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My dog ate butter. What health risks and symptoms should I watch for?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Foxhound | Female | spayed | 8 years old | 50 lbs

My 50 lb foxhound ate half a pound of butter. I assume she is going to have horrible diarrhea but are there other things to worry about/watch for?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 2nd, 2016

Yes unfortunately she is a top candidate for pancreatitis. If she ate the butter within the past two hours, it may be possible to make her vomit and get rid of a lot of the butter that way. If it has been longer than that you just need to watch her for lethargy., abdominal pain (looking for a cold place to "sphinx" on , ie cooling her belly), vomiting, general malaise. Do not feed her for 12 hrs. Then start feeding her bland food such as boiled white rice and white boneless chicken. If she appears lethargic, ill, vomiting, in pain, she needs to be seen by a veterinarian.

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 6th, 2016

    Continue to withhold food for an additional 12 hours then feed her small quantities of boiled chicken and rice for 1-2 days, vomiting and diarrhea are to be expected but it is not toxic and should not require a vet visit, unless she Juno does not get better.

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