Birth control pills
CautionWhat matters is which pill: many packs put iron in the placebo tablets, and Pet Poison Helpline lists birth control pills as a source of iron poisoning. Estrogen is also a documented cause of bone marrow suppression in dogs.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Shock or circulatory failure
- Pale gums or mucous membranes
- Liver failure
- Gastrointestinal perforation
More about this food
A chewed birth control pack looks harmless because the pills are small and the word on the box is "hormone." The risk actually depends on which tablets are missing, so bring the pack.
First, iron. Many oral contraceptive packs (the Fe formulations) put ferrous fumarate in the inactive week, and Pet Poison Helpline lists birth control pills alongside hand warmers, oxygen absorbers and prenatal vitamins as a source of iron ingestion in pets. Iron poisoning starts with vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite, and can progress to bloody vomiting, bloody diarrhea, shock, liver injury and death. If the differently colored row of the blister card is the one that is empty, say so on the phone.
Second, estrogen. The Merck Veterinary Manual names estrogen ingestion as a toxic cause of aplastic anemia in animals, meaning the bone marrow stops producing red cells, white cells and platelets. That damage is invisible on day one. It shows up days to weeks later as pale gums, bruising and petechiae, lethargy, or infections that will not clear. A dog who looked fine the next morning has not been cleared.
Third, the packaging. A swallowed blister card has cut aluminum and plastic edges that can lacerate the gut.
Count the empty blisters, note the brand, the hormone strength, whether the inactive tablets contain iron, the number swallowed, the time, and your dog's weight. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home. Decontamination, activated charcoal, serum iron levels, chelation and follow-up blood counts are veterinary decisions, and the empty pack is the single most useful thing you can carry through the door.
Frequently asked questions
- It was only one pill. Do I still need to call?
- It depends which pill. An active hormone tablet and an iron-containing placebo are handled differently, so check which blister is empty, then call your vet or the APCC at (888) 426-4435 and let them decide.
- It has been 24 hours and he seems completely normal. Are we clear?
- Not yet. Estrogen-related bone marrow suppression shows up days to weeks later as anemia, bruising or recurrent infection. Report the ingestion and ask your vet when to recheck a blood count.
- I think he swallowed part of the blister card too.
- That is a separate hazard from the drug. Cut foil and plastic edges can perforate the gut, so do not induce vomiting; bring the remaining card and have him seen now.