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Recent Pet Posts

Activated Charcoal in Food for Dog With Allergies

Posted By Kay (Redstone, Colorado) on 03/06/2024

"Activated charcoal given with food

I am presently giving my Aussie activated charcoal with her food to absorb histamines so I don't have to give her drugs from the vet. This is working and helping to eliminate her itching. I prefer to give the charcoal in her food rather than her water bowl because she gets it in her rather than some separated charcoal in the bottom of her water bowl. However, does giving a dog the charcoal regularly (every day both meals) absorb the nutrients in the food or is this sustainable? Thank you."

EC: Regular and frequent use of activated charcoal, especially if given with meals, can potentially interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients from the dog's diet.

Concerns with Daily Use:

Nutrient Absorption: Activated charcoal can bind not only to toxins but also to nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and medications. This binding can reduce the availability of these nutrients for absorption, potentially leading to deficiencies over time.
Dehydration: If activated charcoal is given with insufficient water, it can lead to dehydration or gastrointestinal blockages, although this is less common.

Posted By Pam E. (SW California) on 03/17/2025

"A study was done using sheep for 6 months, feeding them 5% Activated Charcoal daily for the length of the study, and when they were tested at the end, they were found to have ZERO nutrient deficiencies :

Digestion and Metabolism Indices of Sheep When Using Activated Charcoal Supplement https://thescipub.com/pdf/ojbsci.2017.121.127.pdf

I've been giving it to my cats, 1/2 the recommended dose in the article above, with their meals for quite awhile. Had the oldest to the vet last month, did a blood test of all his organs, & he was found to only have had a mild case of ideopathic pancreatitis from undetermined cause (he's an indoor/outdoor garden cat, est. at least 10 yrs old). Everything else was completely normal. (He's since been showing signs of allergies to grass & tree pollen (I think) and, getting MSM with each meal is keeping his sinus & eyes clear of drips & mucus!)