Symptoms of Birth Control Poisoning in Dogs
Even a small, non-toxic ingestion can cause mild upset stomach such as mild vomiting or diarrhea. However, with small ingestions of birth control pills, dogs will typically have no clinical signs.
If a moderate to large ingestion of birth control pills has occurred, you can see signs, including:
If a dog ingests an extremely large amount of estrogen, there are rare reports of possible estrogen-induced bone marrow suppression, which means a decrease in production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This can be a very serious complication, so if your pet does eat a large number of pills, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If the birth control pill has iron and iron toxicity occurs, the most common first clinical signs are also vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia. It is important to figure out if the ingested birth control contained iron to determine how to proceed.
Should I Induce Vomiting if My Dog Ingests Birth Control?
Do not induce vomiting at home unless you have been instructed to do so by a veterinarian. If you think your pet ate birth control pills or you saw them eat birth control pills, call your veterinarian to determine the next course of action. Even if the amount of birth control pills is considered non-toxic, your veterinarian may recommend that you pay a visit if your dog ate any packaging.
How To Induce Vomiting In Your Dog
If you want to induce vomiting in your dog at home, you will need fresh hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide should be replaced every six months if you opened it, but unopened can last up to three years.
If you’re not sure whether the hydrogen peroxide you have at home is still good, you can make a simple test: pour some of it in the sink and see if it fizzes and makes bubbles.
If it does, then it’s good and you can use it to induce vomiting in your dog.
You can give your dog 2 teaspoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10lbs of body weight.
To make it more pleasant for your dog, you can also mix the hydrogen peroxide 50:50 with milk or ice cream.
Keeping in mind that this procedure should be done by your veterinarian, if you don’t mind wrestling a little with your dog, kneel down on the floor and block your dog between your knees, facing the opposite way from you.
Raise their muzzle so that it points at the ceiling, open their mouth and pour a shot glass of hydrogen peroxide down their throat.
It is recommended to make your dog move around afterward because it makes it easier for him to vomit. If your dog doesn’t vomit after the first attempt, you can try again after 15 minutes.
If after the second attempt your dog is still not vomiting, do not try to induce vomiting again and bring your dog to the veterinarian.
Birth Control Pills
Everyone has medications in their house, but when you live with a pet you need to be extra careful so they don’t end up stumbling upon it and eating them by mistake.
Birth control pills are to be taken every day, so it’s easier to forget them around the house where your dog may find them.
If your dog ate birth control pills, make an estimate of how many they ate and if it’s more than two or three, bring them to the vet.