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My dog ate too many vitamin D3 supplements. Is it dangerous?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

What happens when your dog eats 60 vitamins D3 5000

6 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on October 16th, 2015

Unless you have a very large dog, this could be a serious problem. You should seek veterinary attention as vitamin D poisoning can be life threatening. Consider the following: 5,000 IU of vitamin D = 0.125mg. Your dog ingested 60. 0.125mg x 60 = 7.5mg of vitamin D. Veterinary attention is indicated when more than 0.1mg/kg of Vitamin D is ingested. Life threatening effects are possible at 0.5mg/kg. Divide 7.5 by your dog's weight in kg, to determine the dose ingested. Even if you have a 100lb dog, he/she may be in serious danger,

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Debi Matlack

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on

    Vitamin D toxicity is an emergency that requires immediate treatment and hospitalization. In fact, the initial 72 hours are crucial in saving the life of your dog. If the compound containing toxic amounts of vitamin D was ingested recently, your veterinarian will induce vomiting. There are also various drugs which bind the toxic compounds and prevent further vitamin D absorption. Vitamin D is vital in regulating the calcium and phosphorous balance in your dog's body. It also promotes the retention of calcium, thus aiding bone formation and nerve and muscle control. When ingested in exorbitant levels, vitamin D can cause serious health issues. Symptoms develop within 12-36 hours after ingestion. However, the time in which the symptoms become readily visible may vary depending on the source of vitamin D toxicity. Such symptoms may include: Vomiting, Weakness, Depression, Loss of appetite, Increased thirst, Increased urination, Dark tarry feces containing blood, Blood in vomit, Loss of weight, Constipation, Seizures, Muscle tremors, Abdominal pain, Excessive drooling. If your dog is suffering from vitamin D toxicity, the labwork will indicate abnormally high levels of calcium and phosphorous in the blood. It may also indicate abnormally low levels of potassium in the blood along with an accumulation of nitrogenous waste products. In some dogs, the biochemistry profile may even indicate an abnormally high level of liver enzymes and low levels of protein (called albumin) in the blood. The urinalysis will indicate abnormally high levels of proteins and glucose in the urine. Some patients with vitamin D toxicity also show bleeding from various body sites due to excessive loss of platelets (cells responsible for the clotting of blood).

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    5Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on

    Unless you have a very large dog, this could be a serious problem. You should seek veterinary attention as vitamin D poisoning can be life threatening. Consider the following: 5,000 IU of vitamin D = 0.125mg. Your dog ingested 60. 0.125mg x 60 = 7.5mg of vitamin D. Veterinary attention is indicated when more than 0.1mg/kg of Vitamin D is ingested. Life threatening effects are possible at 0.5mg/kg. Divide 7.5 by your dog's weight in kg, to determine the dose ingested. Even if you have a 100lb dog, he/she may be in serious danger,

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    12Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 26th, 2019

    Hello, most Vitamin D supplements concentrations are note considered toxic to pets. Toxicity to Vitamin D often occurs in rodenticide ingestion and toxicity. The dose you are reporting is considered to be under the toxic dose, however, it would be wise to call the ASPCA pet poison control line as they may offer the best and most informed advice about your pet's ingestion and offer the appropriate recommendations for this. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: (888) 426-4435 Hope this helps and best of luck.

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    8Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 21st, 2020

    Hello and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern! At the current dose JoLee ingested with her weight roughly being 50lbs, she ingested approximately 0.25mg. At the lowest end 0.1 mg/kg of bodyweight, symptoms of vitamin D toxicosis can be seen. However, JoLee only ingested approximately 0.01 mg/kg dosage if she truly ingested only 10,000 IU of D3. She should be absolutely fine. If you are unsure as to how many capsules she ingested, it would be best to take her in to a veterinarian for further evaluation. If you know for certain she only ingested 10,000IU of D3, then I would just monitor as she should be fine. She may have an upset stomach so I would just feed a bland diet and monitor. I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 16th, 2018

    Vitamin D is toxic when overdosed. If your dog ate the vitamin D within the past 90 minutes please rush the dog to your veterinarian so he can induce vomiting. You should take her to a veterinarian or PetER for an exam, and supportive care. Vit D3 can cause elevated blood calcium levels, nausea, vomiting and poor appetite, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea, bone loss, kidney failure.

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