What makes Tums work is calcium carbonate, which decreases excessive acid levels in humans’ stomach when the pill is taken. But can dogs have Tums? Quite a few vets might advise giving the same pills to dogs when they feel mild pain from stomach problems, and experience diarrhea or heartburn.
But, dogs absorb everything faster than people, and Tums might move through the pup’s body too quickly to be efficient in many situations. Although it was reported that some dogs indeed felt better and relieved of mild digestive conditions after Tums. But let’s jump into more details.
Do you have a specific question about the safety of tums for dogs? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
Can dogs take tums?
Yes, you can treat some of your dog’s digestion problems with Tums, and it might help your pet to feel better. Although in 99% of all cases it’s definitely not the greatest choice of treatment. There are safer and more effective options to substitute Tums available on the market. But if you go for this drug anyway, you have to follow specific guidelines and discuss the matter with your veterinarian first, or you are at risk of making your dog sicker.
How much Tums can I give my dog?
A precise Tum’s dosage for dogs significantly ranges depending on the concentration of the calcium carbonate in Tums and your pup’s weight.
To keep it simple small dog can have 1250mg of Tum’s active ingredient in 24 hours – it’s 2.5 standard strength pills. And it can be as much as 12-20 tablets for a larger dog within one day. But let’s go into details.
It’s always a good idea talking to the vet first before your dog will take Tums. However, let’s say you would go for the standard strength Tums of 500mg of active ingredient Calcium Carbonate USP per tablet. Like mint one …
(and we strongly recommended it as the only fishy ingredient of this flavor is a bit of sugar – sucrose – and this type of sugar usually well tolerated by dogs) – then typically this is how many Tums you have to give to your dog within 24 hours:
But again please bear in mind that the drug should never be given without first discussing it with your veterinarian.
Are Tums safe for dogs?
Normally, Tums produces only insignificant side effects in canines – if any – when taken occasionally. So it’s relatively safe for dogs. Still, some components of Tums may lead to constipation or diarrhea. Here are some other things to consider to figure out all the possible situations when Tums may hurt a dog.
- Toxic ingredients. Always thoroughly read the label to monitor the presence of possibly harmful components before giving Tums to your dog. Those might include artificial sweeteners, e.g., xylitol, that cannot be eaten by dogs under any circumstances.
- Allergies. Some pups might be allergic to Tums or the artificial tints that ensures those Tums’ bright colors.
- Repeated use. Constantly exposing dogs to the drug can start various health conditions from kidney disease, pancreatitis to urinary stones, and other issues.
- Puppies. Tums has too much calcium. It can lead to bones and cartilage development problems in puppies. Do not ever administer Tums to your pup without the vet’s permission.
- Pregnant or nursing dogs. These dogs should not be given unsupervised medication at all.
- Other medications. As with most drugs, Tums can perform poorly when mixed with other medications that your dog is taking at the time.
- Medical conditions. Tums can worsen specific issues, including kidney disease. If your dog experiences any health issues, ask your doctor which over the counter pills are safe to be taken.
Will tums hurt a dog?
It’s possible. The active ingredient of Tums is Calcium Carbonate. Standard strength pill has 500mg of it. Hypercalcemia, a condition known as an abnormally high concentration of calcium in the pet’s blood, is something that dogs’ owners have to keep in mind. How high? It is 11.5 mg per deciliter of blood. Blood volume typically estimated as 55-70 ml/kg (it’s 0.55-0.7 deciliter per kg) of body weight.
So, obviously, the amount of calcium in Tums may have an impact on the element’s concentration in the pup’s body.
Among the common symptoms of such conditions are constipation fatigue, depression, constipation, bladder stones, and more. Therefore, you always want to consult your vet before proceeding with this or any other pills. And don’t forget to use the number above during the conversation.
Or, in case you want to save money and time better while being efficient in helping your pup with poop problems, you might check online vets.
For instance “Just ask” might be a great option in that case. It’s online support with hundreds of qualified vets on call to help you in a second for a tiny fraction of the cost. So you don’t have to drive anywhere or worry that your doctor is out of the office and you can get virtually unlimited 24/7support for pennies within the trial period. Check them out.
My dog ate tums. What should I do?
Because of all the calcium that Tums contains, your pet might experience constipation, diarrhea or, in some cases, a chalky stool.
Overdosing with those pills is not very likely to happen, even if they had quite some Tums, but they may hurt from an upset stomach. Your dog doc will probably tell you to wait for some time and to observe your pet for some more concerning symptoms.
If your pet experienced allergic reactions after taking Tums, in that case, you have to call the vet right away.
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Tums for dogs. Summary
If your dog experiences extreme vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain, you obviously have to contact your veterinarian right away and not even worry about giving Tums to your pet. However, for the moderate stomach issues, it might work.
And while dogs can have tums you still have to be cautious. If you decide to go with it, select an unflavored option. Beware sugar-free flavorings, which may include artificial sweeteners, e.g., poisonous for dogs Xylitol. If your pet’s health issues persist or worsen after using Tums, bring them to a vet as promptly as possible.
Credits: thanks for the cover photo to Brett Hondow from Pixabay Photo in the post text is by Wikimedia Commons.
