This opioid substance is licensed for use in dogs in the UK as an injection, under the name of Vetergesic. Vets use buprenorphine (also known as Suboxone) as an analgesic and/or as a sedative in cats and dogs in other countries as well, so your pet should be fine if he hasn’t taken too much of it.
Your dog’s safety now depends on how large he is, as the same dosage surely has different effects on a Yorkshire Terrier than on a Saint Bernard; the smaller the dog, the higher the risk of an overdose from one pill! Should your dog be a very small one, he’ll probably be sedated. Or worse. The recommended IV dose for animals is between 0.3 ml and 0.6 ml per 22 lbs. Suboxone pills usually come in either 2 or 8 mg dosages. You can do the math. Yet, given the fact buprenorphine was taken orally, and not injected, the effect will most likely be diminished.
However, reactions to this drug can vary from one animal to another: Your dog might have excessive salivation, his body temperature and blood pressure might fall, his pupils might shrink, and he might feel nauseous, irritated, dizzy, and sleepy for a while (hopefully, no more than 24 hours). If he cannot breathe, he might be having an allergic reaction (or experience overdose) and you need to seek immediate care. If your dog has had previous issues with his liver and/or lungs, or he is currently on some kind of medication, the risks are probably higher for him than they would be for a healthy dog, so you should get him to the vet as soon as possible. If your dog is very young (such as under two months of age) you should definitely get him to the vet fast.
Provided that your dog has eaten that pill in the last couple of hours, you could induce vomiting before you get him to the vet. If he ate it before, there’s really no point in forcing him to vomit.
Your dog’s safety now depends on how large he is, as the same dosage surely has different effects on a Yorkshire Terrier than on a Saint Bernard; the smaller the dog, the higher the risk of an overdose from one pill! Should your dog be a very small one, he’ll probably be sedated. Or worse. The recommended IV dose for animals is between 0.3 ml and 0.6 ml per 22 lbs. Suboxone pills usually come in either 2 or 8 mg dosages. You can do the math. Yet, given the fact buprenorphine was taken orally, and not injected, the effect will most likely be diminished.
However, reactions to this drug can vary from one animal to another: Your dog might have excessive salivation, his body temperature and blood pressure might fall, his pupils might shrink, and he might feel nauseous, irritated, dizzy, and sleepy for a while (hopefully, no more than 24 hours). If he cannot breathe, he might be having an allergic reaction (or experience overdose) and you need to seek immediate care. If your dog has had previous issues with his liver and/or lungs, or he is currently on some kind of medication, the risks are probably higher for him than they would be for a healthy dog, so you should get him to the vet as soon as possible. If your dog is very young (such as under two months of age) you should definitely get him to the vet fast.
Provided that your dog has eaten that pill in the last couple of hours, you could induce vomiting before you get him to the vet. If he ate it before, there’s really no point in forcing him to vomit.
