Help! My Dog Ate Prenatal Vitamins

The Short Answer is:

Vitamins are particularly poisonous to dogs, especially prenatal ones. Your dog is probably fine if he had only one tablet if he is an enormous St Bernard. However, if your little Yorkie had a handful of those tablets or if he’s a tiny Yorkie, you should take him to the vet right away.

The purpose of this article is to explain “Help! My Dog Ate Prenatal Vitamins“.

Weird things are eaten by dogs. This is a fact. So what happens if your pup eats some of your prenatal vitamins? You left the open container on the counter where Rover could reach it because of your preggy brain.

Would it be best if you just kept an eye on him or if you rushed off to the emergency vet? Do prenatal vitamins affect dogs in any way? In short they’re very dangerous and should always be kept locked up at all times. The reason why is as follows.

What are prenatal vitamins?

With prenatal vitamins pregnant women can maintain their health and the health of their unborn babies. Once the baby is born these vitamins can be used to support breastfeeding. Although prenatal vitamins and other multivitamins are similar prenatal vitamins contain a few additional ingredients. You know growing another person requires a lot of resources.

Prenatal vitamins typically contain more folic acid calcium and iron than other multivitamins. They have less vitamin A however. The babys development depends on folic acid calcium and iron. Too much vitamin A however can be harmful to the unborn child.

What are the most dangerous vitamins for a dog?

Dogs require vitamins just as much as humans do. Although we need them differently from our pets some of the good things for people can be poisonous to our pets.

Xylitol a sweetener found in many human vitamins is toxic to dogs even in small doses. Iron vitamin D and calcium which are also found in human vitamin supplements are toxic to dogs. Wow!

Dogs who consume xylitol have low blood sugar levels and liver failure. The body produces calcium as a result of vitamin D. If your dog has too much calcium it can cause secondary kidney failure.

Dogs should also not consume excessive calcium for the same reason. Last but not least iron causes vomiting diarrhea and even organ failure in dogs. This is very scary and reason enough to lock those prenatal vitamins up very securely. You may literally be putting your dogs life at risk with them.

How do human vitamins (in dosage) differ from dog vitamins?

When it comes to diet and vitamins dogs and humans have very different nutritional requirements. Similarly to us your pups age stage of life health and activity level determine what he needs. It is also important to consider your pups size.

According to logic a tiny Yorkie will need less food and fewer vitamins than an enormous St Bernard.

Supplements for humans typically come in set dosages since we need more or less the same amount of vitamins regardless of our height or weight.

If your pet gets his paws on your human vitamins his size and breed matter. A sudden dose of prenatal vitamins will have a much more dramatic effect on a small baby. When his breed has a fast metabolism you’ll be able to see the results sooner than if he had a slow metabolism.

On a side note you might wonder whether dogs even need vitamin supplements? Providing your pup with well-formulated balanced commercially available dog food eliminates the need for supplements.

The dog needs to eat food that is appropriate to his life stage size and overall health. You may need extra supplements if you opt for a homemade diet. By doing this you will make sure he receives all the nutrients he demands to stay healthy.

In some cases your vet may recommend adding specific supplements to your pups diet if he is suffering from or at risk of certain health conditions.

Do prenatal vitamins contain xylitol?

There are some prenatal vitamins that contain xylitol specifically sugar-free ones. Xylitol is fine for adults but it is a different story for children and dogs.

Your four-footed pets body is confused by xylitol when it gets into his system. Its basically the bodys way of ramping up insulin levels because it believes that its real sugar. The hormone insulin is responsible for digesting sugar.

Suddenly your dogs blood sugar drops resulting in hypoglycemia. Getting your pup to the vet immediately is crucial because this condition can be fatal.

Dogs may also suffer liver failure from eating xylitol. Smart people do not understand why this happens but they discovered a clear link between the two.

You should keep in mind that xylitol concentrations vary greatly between products. You might be able to get a good dose of it from your prenatal vitamins so your dog could get a good dose from them. Even if he just takes one vitamin tablet he’ll get a good dose. Even a tiny amount of xylitol can seriously harm your dogs health so you should make sure to keep the stuff away from him at all costs.

What is the animal poison helpline and how will they help you?

You can reach the Poison Helpline by calling (855) 764-7661 if you live in the United States. The incident fee is $59 and you can reach them 24/7.

You will be able to speak to experts on call who will evaluate the severity of the situation. If they believe home care is appropriate for your case they will talk you through what needs to be done and follow up with you afterward.

Consider a situation in which your pup needs veterinary care in person. In that case the Poison Helpline specialists will contact your vet and work with him to develop the best treatment plan for your pup.

Your pup is in good hands here and you can rest assured that hes getting the best of care.

One of the great things about the Poison Helpline is that they care for all types of animals not just dogs. When you’re in a bind you can rely on one dedicated team to provide expert care to all your pets.

Additionally they have plenty of resources on their website to help you figure out how to keep your pets safe both at home and when you’re out and about.

What are the side effects (for a dog) of eating too many vitamins?

We have already established that even small doses of human vitamins may be deadly to your dog. How would you feel if you did not realize your dog was consuming some of your vitamins? Could there be any side effects or symptoms?

Thank you for asking.

You can expect your dog to vomit quite a bit if he has too much Vitamin D. Besides that he would not have an appetite and he’ll likely drain his water bowl repeatedly as a result of extreme thirst. Given a bit of time Rover is likely to pee much more than usual and lose weight as well. Wow. Leaving these things unattended could lead to Rovers death.

You’ll first notice a change in your pups movement when he consumes too much Vitamin A. He will become stiff as new bones grow around his joints. What a poor dog! His neck might become rigid due to this bone growth. If the condition is severe he could also become paralyzed.

When your puppy eats human vitamins he may experience general symptoms such as muscle tremors and seizures. You can expect your Rover to show signs of shock and abdominal swelling if he or she has overdosed on iron. A drop in blood sugar levels is likely to cause convulsions and drowsiness in your dog if xylitol is the cause. 

All of these symptoms are pretty severe and could be fatal. If you suspect your dog got his paws on your vitamins you should contact your veterinarian right away. You do not want to wait for poisoning symptoms to appear before acting.

How can I stop my dog from eating prenatal vitamins?

It is pretty logical and simple. Make sure your vitamins are securely locked away from pets and children. Even one of your prenatal vitamins could kill your dog especially if he is small. Donot chance it. Do not leave these vitamins in your dogs coat pocket or handbag where it could accidentally access them.

Conclusion

Vitamins are particularly poisonous to dogs especially prenatal ones. Your dog is probably fine if he had only one tablet if he is an enormous St Bernard. However if your little Yorkie had a handful of those tablets or if hes a tiny Yorkie you should take him to the vet right away. In case of after-hours poisoning call (855) 764-7661. Their veterinarians are available 24/7 to help you choose the best treatment for your pup. Preventive medicine is better than curative medicine so keep your vitamins safely locked up.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.