My Dog Ate One Vitamin D Pill

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for most animals, including humans and dogs. While humans and certain animals are able to synthesize Vitamin D from the sun via their skin, dogs mainly get Vitamin D from their diets. Although dogs need Vitamin D to survive and thrive, too much Vitamin D can be toxic to dogs.

Can a dog have a vitamin d?

Signs & Symptoms of Vitamin D Poisoning in Dogs

Symptoms of vitamin D poisoning can include:

  • Excessive drooling
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Muscle tremors
  • Depression
  • Increased thirst
  • Lack of appetite
  • Increased urination
  • Weakness
  • Blood in vomit
  • Loss of weight
  • Tarry (black) stools that contain blood
  • That’s a pack of nasty symptoms your fur baby could develop just from eating a vitamin D pill or capsule. If you notice any of these signs and symptoms in your dog, it is an emergency situation, and you must get your canine companion to the vet as soon as possible.

    Vitamin D Poisoning in Dogs

    Your canine companion may not show any symptoms until about 12-24 hours after eating the vitamin D. However, he can have symptoms appear as long as 72 hours later.

    Vitamin D poisoning causes a dog’s calcium and phosphorous levels to rise. This can cause issues with the kidney, heart, gastrointestinal system, or problems with the central nervous system. If left untreated, acute renal failure can develop, which leads to comma and death.

    The supplement can also cause a condition called hypercalcemia, which causes an electrolyte abnormality.

    Symptoms of Vitamin D Poisoning in Dogs

  • Vomiting
  • Excessive drooling
  • Abdominal pain
  • Muscle tremors
  • Seizures
  • Weakness
  • Depression
  • Constipation
  • Loss of appetite
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination
  • Blood in vomit
  • Loss of weight
  • Tarry feces that contains blood
  • FAQ

    Can one vitamin D pill hurt a dog?

    Accidentally eating a few vitamin D tablets is unlikely to be a problem for dogs and cats, but if a pet gains access to a pot containing a large number of tablets they are at risk of vitamin D poisoning.

    What would happen if my dog ate a vitamin D pill?

    Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so unlike water-soluble vitamins, when a dog – or other animal – gets too much, the excess is not rapidly excreted in his or her urine. Instead, it’s stored in fat tissue and the liver. Excessive vitamin D can lead to kidney failure and even death.

    How much vitamin D is toxic to a dog?

    Causes of Vitamin D Poisoning in Dogs

    It can take as little as a dose of 0.1 mg/kg to cause vitamin D poisoning. That’s about 0.45 mg per 10 pounds of body weight. The fatal dose is around 2 mg/kg, which equals about 9 mg in a 10-pound dog.