Also sold as Amoxil, Clavamox (with clavulanate), Augmentin (human, with clavulanate)
Vets prescribe this for dogs, so being on it is not a problem in itself. This page is about what happens when a dog gets more than it was meant to have.
Amoxicillin is one of the antibiotics vets prescribe most often for dogs, so a dog being on it is normal and not a cause for alarm. The reason to call after an unplanned exposure is the amount: a dog that emptied a bottle has taken far more than any prescription would give, and large overdoses can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney effects. Human combination products such as Augmentin also carry clavulanate, which changes the picture. Keep the packet or prescription bottle: the strength and the number missing are what make the advice specific.
Educational reference. Not individualized veterinary advice.(more)
See this page's cited references for supporting information and our Sources page for the reference organizations we use. Citations do not imply that those organizations reviewed or endorsed DogSafe.
Part of Antibiotics and antifungals on our medication safety hub.
Part of our guide to Dog Ate an Extra Dose of Its Own Prescription.
Call the practice that prescribed it: they know the dose your dog is on, which is what decides whether this matters. Out of hours, either line below is open.
Available 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.
Exposure details to have ready
These are the questions a veterinarian or poison-control operator will ask. Fill in what you know and leave the rest blank. This tool does not estimate a dose or a risk score: medication risk depends on the exact ingredient, strength, and formulation, so the assessment has to come from the clinician on the call.
- Keep the package, blister pack, or prescription bottle. The strength and the full ingredient list are what make the advice specific.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian or poison-control professional tells you to. It is the wrong move for several medications and can cause harm on its own.
- Do not give milk, food, salt, hydrogen peroxide, or any home remedy on your own.
- Do not give a second dose of anything to make up for one you think was missed.
- Count what is left in the packet, so the number missing can be worked out.
Your exposure summary
Read this down the phone or paste it into a message to your vet. It stays on your device; nothing here is sent to DogSafe.
Why Amoxicillin needs caution
Amoxicillin is one of the antibiotics vets prescribe most often for dogs, so a dog being on it is normal and not a cause for alarm. The reason to call after an unplanned exposure is the amount: a dog that emptied a bottle has taken far more than any prescription would give, and large overdoses can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney effects. Human combination products such as Augmentin also carry clavulanate, which changes the picture.
Part of the Human Medicine Exposures guide
For related dog-safety questions and product-by-product answers, see the complete human medicine exposures guide.
Signs to watch for
Most commonly vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or mild sedation; less commonly unsteadiness or weakness after a large amount
Related items
Check the exact item or ingredient before assuming two similar exposures carry the same risk.
What to do next
Count the remaining tablets against what the prescription should have left, note the strength and the time, and call your vet's line with that number.
🚨Step-by-step: what to do in the first 10 minutes →Available 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.
Amoxicillin for dogs: prescribed use and accidental doses
Two different questions bring people here: whether a vet may prescribe amoxicillin to a dog, and what to do when a dog has swallowed some. The answers are not the same, so this page keeps them apart.
1. Start with the exact item
Amoxicillin is one of the antibiotics vets prescribe most often for dogs, so a dog being on it is normal and not a cause for alarm. The reason to call after an unplanned exposure is the amount: a dog that emptied a bottle has taken far more than any prescription would give, and large overdoses can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney effects. Human combination products such as Augmentin also carry clavulanate, which changes the picture. Browse the complete human medicine exposures guide →
2. Check the details that change the answer
Record the amount, time, dog weight, and any missing packaging or plant parts. A clear label or photo prevents a look-alike from driving the decision. What to do in the first 10 minutes →
3. Use related pages before making assumptions
Nearby products and look-alikes can have different ingredients or hazards. Use the linked cluster pages to identify the closest exact match instead of treating every exposure as the same. Open a closely related item page →
FAQ
Your vet sets the dose, and it is specific to your dog's weight and condition. Nothing on this page is a dose to give. What matters after an accidental exposure is how much more than the prescribed amount was taken.
For a single extra dose of your dog's own prescription with no signs, call your vet's line for advice before deciding anything. Do not double up a later dose to compensate, and do not stop a prescribed course on your own.
Call if a whole container may have been emptied, if the amount is uncertain, if your dog is vomiting repeatedly or seems unsteady, or if this is a human product rather than your dog's prescription.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — poisonings from human prescription drugs
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — medication hazards in pets
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Poisonings from human prescription drugs
- FDA: The ins and outs of extra-label drug use in animals
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control