Tums - Page 1

Has anyone ever heard of using Tums when a bitch is whelping?? Another breeder told me about this, but I had never heard of it before. She said the calcium in the Tums causes contractions, and that it's milder and much safer than oxytocin.

rockin,

please dont give your dog tums , jesus!

I am not going to give my dog Tums! I would never do anything without talking to my vet or MANY other experienced breeders. I just heard it, thought it was strange, and wondered if it was true. I hear weird things like this all the time...seems everyone has their own ideas of what works and what doesn't. Just wondered if there was any truth to it.

There is NO similarity between oxytocin, a hormone that causes uterine contractions, and Tums, which are mainly calcium! About the only thing the Tums will do will give your bitch a little extra calcium, which may help with milk production.

What a load of horse poop! 

Sorry rockin,

Nevermind the attitude.     I believe in letting nature have its way with most things, especially animals giving birth.

Its just me.     Yeah it is a load of horse poop.

later.

BTW, when I suffered from monthly cramps in my 20's, I was told taking calcium tablets would help ease them. That was a bunch of horse poop, too! (And it also contradicts what you were told...easing uterine cramps/contractions, rather than causing them.)

Calcium and potassium ions DO play an important role in muscle contractions. That's probably why somebody thought taking Tums might help...

why do most vets recommend giving calcium to whelping bitchs?

I'm not sure, but it could be to prevent milk fever, which I believe is due to a depletion of calcium in the blood, once the bitche's milk comes in.

No time to check on this right now, though.

Yes, I have heard of that. the extra calcium is supposed to help.