Just like humans, dogs can experience problems with their digestive system, such as acid reflux. This leads to the inquiry, “Is it safe for dogs to consume Tums?” Dogs may face various digestive issues, which is why it’s always smart to seek advice from a vet.
Well, if your vet approves: yes, dogs can eat Tums and you can give your dog Tums for gas to help him feel better until you arrive at the vet for a proper diagnosis.
Read on to learn more about tums and dogs, how Tums may help your dog’s condition.
Do Dogs Experience Acid Reflux and Heartburn?
Yes, they do. Believe it or not, heartburn is a serious thing that many canines have to deal with! Most vets actually address it as ‘acid reflux’ instead, but the effects are quite similar to that in humans.
But, what is acid reflux, anyway, and why do dogs get it?
There are many causes of acid reflux. Take note, though, that it is a symptom, not a disease. Typically, your dog will suffer from acid reflux due to the overproduction of stomach acid, weakness in the esophageal sphincter, overall obesity, consuming food with too much fat, improper blood-calcium levels, and hiatal hernia. Some medications may also cause acid reflux.
Now for the most asked questions: Can I give my dog tums? If so, is it okay to offer Tums as an antacid for dogs?
Again, the short answer is yes but you must follow specific guidelines and seek advice from your vet first or you can make your pet sicker.
Are Tums Safe for Dogs to Take?
Tums is an antacid. It works to neutralize stomach acid. To do that, the pill contains three active ingredients. They include calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and magnesium hydroxide. All those ingredients work together to provide some relief and lower acidity.
Tums can be used to treat mild discomfort from heartburn, diarrhea, and other stomach issues in dogs. The active ingredient, calcium carbonate, minimizes excessive stomach acid in humans who take it for their digestion problems. However, do note that dogs digest everything more rapidly than people, and Tums might travel faster in your pet’s body to be efficient in many cases.
Although, there are reports about dogs experiencing temporary relief from some stomach issues after taking the pill. Furthermore, Tums is also used by some veterinarians to work on phosphorus levels in the blood since it functions as a phosphate binder. But this should only be performed by a vet.
Some people take Tums as a calcium supplement, but this is not a wise idea for canines. Although dogs do not manage to experience side effects from one or two infrequent dosages, repeated intake can lead to serious health issues in dogs like kidney disease. If your pet needs calcium supplements, consult your vet about your pup’s diet.
With this information, we can discern that Tums are relatively safe for dogs but needs to be offered in proper dosage and should be under veterinary supervision.
What is the Proper Tums Dosage for Dogs?
If you are planning of giving your dog some fast relief by taking Tums, you have to check its ingredient list first and make sure it does not contain any harmful stuff (more about this later).
If your antacid is good to go and with your vet’s approval, you can begin figuring out the proper dosage. Again, remember that dogs will process Tums very rapidly, so you have to offer a relatively large dose to ensure that the antacid is effective.
- Small Dogs (2 to 20 pounds) – Approximately 1,250 milligrams over 24 hours
- Medium Dogs (20 to 60 pounds) -2 grams to 4 grams depending on weight
- Large Dogs (60 to 100 pounds) – 4 grams to six grams
- Giant Dogs (100 pounds or more) – Up to 10 grams based on weight over 24 hours
But what if your dog happened to get to the bottle and accidentally consumed a more dose without your supervision and you ask, “My dog ate a tums, what should I do?” The best thing you can do in this situation is to contact your vet as an overdose of the pills may hurt your dog from an upset stomach. Your vet will probably advise you to wait for some time and observe your dog for some more concerning symptoms.
If your dog experienced allergic reactions after taking Tums, however, you have to visit your vet right away. Your vet will provide a means to look for possible treatment for your dog.
When Can Tums Be Bad for Dogs?
Since you are already aware of the answer to the question, can you give your dog tums, along with its safety, and proper dosage? It is also essential to know when the pill can be bad for your pooch.
When taken infrequently, Tums usually causes only minimal side effects in canines (if it causes any at all). Then again, the compounds in the drug may actually cause loose stools or constipation, which is quite the opposite effect of what you expect. This is one of the reasons you must ask your vet first before giving your dog the drug.
Here are a couple of other cases where Tums may be bad for your dog:
Toxic Ingredients
Always read the label to scrutinize for potentially toxic ingredients before offering any medication to your pet. Scores of formulations of calcium carbonate include xylitol, and these artificial sweeteners are lethal for dogs [1].
Allergic Reactions
If you are already aware that some chemical additives in dog food can cause allergic reactions, then you know that Tums could also do so too and can just cause more problems than the antacid solves. Tums are manufactured with bright colors and some pets may have an allergic reaction to the artificial dyes or additives.
Puppies
Calcium is a necessary mineral and is safe for dogs. However, too much calcium can cause problems in your pup’s bone and cartilage development. Moreover, too much calcium is also distressing for the dog’s kidneys and can be deadly in canines with existing kidney failure. Thus, never give your puppy Tums unless approved by your vet.
Pregnant or Nursing Dogs
Be sure your vet is aware of your pet’s reproductive condition and almost never give these dogs medication without veterinary supervision or approval.
Medical Conditions
Tums can actually aggravate certain conditions, like kidney disease. If your pooch suffers from a health condition, consult your vet which over-the-counter drugs remedies are safe to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell if a dog has heartburn?
Dogs often manifest symptoms that can relatively easily be attributed to heartburn. Some of the most common symptoms to tell if a dog has heartburn include:
- Regurgitation, particularly when there is a production of a little amount of foamy, yellow fluid, or accompanied by coughing
- Swallowing repeatedly
- Signs of pain during or immediately after eating
- Weight loss
- Disinterest in food or reduced appetite
- Excessive salivation
- Consistently bad breath
- Gurgling sounds heard after eating
Take note that this stomach disorder could also be the result of other stomach issues, which is why it is always crucial to take your dog to the vet to evaluate exactly what causes your dog’s tummy aches.
What can you give a dog for an upset stomach?
Most often, the best treatment for a dog’s upset stomach is simply not feeding your dog any food for about six hours. This enables their tummy to work on eliminating whatever upset it, to begin with.
Recurring bouts of vomiting and diarrhea should be further examined by your veterinarian with a stool sample, bloodwork, and x-rays. Sometimes constant vomiting can be a sign of a protozoal infection known as Giardia or intestinal obstruction.
Do I need to take my dog to a vet for an upset stomach?
Yes, you need to take your dog to a vet for an upset stomach. While some medications like Tums provide temporary relief for your pup’s tummy aches, it is still necessary to figure out the underlying condition, especially if they happen regularly.
Usually, your vet will start by recording a detailed history of your dog. The doctor will want to know what symptoms your pet has been displaying, the timing of the problems, and the duration of the symptoms.
Conclusion
To wrap up the topic, can I give my dog tums? Yes, you can give your dog Tums but with extra caution, proper dosage, and should be with veterinary supervision or approval.
If your dog experiences diarrhea, extreme vomiting, or stomach pain, you obviously have to call your veterinarian straight away and not even bother giving Tums to your pooch. However, for moderate stomach problems, it might work.
And while your dog can have Tums you still need to be extra careful. If you decide to go with it, choose an unflavored alternative. Beware of sugar-free flavorings, which may contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, which is toxic for dogs. If your dog’s health issues worsen or persist after taking Tums, take him to your vet as promptly as possible.
