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Dog ate bismuth subsalicylate (upset stomach medicine)? Toxic: what to do now
Toxic. Bismuth subsalicylate, a common upset-stomach medicine, is a salicylate like aspirin. Too much can cause aspirin-like poisoning in dogs.
If your dog ate or touched this, call your vet or a pet poison line now
United States
Poison lines in other countries: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, JM, PR, Singapore, Switzerland, TT, VI
Bismuth subsalicylate (upset stomach medicine) and dogs: key facts
- Verdict
- Toxic · Call your vet or a poison line
- What it can do
- Vomiting, sometimes with blood, not eating, fever and black stool.
- How fast
- Within 4 to 6 hours; signs may last a day or longer
- What to do now
- Call your vet or a pet poison line now. All steps
- Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA Animal Hospitals. Reviewed 9 October 2026.
What should I do if my dog ate bismuth subsalicylate (upset stomach medicine)?
- Call your vet or a pet poison line now.
- Keep the bottle or pack and bring it with you.
- Tell the vet if your dog takes NSAIDs or steroids.
Don't
- Don't make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Don't give it to a dog with stomach ulcers, or one taking NSAIDs or steroids, unless your vet says so.
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting, sometimes with blood
- Not eating
- Fever
- Black stool
When signs appear: Within 4 to 6 hours; signs may last a day or longer
Why
Dogs absorb nearly all the salicylate in it, and dogs already on NSAIDs or steroids are at higher risk. It also turns stool black, which can hide bleeding in the gut.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Drugs Used to Treat Diarrhea in Monogastric Animals
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Aspirin Poisoning in Dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Bismuth Compounds
Guide reviewed 9 October 2026. Page updated 7 November 2026.
General information from the sources above, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet.