My dog ate calcium channel blockers – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet today

Call your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Accidental overdose can cause severe, life-threatening poisoning.

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note what was eaten, how much and when.
  3. Bring the packaging.
  4. Keep your dog calm.
  5. Remove what is left.

Don't

  • Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Calcium channel blockers are a common type of heart medication used in both human and veterinary medicine for heart disease and blood pressure regulation.[1] An accidental overdose can result in severe, life-threatening poisoning.[1]

Signs to watch for

  • Kidney injury
  • Low blood pressure
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much is dangerous?

An accidental overdose can result in severe, life-threatening poisoning.[1]

Which signs should I watch for?

Possible signs include kidney injury and low blood pressure.

What should I do now?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.

Sources

  1. Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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