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My dog ate butter, now low energy and vomiting. Pancreatitis risk?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Goldendoodle | Male | neutered | 7 months and 23 days old | 65 lbs

Hi there, my dog snagged a pound of butter off the counter this morning and ate approx 1/4-1/3 lb before I caught him. He's vomited once (then ate most of that before I discovered it) and is now very low-energy and uncharacteristically sad-looking for the past couple of hours. He gets up every once in awhile to see what I'm doing, and he lets me touch his tummy (Google search has me fearing pancreatitis) without exhibiting any signs of distress. How would I know if I needed the vet?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 21st, 2017

Yes, I would be worried about pancreatitis too. If he only vomited once and seems otherwise OK I would fast him for 12 hours - water is OK to have available , just no food. If he continues to vomit during that time I would take him to the vet. If no vomiting after 12 hours then I would start SLOWLY feeding him a bland diet. Multiple small meals throughout the day. I would do this for 3 days. If all is good after that then I would start mixing in his regular food with the bland diet until he is back on his regular food (about 3 additional days). For a bland diet - the best is boiled chicken and rice but you can also use plain pasta, scrambled eggs and white bread. Just don't use any butter or spices on the food. If you are ever concerned about his condition (as you know him best) then take him to see a vet right away. You don't want to play with pancreatitis - it can be life threatening. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you are welcome to post again. Best wishes.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on August 15th, 2019

    You may see some vomiting and/or diarrhea. This can usually be managed at home with a 12-24 hour fast followed by a bland diet fed in small, frequent amounts until symptoms resolve. Transition slowly to the regular diet afterwards. Monitor for persistent vomiting or diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite or abdominal pain. These are symptoms that can be associated with pancreatitis and should be addressed immediately by your veterinarian.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on April 30th, 2017

    Oh dear! The good news is, neither of these things are toxic to dogs - but, eating such a large amount of butter could put her at risk for developing pancreatitis. This is a serious illness that causes repeated episodes of vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, and not wanting to eat. Many affected dogs also have severe diarrhea. If you see any of these symptoms over the next 24-48 hours, I would recommend taking Pixie to the vet right away for an exam - if she does develop pancreatitis, she will likely need to be hospitalized for IV fluids and supportive care. For now, I would suggest not feeding her any dinner tonight to give her stomach a chance to rest. Starting tomorrow morning, you can feed a bland diet of plain boiled chicken and rice for the next few days to help minimize the chance of serious problems. As long as she is acting normal, eating and drinking fine, etc. you shouldn't need to worry.

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