Activated Charcoal
Active carbon
Also known as: Toxiban · D-Tox-Besc · UAA Gel · CharcoAid · Actidose-Aqua · Charcodote · Liqui-Char · Active carbon · Activated carbon · Carbo activatus · Adsorbent charcoal · Decolorizing carbon · Medicinal charcoal
Reviewed by the VetSheet Veterinary TeamUpdated Apr 5, 2026Evidence-based veterinary reference
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Dosing by species
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
Dogs
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal absorbent | 10 mL of a 20% slurry (1 g of charcoal in 5 mL of water) per kg | PO/Orogastric tube | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-4 g/kg | PO/Nasogastric tube | q4-6h | As needed for toxins that are recirculated | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-4 g/kg in 50-200 mL of water | PO | Single or repeated doses | — | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| After toxin ingestion | 0.5-4 g/kg | PO | Repeat dosing as required if emesis or massive toxin ingestion occurs, or for highly lipid-soluble toxins | As needed | 🌍 EU |
- Acute poisoning: After decontamination of the GI tract
- Acute poisoning: Concurrent with or within 30 minutes of giving charcoal, give an osmotic cathartic.
- Acute poisoning: Diluted in water at 1 g charcoal/5-10 mL water. Follow in 30 minutes with sodium sulfate oral cathartic.
- After toxin ingestion: Administer as a slurry in water. General rule: administer at a dose of at least 10 times the volume of intoxicant ingested.
Cats
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal absorbent | 10 mL of a 20% slurry (1 g of charcoal in 5 mL of water) per kg | PO/Orogastric tube | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-4 g/kg | PO/Nasogastric tube | q4-6h | As needed for toxins that are recirculated | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-4 g/kg in 50-200 mL of water | PO | Single or repeated doses | — | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| After toxin ingestion | 0.5-4 g/kg | PO | Repeat dosing as required if emesis or massive toxin ingestion occurs, or for highly lipid-soluble toxins | As needed | 🌍 EU |
- Acute poisoning: After decontamination of the GI tract
- Acute poisoning: Concurrent with or within 30 minutes of giving charcoal, give an osmotic cathartic.
- Acute poisoning: Diluted in water at 1 g charcoal/5-10 mL water. Follow in 30 minutes with sodium sulfate oral cathartic.
- After toxin ingestion: Administer as a slurry in water. General rule: administer at a dose of at least 10 times the volume of intoxicant ingested.
Horses
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toxicity | Foals: 250 grams (minimum). Adult horses: up to 750 grams. | Nasogastric tube | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| Plant intoxications | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single or multiple doses | — | 🌎 NA |
- Toxicity: Make a slurry by mixing with up to 4 L of warm water. Leave in stomach for 20-30 minutes and then give a laxative.
- Plant intoxications: Mix with cathartic if no diarrhea is present.
Cattle
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant intoxications | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single or multiple doses | — | 🌎 NA |
- Plant intoxications: Mix with cathartic (e.g., sodium/magnesium sulfate 250-500 mg/kg or sorbitol 70% 3 ml/kg) if no diarrhea is present.
Sheep
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant intoxications | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single or multiple doses | — | 🌎 NA |
- Plant intoxications: Mix with cathartic (e.g., sodium/magnesium sulfate 250-500 mg/kg or sorbitol 70% 3 ml/kg) if no diarrhea is present.
Goats
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant intoxications | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single or multiple doses | — | 🌎 NA |
- Plant intoxications: Mix with cathartic (e.g., sodium/magnesium sulfate 250-500 mg/kg or sorbitol 70% 3 ml/kg) if no diarrhea is present.
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Overview
Activated charcoal is a highly porous, fine black powder used as a gastrointestinal adsorbent in the emergency management of certain toxicities and drug overdoses.
- Clinical Pearl: It acts as a broad-spectrum adsorbent for many organic compounds, though its efficacy depends heavily on the timing of administration (ideally within 1-2 hours of ingestion) and the specific properties of the toxin.
- It is not effective for small, highly polar, or water-soluble compounds such as mineral acids, caustic alkalis, alcohols (ethanol, methanol), ferrous sulfate, lithium, nitrates, sodium chloride/chlorate, or petroleum distillates.
- Slurries or suspensions are generally more effective than compressed tablets due to a larger available surface area.
Mechanism of action
Activated charcoal possesses an extremely large surface area. It binds to toxins in the upper GI tract via ion-ion interactions, hydrogen bonding, dipole forces, and Van der Waals forces.
- Mechanism: Toxin binds to charcoal in the gut lumen → forms a stable charcoal-toxin complex → prevents systemic absorption → complex is excreted safely in the feces.
- Enterohepatic Recirculation: For drugs that undergo enterohepatic recycling, repeated doses of activated charcoal can act as a "gut dialyzer," pulling systemic toxins back into the GI lumen to be trapped and excreted.
Safety & warnings
Contraindications
- Ingestion of mineral acids or caustic alkalis (ineffective and may obscure endoscopic evaluation)
- Patients lacking a gag reflex or actively vomiting (unless airway is protected via intubation)
- GI obstruction or perforation
Adverse effects
- Emesis (especially with rapid administration)
- Aspiration pneumonia (if aspirated)
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Black feces
- Hypernatremia (especially in small dogs and cats)
- Loose stools and vomiting (associated with sorbitol-containing products)
Precautions
WARNING: Extreme caution must be used to prevent aspiration, which can lead to severe, potentially fatal aspiration pneumonia. In symptomatic animals, administer via an orogastric tube with a cuffed endotracheal tube in place.
- Hypernatremia Risk: Small dogs and cats are at risk for hypernatremia due to osmotic fluid shifts into the GI tract. Monitor closely.
- Cathartic Use: To prevent severe diarrhea and dehydration, if multiple doses of activated charcoal are administered, only the first dose should contain an osmotic cathartic (e.g., sorbitol).
- Mess Hazard: Charcoal powder stains fabrics easily and dry powder tends to float and cover wide areas.
Drug interactions
Charcoal will adsorb other drugs; separate administration by at least 3 hours.
May reduce the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal.
May reduce the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal.
May reduce the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal.
Reduces the absorption and therefore efficacy of orally administered drugs
Monitoring
- Toxin/drug serum levels (if applicable)
- Clinical signs of the specific toxicity
- Serum sodium levels (especially if patient develops neurologic signs like tremors, ataxia, or seizures)
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Activated charcoal is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
Distribution
Remains entirely within the gastrointestinal lumen.
Metabolism
Not metabolized.
Elimination
Excreted unchanged in the feces as a charcoal-toxin complex.
Overdose
Overdosage or overly rapid administration can cause severe electrolyte abnormalities, specifically hypernatremia, due to an osmotic effect pulling water into the GI tract. Treat with reduced sodium fluids (e.g., D5W, 0.45% NaCl) and warm water enemas to alleviate the condition.
Available products
Formulations
- Granules
- Suspension with Sorbitol
- Gel/Paste
- Oral Powder
Veterinary
- Toxiban Granules (Activated charcoal 47.5%, Kaolin 10%)
- Toxiban Suspension (Activated charcoal 10.4%, Kaolin 6.25%)
- Toxiban Suspension with Sorbitol (Activated charcoal 10%, Kaolin 6.25%, sorbitol 10%)
- D-Tox-Besc Gel/Paste (Activated Charcoal 10%, Attapulgite 20%, electrolytes)
- UAA (Universal Animal Antidote) Gel
Human-labeled
- Activated Charcoal Oral Powder (15 g, 30 g, 40 g, 120 g, 240 g)
- CharcoAid / Actidose with Sorbitol Oral Liquid/Suspension
- CharcoAid 2000 / Actidose-Aqua Liquid/Suspension without sorbitol
- CharcoAid 2000 Oral Granules
Regulatory status
Widely available as a general antidote/adsorbent.
Pharmacy (P) classification for some human formulations.
No regulatory data for: 🇺🇸 US · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Storage & stability
Store activated charcoal in well-closed glass or metal containers or in the manufacturer's supplied container to prevent exposure to moisture and air.
Client information
IMPORTANT: This agent should generally be used under professional veterinary supervision.
- If used on an outpatient basis, patients must be observed for at least 4 hours after administration for signs associated with high blood sodium (weakness, unsteadiness, tremors, convulsions). If these occur, seek immediate veterinary care.
- Expect your pet's stool to be black for a few days.
- Warning: Charcoal powder is extremely messy and can easily and permanently stain fabrics, carpets, and clothing.
VetSheet drug reference is intended for licensed veterinary professionals as a clinical decision-support aid, not a substitute for professional judgement or the manufacturer’s current label.