Dog ate Exlax

Question
My dog ate a week's worth of Exlax.  It was chocolate flavored and mild.  She is a 60lb Pointer mix.  Should I be concerned or is a lot of poop all I have to be worried about?

Answer
Hi Marissa,

It's not so much the chocolate (in this case)that can hurt your dog, rather it's the laxative medication in the ExLax that can do the harm.

A week worth of ExLax is a lot to consume in a single sitting for a person, let alone an animal that only weighs 60 lbs. Symptoms of overdose may include severe diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, dehydration, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, weakness, lack of feeling alert, or dry gums and eyes.

Call your vet  immediately to see if he/she is on call after hours or if there is an after hours animal hospital that's open in your area, or call your local poison control center. If they can't help you, the ASPCA has a national animal poison control center at: 888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435). It's 50.00 per case (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express).

Best of luck,
Patti