Melatonin supplements are mostly prescribed to people with sleeping and anxiety disorders. Also, the drug is given to dogs with disrupted sleeping patterns.
If your dog accidentally ate 10mg of melatonin, ensure you phone the poison control hotline or your vet for immediate assistance. They will advise you on the best way to handle the situation. Unless instructed otherwise, don’t try to induce vomiting.
What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle in humans and animals, primarily produced by the pineal gland in the brain.
In response to darkness, melatonin levels rise ten times higher during night than during the day. The increased level alerts the body to prepare for sleep. This is when you begin feeling calm and sleepy.
Melatonin also helps the reproductive cycles of animals from seasonal breeders. Melatonin is given to dogs as pills, chewable tablets, powders, capsules, drops, or injected as an implant. Mostly melatonin is offered orally either as plain or can be coated with a tasty flavor to encourage your dog to take it.
Is Melatonin Safe for Dogs?
Generally, when prescribed by the vet, melatonin is considered safe and beneficial to your dog under the right circumstances.
However, if your dog is pregnant or nursing, she should not be given melatonin for any cause. Neither should you give it to puppies under 3 months, a dog with impaired kidneys, or dogs with liver dysfunction.
Administering melatonin to dogs with such abnormalities can cause severe side effects, liver damage, or nervous system disruption.
Also, melatonin can cause drowsiness if given to a dog on anxiety medication. The two interact negatively hence causing increased side effects.
Therefore, before starting melatonin treatment with your dog, confirm with the veterinarian first. The professional will examine your dog and let you know if he is fit to benefit from that treatment.
Can melatonin kill a dog?
Studies have shown no reported case of a dog dying from intake of melatonin. Even in excess, Melatonin is not fatal for dogs. It only causes severe side effects that require veterinarian care to treat.
Dogs can ingest up to 80 m of melatonin per lb, a massive overdose, but survive to see the next day. However, the only instance that can lead to the death of your dog after intake of melatonin is when it contains traces of xylitol.
What is The Right Dosage of Melatonin for Dogs?
Melatonin can easily be sold over the counter without the prescription of a professional. However, consuming it as you please should not trigger you to abuse its availability. Always seek guidance from the vet before giving it to your dog. This way, you will get the right prescription.
The weight influences the amount of melatonin you give to your dog. The two are directly proportional. But, it will only take a professional to give the right judgment.
Even if your dog is big, 10 mg of melatonin is way too much for him, especially if consumed in a single dose. Therefore, he should only take such amounts three times a day. Before giving melatonin to your dog, you should contact your veterinarian.
The recommended dose for melatonin to administer after every 8-12 hours is as follows:
- 1 mg for dogs weighing less than 10 pounds
- 1.5 mg for dogs weighing 10 to 25 pounds
- 3 mg for dogs weighing 26 to 100 pounds
- 3 to 6 mg for dogs weighing more than 100 pounds
What happens if My Dog Ate 10 Mg Melatonin or a whole bottle of melatonin?
The right dose of melatonin to give your dog will be determined by the size of your dog and the condition being treated. Therefore, giving your dog the right dosage for effective treatment is important.
However, suppose your dog has an overdose, look for warning signs and respond to them immediately. An overdose of melatonin can cause serious consequences for your dog.
If it is a mild overdose, the symptoms will be less dramatic. You will only notice your canine has slight stomach upset or shows signs of sleepiness.
But, if the overdose is significant, more serious symptoms will be produced that require an urgent response. Keep an eye out for vomiting, diarrhea, high blood pressure, seizures, and loss of coordination. Immediately you notice such symptoms, contact your vet immediately without delay. They will guide you on the next steps to take as you look after your dog.
Signs of Melatonin Overdose in Dogs
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Loss of coordination
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
- Stomach upset
- Drowsiness
- Lethargy
- Itchiness
- Wobbly walk
- Increased heart rate
Uses of Melatonin in Dogs
Melatonin is of great importance in therapies for dogs and humans. Just as you consult your vet on changing your dog’s diet, it is the same way you should seek their consent before administering the drug.
Giving the prescribed amount of melatonin can be beneficial to your dog. This drug will help deal with insomnia, anxiety, and Cushing’s disease in dogs.
1) Anxiety
A dog can be anxious because of its breed or nature. Anxiousness can also result from locking him in a crate for longer hours, not playing with him, or giving him attention.
Melatonin is also useful when a dog is having a hard time coping with situations like; long hours of car driving, thunderstorms, or fireworks during festivals and celebrations.
However, melatonin should not be your first remedy for anxiety. Explore other options before settling for this drug since it might affect your dog’s brain. Therefore, if your dog has severe anxiety, talk to your vet about your options.
In addition, if your dog is hyperactive or has epilepsy, melatonin supplements can greatly help.
2) Cushing Disease
Cushing’s disease develops when a dog’s cortisol hormone is overproduced. Cortisol is beneficial to the body since it aids in stress management and immune system modulation. However, too much cortisol can be damaging.
Cushing’s disease is caused by benign pituitary tumors. It is consequently treated with strong drugs that can have severe adverse effects such as diarrhea and vomiting, as well as kidney failure.
3) Insomnia
Melatonin is produced by our bodies to regulate our sleeping patterns. A dog can develop insomnia, making him unable to sleep for long consecutively.
Old dogs showing cognitive impairment may have trouble controlling their internal clock. Melatonin is good for their biorhythms in this situation and aids them in sleeping sweetly at night.
4) Alopecia X (hair loss)
This is a disease where the dog experiences hair loss without any inflammatory causes. Chow chows, Alaskan malamutes, and Pomeranians are the most affected dog breeds with alopecia X.
When your dog has alopecia X, you should give it melatonin to help improve its coat condition.
What Are The Side Effects Of Melatonin In Dogs?
a) Drowsiness
One of the most common effects of melatonin is drowsiness which makes your dog always feel tired. This is because a dog that eats too much becomes exhausted and lazy. As a result, they will be uninterested in any physical activities.
b) Stomach Upset
Toxic levels of melatonin might induce digestive problems. Gestural problems in dogs are also possible. In addition, your dog will end up vomit excessively and have diarrhea. In this circumstance, it would be beneficial if you provided them with plenty of water and added fiber-rich meals to their diet.
c) Increased Heart Beat Rate
When dogs take too much melatonin, they may have an increased heartbeat rate.
d) Allergies
Allergic responses might occur as a result of consuming too much melatonin. This type of symptom occurs when a dog is allergic to melatonin.
e) Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance is one of the signs of canine having excess melatonin in the body. This is much evident with Diabetic dogs. The body of a dog that consumes too much melatonin is unable to absorb insulin.
Dog ate melatonin with xylitol – what to do?
Xylitol is an artificial low-calorie sweetener found in several melatonin supplements. Although it is ideal for humans, it can be fatal to dogs. If your dog ate melatonin with xylitol, contact your vet and take him to the clinic for treatment.
Recently, xylitol has gained popularity since it is used as a substitute for sugar. It is added to peanut butter, candies, and most baked foods. Be keen on this sweetener since it fastens the insulin release in dogs, causing a decrease in their blood sugar levels. In return, your dog gets hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, liver failure, and possibly death.
After ingestion, your dog will only take 30-40 minutes to start reacting to xylitol. Therefore it is crucial to inform the vet immediately before the poison takes another step closer to threatening your dog’s life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Will a 10 mg melatonin hurt a dog?
Melatonin-containing xylitol is harmful to your dog and can be hurt. If your dog consumed melatonin alone, it would only suffer severe side effects. However, if the gummies have xylitol traces, it can lead to poisoning and death.
The first noticeable symptoms show your dog has xylitol poisoning, vomiting, seizures, collapsing, dizziness and coordination.
2) Can I give my dog 10 mg of melatonin gummies?
Your dog’s recommended dose of melatonin is 1 mg per 10 lbs body weight. Anything above this is considered an overdose and will result in serious symptoms.
For a dose of 10 mg, your dog should weigh over 250 pounds. If this is not the case, they will develop symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, sleepiness, or an increased heartbeat for smaller dogs.
3) Can a dog overdose on dog melatonin?
It is rare to find a dog overdosing from intake of melatonin, not unless the dose was extraordinarily high.
If your dog has overdosed on melatonin gummies, you will see symptoms like; increased heart rate, excessive vomiting and diarrhea, seizures, nausea, and itching. Death can also occur in exceptional instances.
4) Will 5mg of Melatonin Hurt My Dog?
If your dog does not weigh 100 pounds, 5 mg of melatonin can cause side effects like drowsiness and stomach upset, depending on how much it takes in.
5) Can Melatonin Cause Side Effects in Dogs?
Yes, it is normal to see your dog react to melatonin intake. This is more evident if the dog was given an overdose either excessively or mildly.
Conclusion
Melatonin benefits our dogs, but it should be in the right amounts. For example, if your dog ate 10mg of melatonin, you should contact your vet regardless of the size of your dog. Excessive melatonin use can result in a variety of health problems.
The knowledgeable thing to do is keep the melatonin in a place where your dog can’t reach it. Consult your vet before giving melatonin to your dog.