Vitamin D Toxicity
Vitamin D Toxicity in Dogs and Cats
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for calcium and phosphorus regulation in the body. However, when consumed in excessive amounts, it becomes toxic and can cause dangerous elevations in blood calcium levels, leading to organ damage.
Common Sources of Toxic Vitamin D:
Rodenticides (rat poison): Cholecalciferol-based products are particularly dangerous.
Human supplements or medications: Especially high-dose vitamin D capsules or tablets.
Topical ointments or creams containing vitamin D.
Over-supplementation in pets: Owners giving excessive doses of vitamin D supplements meant for dogs and cats.
Signs of Toxicity
Vitamin D toxicity signs may appear within 12–72 hours after ingestion but can be delayed up to several days.
Common Signs of Toxicity:
Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite.
Neurological Symptoms: Lethargy, depression, muscle tremors.
Cardiovascular Symptoms: Increased thirst and urination, dehydration, slow heart rate.
Kidney Symptoms: Acute kidney injury due to increased calcium in the body (hypercalcemia), leading to increased urination, reduced urine output, or even complete cessation of urination in severe cases.
Other Symptoms: Excessive drooling, weight loss, abdominal pain.
What You Can Do at Home
If you suspect your pet has ingested vitamin D, contact animal poison control immediately
Remove Access:
Remove your pet from the source of Vitamin D right away.
Keep the packaging or container to provide details to poison control.
Contact Animal Poison Control:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435
Be ready to provide details about what was ingested, how much, and when.
Seek Veterinary Care without delay, if instructed so by animal poison control.
DO NOT attempt home remedies or wait to see if symptoms develop.
Vitamin D toxicity can be life-threatening and requires professional treatment.
Do NOT Induce Vomiting Without Guidance:
Inducing vomiting can be harmful depending on what was ingested, how much, and how much time has passed.
Only induce vomiting if instructed to do so by a veterinarian or poison control.
What to Expect at the Veterinarian:
Treatment for Vitamin D toxicity requires veterinary intervention and may include:
Decontamination:
Inducing vomiting (if appropriate) or administering activated charcoal.
Fluid Therapy:
IV fluids to help flush out excess calcium and prevent dehydration.
Medications:
Multiple medications may be prescribed to control symptoms, protect the kidneys, manage calcium levels and more.
Supportive Care:
Monitoring blood calcium, phosphorus, and kidney function.
Providing nutrition and supportive care as needed.
Follow up with a veterinarian will likely be recommended for several days post exposure.
Prognosis
Mild to moderate cases that receive prompt treatment often recover well.
Severe cases with significant kidney damage or extremely high calcium levels can be life-threatening.
Long-term effects: Potential kidney damage even after recovery, especially if treatment was delayed.
Having some familiarity with the most common toxins ingested by pets is vital to being prepared for emergencies. While we all prefer to avoid emergencies, they do happen and being prepared for them can make a big difference in the outcome. Check out our Dog Owner’s Guide to Health Emergencies book, to learn more about emergency preparedness, the top 10 veterinary emergencies, the top 10 toxicities and more.
