Is Milk of Magnesia Safe for Dogs?
Unflavored milk of magnesia is safe for dogs so long as you have your vet’s blessing and follow proper dosage instructions.
While most dogs tolerate milk of magnesia without issue, the laxative can interact with other medications, so you’ll want to give your vet a call before administration.
Note that there are different flavors of milk of magnesia intended for humans. Your dog should NOT have milk of magnesia with added flavor, as some of these formulations may contain xylitol and other harmful ingredients.
You can also find veterinary formulations of milk of magnesia, though these products have the same ingredients as the unflavored human versions of the product.
If your dog has an adverse reaction to milk of magnesia, you’ll need to discontinue use and set up an appointment with your veterinarian for further evaluation.
When to give your dog milk of magnesia
You should consider a trip to the vet if your dog is showing signs of gastric upset or indigestion. But the milk of magnesia may soothe symptoms of constipation and acid reflux, such as:
Milk of magnesia can be prescribed in older dogs to ease constipation, which is difficult, infrequent or complete lack of bowel movements. Hard poop or hard stools are also a telltale sign of constipation. Pet owners may also note your dog straining to have a bowel movement.
Constipation is often caused by a poor diet, so you should also try and feed your pup dog food with high fiber, as well as plenty of water alongside any MoM you give your pup. Try and keep up an exercise regime with your pupper, too. Make sure it’s not intolerance or allergy that is causing your pup’s discomfort. Foods with high yeast and fiber content often cause gastric symptoms in intolerant dogs.
Book a vet appointment if your dog often suffers from constipation to see if MoM is the right treatment for your pup.
You should refrain from giving your dog any new medicines without consulting a qualified vet first, even if your dog’s symptoms match a certain diagnosis. Symptoms can often overlap in both animal and human medicine; most symptoms can be found in a wide range of illnesses. When you take your dog to the vet, you avoid giving them an inaccurate diagnosis which could further exacerbate pain and discomfort. For example, an upset stomach or sour stomach could mean many different things from minor indigestion to serious problems, so it’s best to avoid attempted diagnoses at home.
Getting to the root of the problem is always the best advice we can offer. MoM may alleviate uncomfortable symptoms, but nothing beats eliminating the core problem.
Why does my dog keep trying to poop but nothing comes out?
Often, when a dog is constipated, the cause is attributed to something the pup has ingested. The most common cause of dog constipation is nutrition, particularly if a dog food is low in fiber, but there can be many possible reasons for the condition. … Hair ingested from self-grooming or licking the floors, or bones.
WARNING! I TALK ABOUT POOP! Genuine Phillip’s Wild Cherry Milk of Magnesia and Stool Softener
The milk of magnesia is a popular over the counter remedy for human indigestion (acidic stomach), and in the right dose it is a remedy for constipation. We use it often, but can you give milk of magnesia for dogs, and is it safe? Lets take a closer look.
If youve been wondering, “can I give my dog milk of magnesia,” the answer is YES – technically, you can give milk of magnesia to dogs and its not toxic to them. In fact, it often is used with dogs and horses in veterinary practice.
Milk of magnesia is made of Magnesium Hydroxide in a suspension of water. You need to really shake the bottle before opening it for use. Milk of Magnesia has recently been approved for use in animals as well.
Milk of Magnesia is used to help dogs with stomach acid and constipation, the “double duty” action (antacid or constipation) depends on the dose you need to use for the different ailments. You should contact your vet to get the proper dosage.