Can Dogs Eat Tums? Is It Safe?

Sometimes your beloved furry companion may fall victim to an upset stomach or other digestive issues. Sure enough, you’d want to help them and remedy their upset stomach as fast as possible. Looking toward medications for assistance, would antacids, such as Tums, be able to help your dog’s upset stomach?

Tums, in very spaced out and moderate consumption, can help to temporarily solve your dog’s upset stomach and digestive issues. Before attempting to do so, though, there are a handful of considerations and cautions that you need to be aware of, in addition to consulting your veterinarian about your dog’s Tums use before any is given.

What Can Tums Do For My Dog?

In the instance that your dog is dealing with a mild yet troubling stomach ache or digestive issues, Tums are able to provide temporary relief through the contained calcium carbonate, reducing acid build up and easing gastrointestinal problems. Reducing excessive stomach acid and helping to ease their digestion process, Tums can help to provide short term relief.

If your dog is experiencing a severe stomach ache, or gets them often, Tums should be skipped, and you should talk to your veterinarian immediately, as the issue could be part of a larger medical condition they have.

Tums can reduce issues experienced from gastrointestinal issues such as esophagitis, acting as an oral antacid.

In consultation with your veterinarian, Tums can be an addition to the treatment of kidney disease, as well as using it to regulate phosphorus levels in your dogs blood. Again, the use of Tums for these reasons must never be done without proper instruction and approval from your veterinarian.

Dogs with chronic hypocalcemia can benefit through the consumption of Tums as an additional calcium supplement.

Calcium carbonate is a strong antacid, but there are stronger forms out there, so Tums are not generally the most effective antacid available.

Proper Amount For Your Dog

The amount of Tums medication, or calcium carbonate, that is necessary for your dog’s consumption depends on their size and weight, as well as if they are taking any other medications. If your dog is taking multiple other medications, it may be best to find another antacid alternative, as Tums may not react well with other drugs. As provided by Petplace, the amount of Tums that is necessary for your dog goes as follows;

• Small Dogs: 500-1500 mg over 24 Hours
• Medium Dogs: 750-2000 mg over 24 Hours
• Large / Extra Large Dogs: 1500 – 2500 mg over 24 Hours

These doses are to be used in an uncommon and spread out manner, only being used occasionally to help remedy an upset stomach. Daily doses of calcium carbonate would be in direct consultation with your veterinarian if your dog happens to need it.

Warnings Of Tums Use

As already expressed, your dog’s Tums use should be approved by your veterinarian first, and only used occasionally. Daily doses are never recommended unless advised by your veterinarian as a treatment for medical conditions.

You may be unaware of your dog’s allergy to some ingredients used in Tums, so this caution should be taken into consideration as well, keeping close supervision of their reaction after consuming for the first time.

Puppies should not be given this drug, as it contains more calcium than they need at a young age, causing possible bone and tissue issues.

Pregnant and / or nursing dogs should not be given Tums, or any other medication, without talking to your veterinarian first.

Long term, frequent dosing can lead to medical issues such as kidney disease, pancreatitis, and calcification of soft tissue.

Dose Safely and Infrequently! With Approval From Your Vet!

There are many considerations to take in when deciding to give your dog Tums for stomach relief, as shown. But, if you have approval from your vet, if you give your dog the correct dosage, and if you give it to them infrequently, Tums should prove to be a safe medication that can help to provide your dog with some relief from a troubling stomach ache.