My Dog Ate Tums: What Will Happen Now?

We often try to keep our pet dogs safe and away from foods that cause them harm, but sometimes we are unable to do so. As a result, you will often notice your dog eating things it should not eat, and we will be forced to find a solution to the problem.

One such incident is when your dog eats a lot of tums. Tum pills are antacid medicines used to treat gastrointestinal problems in humans, but in the case of dogs, they hardly have any effect. But too many tums or having tums regularly can be dangerous for your dog.

Tum pills can have the opposite effect of what we want to have on our dogs. Read the article below to learn more about the tum pills’ effects on your dog’s body and other related information.

Are Tums Safe For Dogs?

Are Tums Safe for Dogs
Image source: www.k9ofmine.com

If you are wondering whether tums are toxic or poisonous to your dog’s health, then you can rest assured that these pills are not toxic to your dog and will not harm if taken in large amounts or regularly.

Being non-toxic doesn’t mean you can give your pet dog these pills for acid reflux or gastrointestinal problems.

If your pet dog consumes a large number of tum pills or consumes tum pills regularly, then there can be gastrointestinal problems in your dog. In addition, long-term ingestion of antacids like tum pills can be dangerous for your dog’s health, and your dog’s body can show several symptoms that indicate deteriorating health.

What Happens if a Dog Consumes Tums?

In the absence of any clinical situation in dogs, consuming tum pills once in a while won’t do much harm to your dog. Tums are neither harmful nor beneficial to your dog in the case of acid buildup, and we’re sure you don’t give such an antacid to your dog for no reason.

Dogs have quicker digestion than humans, so the tums are ineffective in their case. In addition, the calcium carbonate in the tum pills doesn’t get enough time to react with the acid in the dog’s stomach, so these pills remain ineffective for dogs.

This inactive effect of tum pills means that the dog will ingest and pass out the food from their body before the antacid-like tums start doing their work. Mainly, issues can arise in your dog’s body if the dog consumes too many tum pills or if they eat tum pills regularly.

Here are some issues that can arise if your dog eats the tum pills in great quantities or regularly.

1. Gastrointestinal Discomfort

Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Image source: www.urbanpethospital.com

It may sound ironic, but the tum pills for treating gastrointestinal problems in dogs can worsen the situation if the dogs consume them regularly or in large amounts.

Dogs who consume too many tum pills can experience the below-listed problems.

Constipation

The aluminum component and the calcium carbonate component of the tum pills can cause digestive problems in dogs, and this can further lead to serious constipation in dogs. This constipation is the polar opposite of what you want to achieve in your dog with these tum pills.

Diarrhea

The magnesium component of the tum pills is responsible for loose stools in dogs to a great extent. In addition, this magnesium component can further worsen the condition of diarrhea in your dog.

Vomiting

Vomiting
Image source: dogs.lovetoknow.com

As mentioned above, some components of tum pills don’t suit your dog’s digestive system, which can cause further problems. Your dog may experience episodes of vomiting when the dog consumes these tum pills regularly or in large amounts.

Blockage

Some tum pills come in boxes and packets, and these packets cause more problems in your dog’s body than the tum pills actually do.

See also  9 Reasons Dog Leaves Odorless Wet Spot, And What Should You Do?

Ingestion of these wrappers and non-edible substances can cause serious blockage in the dog’s intestine. These severe blockages in the dog’s intestines and stomach may require surgery.

If your dog eats too many tums or eats tums regularly, then the dog requires medical attention immediately. You must contact the veterinarian or bring the dog to the vet hospital for medical help.

Bonus Read: Dog Ate Uncooked Rice.

2. Allergies

Allergies
Image source: www.broadway4pets.com

The easiest and the fastest reaction your dog’s body can get after eating tums is an allergic reaction. This reaction is because numerous preservatives and dyes are added to produce flavors in tum pills and add different colors to the pills.

These industrial components, dyes, and preservatives can make any sane dog sick.

Here are some bad allergy symptoms that you can look for in your dog after the consumption of tum pills. These include vomiting, red eyes, coughing, drooling, dermatitis, chronic diarrhea, obsessive licking, scratching, etc.

Allergies should be considered properly, and you should take proper care of your pet in these situations, as if these allergies remain untreated, they can prove deadly for your dog. Therefore, if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned earlier in your dog, consider going to the veterinarian immediately with details of the symptoms your dog is showing.

Bonus Read: Is Food Coloring Safe For Dogs? – Should I Worry?

3. Intoxication

Before giving tum pills to your dog, consider the previous treatment your dog has taken and the medicines your dog is taking.

It is the case with some medications that two medications react weakly together, and it can cause trouble with your dog’s body. Such medicine is tum pills, which you should consider with your veterinarian before giving it with any other medication to your dog.

A mixture of the wrong medications can be fatal to your dog, so always give medications to your dog after the vet’s advice.

Although tums don’t usually contain xylitol, always check the medications for xylitol before giving them to the dog. This sugary substance called xylitol is especially dangerous for dogs as it can cause hypoglycemia and be fatal to dogs.

4. Kidney failure

Calcium is an important component of the dog’s diet as calcium is important for bones. But too much calcium is not good as too much calcium can add unnecessary pressure to your dog’s kidneys.

Calcium carbonate is a major component of tum pills, so eating too many tum pills or eating tum pills regularly can add unnecessary pressure to a dog’s kidneys, as large amounts of calcium can accumulate in a dog’s kidneys.

Too much accumulation of calcium in the kidneys can lead to the formation of kidney stones in your dog. These kidney stones are very painful and are most likely to be removed by surgery if dogs can’t pass them through urine.

Unfortunately, kidney stones are not the worst scenario caused due to calcium accumulation. Adding so much pressure on the kidneys can prove to be fatal as it may lead to the development of so many diseases. These diseases are not tolerable for old dogs or dogs with compromised kidneys.

Even in healthy dogs, problems related to the kidneys are lifelong, and the treatment for this can continue in your dog for a lifetime.

What Are the Alternatives to Tums for Dogs?

What are the Alternatives to Tums for Dogs
Image source: https://www.k9ofmine.com/

When your dog has gastrointestinal problems, your dog’s veterinarian will never recommend you to give tums to your dog.

Suppose you notice that your dog suffers from stomach pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and other such issues. In that case, you should never consider tums as an option of medication for your dog’s problem.

The best thing the tums can do in such a case is to relieve your dog’s gastrointestinal problems for a short duration. However, recurring problems can indicate a serious problem, and you should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

The tum pills are not what your veterinarian will advise you to take for regular stomach aches and stomach ailments for your dogs. Here are some alternatives to tum pills you can give to cure your dog.

See also  Are Dogs Allowed in Cabela's? Complete Informative Guide

Canned Pumpkins

Canned pumpkin is full of nutrients and fibers that can absorb maximum amounts of water and bulk up your dog’s stool. In addition, the canned pumpkin, due to its property, helps in controlling diabetes up to a great deal.

Not only this, but canned pumpkin is also good for constipation in your dog. Experts have proved that adding 1 to 4 tablespoons of canned pumpkin to your dog’s diet during constipation can prove to relieve constipation in your dog to a great extent.

Be careful and remember to give canned pumpkins to your dog in simple form and not add any salt, sugar, spice, etc., which can cause irritation in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract and worsen the situation.

Canned pumpkin doesn’t mean pumpkin pie in any sense. You should always keep pumpkin pie away from your dog as it contains xylitol, which can be fatal for your dog.

Fasting

Fasting
Image source: topdogtips.com

The most common treatment for upset stomach or diarrhea in your dog is to not give food to your dog for six hours or so. Then monitor your dog if it passes out stool normally and the material that makes them sick.

Sometimes the veterinarian will advise you not to give your dog any food for the rest of the day or so and start with breakfast the next day or as per the veterinarian’s guidance. This method will allow the dog’s body to clean itself naturally.

The veterinarian often advises slowly reintroducing the food into your dog’s diet. The reintroduced foods should be simple foods like bland rice and chicken.

Considering your dog’s situation and noticing the problem closely will help your dog’s veterinarian decide on the treatment.

Other Recommended Medications

The dog’s veterinarian will rarely recommend medication for stomach aches or other gastrointestinal problems in your dog. But if the dog’s veterinarian still advises some medications for your dog, it will not be tum medications but a special antacid medication for dogs.

There are many other human medications instead of tums that can serve as an antacid to treat the problem of acidic reactions in your dog. Such medications include Imodium and Pepto Bismol, which can serve the purpose well.

These human medications can be a better alternative to tum, but they still can make your dog even sicker. So you shouldn’t take any medication without proper consultation from the veterinarian regarding the medicine and the dog’s condition.

Can Dogs Have Tum Medications?

Can Dogs Have Tum Medications
Image source: www.walkervillevet.com.au

If taken once a while, these tum medications won’t cause much harm to your dog, but if giving this medication becomes a frequent event, it may cause several problems in your dog’s life. These tums medications don’t serve as an antacid treatment or treat the stomach pain of your dog. Tum medications often need more time to start their action than normal digestion, so in a dog’s body, it mostly remains unreacted.

Large amounts of tums or having regular consumption of tums can prove to be fatal for your dog, so treating gastrointestinal problems using tum medications is not recommended.

The best advice you can get is from your dog’s veterinarian, so consult with them before taking any action or administering any medication to your dog.

To rule out the possibility of serious problems, you should go for a regular checkup of your dog to ensure its safety.

When Will Tums Hurt Your Dog?

Tums are always dangerous for dogs when they consume these in large amounts. Tums can also prove dangerous to dogs with organ damage because it is hard for dogs to digest things like tums.

Also, if your dog is on any other medication, tums can be dangerous due to the weak mixing of both the medications. Besides, if the tums medications have artificial sweeteners like xythiol, it can also be dangerous for your dog. Dog owners should rarely keep such sweeteners at home, as they are extremely dangerous if the dog consumes them.

See also  Can Dogs Eat Mulberries - Is It Safe?

Depending upon sensitivity and allergy, sometimes even a bit of medication can prove dangerous for your dog. The owner should be careful and ready for such situations.

Bonus Read : When To Euthanize A Dog With Liver Failure? (Vet’s Advice).

What Should You Do If Your Dog Eats Tum Pills?

What Should You Do If Your Dog Eats Tum Pills
Image source: www.petplace.com

The first thing you should do after you notice your dog has tum pills is to take these pills away from them. You don’t want your dog to have some more tum pills until you figure out a solution to the problem, so it’s better to remove your dog’s access to these pills.

Secondly, you can give your dog some activated charcoal to induce vomiting. Some veterinarians offer injections while advising feeding the dog hydrogen peroxide to help them throw up certain things they have consumed.

These materials are essential for owners planning to have an adventurous dog at home. Don’t forget to consult the veterinarian before using any medication or treatment, as it can further harm your dog’s condition.

You should provide your dog with plenty of water as many times the dog won’t get hurt by something, but dehydration caused by such substances may cause health problems in your dog.

As mentioned in the article, tums are okay for dogs that are suffering from an upset stomach once in a while, but they won’t be useful at all to your dog in those conditions. Tums don’t work in the dog’s digestive system as the speed of the dog’s digestive system is much faster than that of humans, so by the time the tums start their action, the food will already be removed from your dog’s body. It’s better to discuss the problem with your dog’s veterinarian and then decide the solution to the problem.

Suppose there is an emergency condition your dog is facing, and you have no other medications available. In that case, you can consider giving these pills to your dog after the veterinarian’s guidance.

FAQ’s

1. Why is my Dog Drinking so much Water after Eating Tum Pills?

Ans. Many dogs often drink water after eating some chalky substance. So the dog drinking water after taking tum pills is not unusual, but keep a close eye on your dog until the dog passes stool.

2. How Long can my Dog Take to React after Eating a Bottle of Tum Pills?

Ans. You can wait for some hours before your dog starts showing symptoms. But since your dog’s digestive system is fast, you don’t need to wait for hours or so.

3. What Should I do if my Dog Ate a Bottle of Tums and has Been Throwing up Since Then?

Ans. Any time you notice your dog throwing up, you should contact a veterinarian. It can be due to something stuck in your dog’s throat that causes him to throw up.

4. How do I Find out if my Dog is Sick from Eating Tums or is there is any other Reason?

Ans. Call the 24×7 animal poison control line or your local emergency veterinarian if you notice anything unusual happening with your dog. These helpline numbers or the vets will be able to give you some information about what signs and symptoms you should look for in your dog.

Conclusion

Tum pills are antacid pills that humans can use for gastrointestinal problems, but when it comes to dogs, they are not helpful. If consumed in large amounts, Tum pills can cause problems for your dog’s digestive system and further worsen the situation.

Before giving any pills or medications to your dog, you should contact the veterinarian and find out more about the problem.

 A veterinarian can advise you on the best treatment for your dog’s gastrointestinal problems, and you can be sure they will not give your dog some tum pills.