of Ativan, you should call your veterinarian right away. Consider it a drug overdose and follow the veterinarian’s advice about how to proceed.
The veterinarian might suggest that you try to induce vomiting if they accidentally swallow Ativan. Remember that induced vomiting only works if less than 30 minutes have passed after taking the Ativan, preferably less.
A teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide is often used for the process, and the dose is one teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight. Although you may feed your dog the solution directly in the mouth, you might find it simpler to combine it with yogurt or soak it in biscuits.
Encourage your dog to run around outside for about 10 minutes once it has ingested the hydrogen peroxide to enable the liquid to bubble up within its stomach. If your dog doesn’t vomit after 15 minutes, try a second dosage. This should make your dog throw up. If your dog develops any neurological symptoms at any point during this treatment, don’t delay in taking them to the clinic.
Can a Dog Take Human Ativan?
Ativan is frequently recommended as an off-label medication for dogs, even though it has not received FDA approval for use in animals. As a result, there is a sizable overlap between the Ativan you consume and the Ativan you give your dog.
However, this does not imply that the moment your neighbors light off fireworks, you should turn around and begin giving Ativan tablets to your anxious dog. If you believe Ativan would be beneficial for your dog, speak with your vet.
Refrain from giving them Ativan from your personal supply or a previous prescription if you feel tempted. Dogs can be given Ativan, but they must be closely observed if they consume even one mg of the drug.
The dose level is important if your veterinarian does recommend Ativan for your dog. Don’t give your dog more Ativan than 0.25 to 0.5 milligrams per pound over the course of an eight to twelve-hour period.
Conditions Under Which a Dog May Take Ativan
It’s also crucial to remember that there are occasionally valid justifications for giving Ativan to dogs. This suggests that even though benzos can be hazardous to dogs, the appropriate quantity allows them to consume them without harm. Veterinarians provide lorazepam or Ativan to treat dogs with:
- Seizures
- Anxiety
- Phobias
Additionally, it’s a safe substitute for Valium for dogs who are breastfeeding or pregnant. Moreover, it is less harmful to the liver than Valium and reduces the risk of liver damage.
What Ativan Dosage Can a Dog Take?
Despite what its body weight and size would imply, you should not give your dog more than one mg of Ativan every twelve hours due to the drug’s many negative effects. If the dog is larger, they may theoretically manage two mg of Ativan, but that is the upper limit of the suggested dosage.
Identifying the triggers and providing your dog his medication dose prior to their occurrence is crucial if you’re giving your dog Ativan to lessen anxiety. Dogs can experience anxiety for a variety of reasons, but frequent ones include:
- Thunderstorms
- Separation Anxiety
- Traveling
Other Ativan Risk Factors in Dogs
If you find your dog ingesting 1 mg of Ativan, another thing to think about is the possibility of an allergic response. Even if your dog is the appropriate weight for a 1 mg dose of Ativan, you should still keep an eye out for any indications of an adverse response to the drug.
Additionally, be cautious if the canine that consumed Ativan has one of the following problems:
- Kidney disease
- Glaucoma
- Breathing difficulties
Remember that even a single unintentional milligram may interact with other drugs your dog has been prescribed by the physician. Call your veterinarian if your dog ingested an Ativan tablet by mistake and also takes drugs such as:
- Antacids
- Digoxin
- Fluoxetine
Other Drugs You Should Not Give Your Dog
While it might not be the end of the world if your dog ingests one mg of Ativan, other medications may have a more significant effect on your pet. Ibuprofen, naproxen, tramadol, and clonazepam are a few of them.
Avoid placing medications out by your bedside to lessen the likelihood that your dog will consume Ativan or any other drug. Dogs are drawn to ibuprofen in particular because of its pleasant coating, but taking it can have disastrous effects.
Instead, make sure that every medication is either in its original container or a sturdy pill box. The best course of action would still be to keep those tablets out of reach, just as you would with children, given that dogs are excellent chewers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in large amounts, Ativan is toxic to dogs. However, it highly depends on how much they ate and how large your dog is. If your dog ate too much Ativan, some symptoms may include lethargy, nausea, vomiting, or agitation. Take your dog to vet immediately if they are experiencing their symptoms.
Ativan is typically used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and sleeplessness in dogs by lowering some part’s of their nervous system. This may cause sleepiness, loss of balance, lower energy levels or even stomach pain in your dog.
Dogs can eat 0.01 to 0.045 mg per pound up to three times daily as needed. Before feeding your dog Ativan, we highly recommend that you speak with a veterinarian to get the correct dosage.
Ativan onset usually takes roughly 30 minutes to kick in for dogs, with the peak effects happening several hours or even days later, depending on the dosage.
Conclusion For “Dog Ate 1 Mg Ativan – What Should You Do”
Ativan should never be given to your dog unless a doctor has prescribed it. But accidents may happen, and if your dog ingested 1 mg of Ativan, your main focus should now be determining the quantity that is appropriate for the dog’s size and any current medical issues or drugs that it may be on.
Even while it may be unsettling that your dog ate one of your prescriptions, it’s important to remember that dogs occasionally receive Lorazepam (Ativan) at a dosage of 0.25–0.5 mg per pound of body weight. So long as your dog stays within the dose range for its size, it should not suffer any negative effects.
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You can learn more about dog medicine by watching “7 OTC Human Medications Safe and Effective for Dogs” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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