Hospital SOP

Hospital Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Medication Generic Name: Activated Carbon Spheres (Next-Generation Activated Charcoal)
Medication Trade Name: ReadyRESCUE™

Who is authorized to perform

• Applies to all veterinary staff involved in the administration of ReadyRESCUE™ at the direction of the attending veterinarian.
• Pet owners at the direction of attending veterinarian.

When is it applied

In the management of oral toxin ingestion (i.e. GI decontamination).

General information

• ReadyRESCUE™ is a next-generation activated charcoal (activated carbon spheres).
• Dosage of ReadyRESCUE™ can be based on the weight of the patient (1–4g/kg) or based on the amount of toxin ingested if known. If the weight of toxin is known, ReadyRESCUE™ can be administered to the patient in a 10:1 ratio of ReadyRESCUE™ to toxin (i.e. 10g of ReadyRESCUE™ to 1g of toxin).
• Compared to Toxiban® and conventional activated charcoal, ReadyRESCUE™ showed comparable gram-for-gram adsorption across most of the toxicants evaluated, under the study’s conditions, in a peer-reviewed comparison published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Chaganti, A., & Brainard, B. M. (2026). Comparison of adsorptive capacity for different types of activated charcoal for common veterinary toxicants. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 13, 1741145.). Preliminary ReadyRESCUE™ data support its adsorption of acetaminophen.
• ReadyRESCUE™ is 1/7 the volume of Toxiban® liquid and is clean, making administration fast and without hassle.
• ReadyRESCUE™ is pure activated carbon, with no excipients such as sorbitol, so it does not cause electrolyte disturbances.
• ReadyRESCUE™ does not dissolve in liquid, so intestinal impaction is not a concern with higher or repeated dosages.

Storage and stability

ReadyRESCUE™ should be stored at room temperature.

Administration and dosing

• Mix ReadyRESCUE™ with a palatable substance such as canned dog food or other treat (other than peanut butter) and allow patient to ingest on their own.
• ReadyRESCUE™ can be mixed with water and administered through an NG tube that is 10f or larger.
• ReadyRESCUE™ is labeled for a 2.2g/kg dosage of activated charcoal. Each vial treats 30lbs (13.6kg) of patient. Animals 15lbs and smaller can receive ½ vial of ReadyRESCUE™.
• Double dosages (4.4g/kg) of ReadyRESCUE™ can be administered in cases of massive intoxication.
• Dosage of ReadyRESCUE™ can be based on the weight of the patient (1–4g/kg) or based on the amount of toxin ingested if known. If the weight of toxin is known, ReadyRESCUE™ can be administered to the patient in a 10:1 ratio of ReadyRESCUE™ to toxin (i.e. 10g of ReadyRESCUE™ to 1g of toxin).

Toxins with enterohepatic recirculation — notably NSAIDs, bromethalin, THC, barbiturates, and certain chemotherapeutics — can persist for many hours after initial ingestion. In these cases, repeated activated charcoal (0.5–1 g/kg q6–8h for 2–3 doses) is recommended to disrupt reabsorption and shorten toxin half-life. Charcoal should always be given with close monitoring for dehydration and GI motility.

ReadyRESCUE™ can be sent home with pet owners for home administration in cases where repeated dosing is required, or ReadyRESCUE™ can be sent home for emergency use in cases of emergency for at-risk animals or animals that live long distances from emergency veterinary care.

Compatibility / drug interactions

ReadyRESCUE™, like all activated charcoals, will adsorb any orally administered medication.

Adverse effects

Well tolerated. As beads will not dissolve in the GI tract, patients will have beaded feces for 24 hours after administration.

Overdose & acute toxicity

No information is available, however overdosage should not cause any systemic effects.

User safety notes

There are no specific precautions for handling this medication.

References

1. Khan SA & McLean MK. Vet Clin Small Anim Pract 2012;42(2):307–319.
2. Osweiler GD et al. Blackwell's Veterinary Toxicology, 3rd ed., 2018.
3. Peterson ME, Talcott PA (eds). Small Animal Toxicology, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2013.
4. Veterinary Information Network (VIN) Toxicology Library, 2024.
5. Chaganti, A and Brainard B. (2024, August). Comparison of adsorptive capacity for Naproxen among three activated charcoal products. Athens, GA.
6. Chaganti, A and Brainard B. (2025, September). Comparison of adsorptive capacity for common veterinary toxicants among three activated charcoal products. San Diego, CA.
7. Glassman, M. (n.d.). ReadyRESCUE™ versus Toxiban®: A prospective randomized crossover study evaluating administration efficiency, clean-up burden, and delivered dose of activated charcoal in dogs. AllPet Inc.