Is Vitamin D overdose (human supplements) toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: vitamin D / cod liver oil / calcium gummies
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Identify the product and count; emergency decontamination plus blood-calcium monitoring — treatment may be prolonged.
Toxicity notes
Human fish-oil capsules and vitamin D gummies are highly toxic to pets, causing hypercalcemia and kidney calcification. One bottle of gummies can kill a small dog.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Vomiting
- • Increased drinking and urination
- • Severe lethargy
- • Poor appetite
- • Abnormal kidney values
Symptoms can be delayed (e.g. onion/garlic-induced hemolysis may take days) — a pet looking fine right now is no reason to relax.
FAQ
How much causes poisoning?
Human fish-oil capsules and vitamin D gummies are highly toxic to pets, causing hypercalcemia and kidney calcification. One bottle of gummies can kill a small dog.
Can I make my pet vomit at home?
Home-induced vomiting is not advised: corrosive cleaners, sharp bones or existing neurological signs make it dangerous, and improper technique risks aspiration pneumonia. Vomiting should be induced by a vet with proper drugs at the right moment — most effective within 1-2 hours. So “head to the clinic as soon as you know” beats “try to induce vomiting first”.
Even without symptoms, use the symptom checker to review what to watch for
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