Is Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) safe for dogs and cats?
Extreme risk for petsCholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is a registered rodenticide (brand names Quintox, Rampage) and a common incidental toxin for dogs via supplement/vitamin ingestion. As a rodenticide, it is formulated at very high concentrations specifically lethal to rodents; these formulations are acutely lethal to dogs at comparatively small doses. Mechanism: cholecalciferol → calcidiol (liver) → calcitriol (kidney) → massively elevated calcitriol → hypercalcemia → calcium deposition in soft tissues (kidneys, heart, blood vessels, GI tract, lungs) → acute renal failure, cardiac arrhythmia. Toxic dose in dogs: as low as 0.1 mg/kg of cholecalciferol (rodenticide concentration) causes clinical toxicity; supplemental vitamin D in vitamins can also cause toxicosis if large quantities are ingested. Important distinction from anticoagulant rodenticides: there is NO vitamin K antidote. Treatment: aggressive IV fluid diuresis (promotes calciuresis), furosemide, corticosteroids (reduce intestinal calcium absorption and renal tubular reabsorption), bisphosphonates (pamidronate — inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone calcium release) — most effective specific treatment. Salmon and bone meal-based dog foods have been recalled for elevated vitamin D3 causing clinical toxicosis in dogs. Prognosis: favorable with early treatment; poor with delayed presentation and established renal mineralization.
What is cholecalciferol (vitamin d3)?
The IUPAC name is (1S,3Z)-3-[(2E)-2-[(1R,3aS,7aR)-7a-methyl-1-[(2R)-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-2,3,3a,5,6,7-hexahydro-1H-inden-4-ylidene]ethylidene]-4-methylidenecyclohexan-1-ol.
Also known as: (1S,3Z)-3-[(2E)-2-[(1R,3aS,7aR)-7a-methyl-1-[(2R)-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-2,3,3a,5,6,7-hexahydro-1H-inden-4-ylidene]ethylidene]-4-methylidenecyclohexan-1-ol, Vitamin D3, cholecalciferol, Colecalciferol.
- IUPAC name
- (1S,3Z)-3-[(2E)-2-[(1R,3aS,7aR)-7a-methyl-1-[(2R)-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-2,3,3a,5,6,7-hexahydro-1H-inden-4-ylidene]ethylidene]-4-methylidenecyclohexan-1-ol
- CAS number
- 67-97-0
- Molecular formula
- C27H44O
- Molecular weight
- 384.6 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC(C)CCCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCCC2=CC=C3CC(CCC3=C)O)C
- PubChem CID
- 5280795
Risk for dogs
Extreme riskCholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is a registered rodenticide (brand names Quintox, Rampage) and a common incidental toxin for dogs via supplement/vitamin ingestion. As a rodenticide, it is formulated at very high concentrations specifically lethal to rodents; these formulations are acutely lethal to dogs at comparatively small doses. Mechanism: cholecalciferol → calcidiol (liver) → calcitriol (kidney) → massively elevated calcitriol → hypercalcemia → calcium deposition in soft tissues (kidneys, heart, blood vessels, GI tract, lungs) → acute renal failure, cardiac arrhythmia. Toxic dose in dogs: as low as 0.1 mg/kg of cholecalciferol (rodenticide concentration) causes clinical toxicity; supplemental vitamin D in vitamins can also cause toxicosis if large quantities are ingested. Important distinction from anticoagulant rodenticides: there is NO vitamin K antidote. Treatment: aggressive IV fluid diuresis (promotes calciuresis), furosemide, corticosteroids (reduce intestinal calcium absorption and renal tubular reabsorption), bisphosphonates (pamidronate — inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone calcium release) — most effective specific treatment. Salmon and bone meal-based dog foods have been recalled for elevated vitamin D3 causing clinical toxicosis in dogs. Prognosis: favorable with early treatment; poor with delayed presentation and established renal mineralization.
Risk for cats
Extreme riskCats are equally susceptible to cholecalciferol toxicosis as dogs with the same mechanism — hypercalcemia from calcitriol overproduction leading to renal mineralization and acute renal failure. Cats may be exposed via: (1) rodenticide bait ingestion (primary poisoning or secondary poisoning from eating a poisoned rodent); (2) overdose of feline vitamin D3 supplements; (3) cholecalciferol-fortified food recalled due to excess vitamin D (several commercial cat food recalls have involved vitamin D toxicosis). Cats' naturally lower tolerance for hypercalcemia may make them slightly more sensitive than dogs per unit dose. Diagnosis: serum calcium >12 mg/dL confirms hypercalcemia; ionized calcium and phosphorus elevations are characteristic. Calcitriol levels may be measurable but are not routinely tested. Treatment identical to dogs: aggressive diuresis, furosemide, corticosteroids, bisphosphonates. Secondary poisoning (cat eating poisoned rodent) is possible given the lipophilic storage of cholecalciferol metabolites in rodent tissue.
Regulatory consensus
3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 positive / 1 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 positive / 1 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where pets encounter cholecalciferol (vitamin d3)
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
- Consumer Products — dietary supplements, fortified foods, energy drinks
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3):
-
Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is cholecalciferol (vitamin d3) safe for pets?
Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is a registered rodenticide (brand names Quintox, Rampage) and a common incidental toxin for dogs via supplement/vitamin ingestion. As a rodenticide, it is formulated at very high concentrations specifically lethal to rodents; these formulations are acutely lethal to dogs at comparatively small doses. Mechanism: cholecalciferol → calcidiol (liver) → calcitriol (kidney) → massively elevated calcitriol → hypercalcemia → calcium deposition in soft tissues (kidneys, heart, blood vessels, GI tract, lungs) → acute renal failure, cardiac arrhythmia. Toxic dose in dogs: as low as 0.1 mg/kg of cholecalciferol (rodenticide concentration) causes clinical toxicity; supplemental vitamin D in vitamins can also cause toxicosis if large quantities are ingested. Important distinction from anticoagulant rodenticides: there is NO vitamin K antidote. Treatment: aggressive IV fluid diuresis (promotes calciuresis), furosemide, corticosteroids (reduce intestinal calcium absorption and renal tubular reabsorption), bisphosphonates (pamidronate — inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone calcium release) — most effective specific treatment. Salmon and bone meal-based dog foods have been recalled for elevated vitamin D3 causing clinical toxicosis in dogs. Prognosis: favorable with early treatment; poor with delayed presentation and established renal mineralization.
What products contain cholecalciferol (vitamin d3)?
Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); dietary supplements (Consumer products).
Why do regulators disagree about cholecalciferol (vitamin d3)?
Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
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Look up products containing cholecalciferol (vitamin d3), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in pets View raw API dataSources (4)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) Rodenticide and Supplement Toxicosis in Companion Animals (2022) — report
- US EPA: Cholecalciferol — Rodenticide Registration and Risk Assessment (1998) — regulatory
- Brooks W: Vitamin D Toxicosis (Cholecalciferol Rodenticide). Veterinary Partner — Hypercalcemia Mechanism and Bisphosphonate Treatment (2008) — report
- WHO: Vitamin D — Requirements and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation) (2004) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →