For many years now, pet owners have been giving their dogs antacids that are intended for human consumption only. You only need to go on forums to see and owners saying how you can give a dog Rolaids. But should you do this, and how safe is to give a dog these tablets or liquid?
I decided to research into this to see whether Rolaids are toxic or not, and if they do work with dogs, just how much is safe as dosage. Here’s what I found; I hope you find it helpful.
Important Note: You should always ask your vet if you intend to give your dog Rolaids. Whilst these tablets are available over the counter, they should never be administered to a dog with the advice of a veterinarian.
Can I give my dog Rolaids?
You can give your dog Rolaids, but it’s not something you should do without first consulting with a vet. It’s not unheard of for dogs to be given antacids by vets, and the ingredients in Rolaids are the same as antacids vets would give.
However, whilst not toxic, Rolaids could give your dog an upset stomach. There could also be worse side effects when eaten in large doses or when consumed when the dog is on other medications.
The bottom line is this; don’t let your dog have Rolaids unless expressively given permission and guidance from a professional veterinarian.
Rolaids for dog’s dosage
If you do decide to give your dog Rolaids tablets, only administer the standard strength ones, and nothing stronger. You will also find it easier to give your dog the liquid version, as this can often be snuck into their drinking water.
You should not give your dog a high dosage, with owners on social media saying they have given their dog no more than 1 tablet at a time, not exceeding 3 tablets in one day.
The PetPlace.com website also have guidance for calcium carbonate dosage levels. As the core ingredient of Rolaids, this could also give you some idea on the right dosage levels:
- Small breed dogs: 1250 mg per day.
- Medium dogs: 2 grams to 4 grams per day.
- Large breed dogs: 4 grams to 6 grams per day.
- Giant breed dogs: 6 to 10 grams orally per day.
Please note, I am not a vet, and simply replicating information I have read on the Internet about how many Rolaids you can give a dog.
What do Rolaids for dogs do?
Rolaids for dogs are said to help with acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion, gas, and related issues. Vets often prescribe antacids to dogs to help neutralize the amount of acid in their stomach.
According to VCA Hospitals, a pet treatment center, antacids work to do the following on canines:
“Antacids can be used for inflammation of the oesophagus, excessive acid in the stomach, peptic ulcer and inflammation of the stomach. In patients with kidney failure, antacids may be used to decrease the amount of phosphate in the blood.”
My dog ate Rolaids
If your dog ate Rolaids, it’s unlikely to suffer any serious health complications, but of course, would depend on the volume of tablets consumed.
You might find that your dog has some vomiting and diarrhea, but you should probably consider the size of your dog. For example, if you have a small dog that ate a whole bottle of Rolaids, then I wouldn’t hesitate in calling a vet.
What happens if a dog eats Rolaids?
In most cases, nothing. A couple of Rolaids here and there are unlikely to have a negative affect if eaten in error, and if deliberately eaten, Rolaids could actually help your dog’s indigestion.
Will Rolaids hurt a dog?
Generally speaking, Rolaids are considered to be fairly safe for dogs and non-toxic due to the ingredients. If you’re reading this article because your dog ate Rolaids, then don’t be too concerned.
It’s unlikely that Rolaids will hurt your dog, but there can be possible side effects including a loss of appetite, constipation, or diarrhea.
This is because most dogs won’t eat enough Rolaids in order to produce harmful effects. However, vets have been reported as saying that long-term use of Rolaids or excessive amounts in canines could result in:
- Irregular heartbeat and weakness.
- Kidney stones.
- Decreased muscle flexibility.
- Excessive calcium.
- Excessive alkaline in the blood.
It’s important to consider that any form of antacid could react badly with any existing medication your dog is having. For example, if your dog is taking other calcium products, it could raise their body’s calcium levels too high.
The VCA Animal Hospital say that medications known to interact with antacids such as Rolaids include:
“Tetracycline, chlordiazepoxide, captopril, chloroquine, cimetidine, corticosteroids, digoxin, iron salts, indomethacin, isoniazid, ketoconazole, nitrofurantoin, pancrelipase, penicillamine, phenothiazines, phenytoin, ranitidine, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, aspirin, quinidine and valproic acid.”
That’s why it’s so important that you ask your vet before giving your dog Rolaids.
The ingredients of Rolaids
There are just two components of Rolaids; calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. Both are staple ingredients in most antacid products, working to neutralize stomach acid, relieving indigestion and heartburn.
The main ingredient in Rolaids is the calcium carbonate. According to the PetPlace.com website, this should mean that Rolaids are safe for dogs. Their website reads as follows:
“While generally safe and effective when prescribed by a veterinarian, calcium carbonate can cause side effects in some animals. Calcium carbonate should not be used in animals with known hypersensitivity to it nor in pets with high calcium levels. Safety in pregnant or lactating dogs has not been studied. However, calcium carbonate is considered safe during lactation by most veterinarians.”
The magnesium hydroxide in Rolaids is also not toxic to dogs when reasonably dosed. What that means is, the levels of this ingredient in Rolaids should not hurt your dog, when given in the tablet form in sensible dosage amounts.
Conclusion
I would personally never give my dog a medicine that had not been prescribed by a vet, and that includes things that are considered “safe” such as Rolaids.
We’re not professionals, and don’t know how things could affect our dog’s health. There are so many variables involved, that for me, letting my dog eat Rolaids is something I would avoid unless given express permission from a vet.
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