Why is this dangerous?
Baclofen is a central muscle relaxant used for back spasm and MS. In dogs it causes deep sedation, loss of coordination, tremors and, in severe cases, respiratory depression and death.
Human tablets are 10–20 mg, which is enormous for a pet — reports describe severe poisoning in dogs from one or two tablets.
Why speed matters
Delaying care significantly worsens outcomes. Some signs appear hours or days later, so "looks fine right now" is not a reason to wait.
Signs to watch for
- Deep sedation, difficulty waking
- Wobbliness, unable to stand
- Head tremors, twitching, rigidity
- Vomiting, drooling
- Slow shallow breathing, coma (emergency)
What to do right now
- Treat any baclofen ingestion as an emergency and go to the vet now.
- Bring the bottle so the exact dose can be calculated.
- Support the head so the airway stays open if the pet is sedated.
- Do not induce vomiting in a drowsy pet.
If your pet shows any of the signs above, go to the nearest emergency vet now and call ahead.
The step-by-step response, from the first minute to the vet visit, is in our Muscle Relaxants (Baclofen, Cyclobenzaprine) emergency guide.