Toxic Medications To Pets

Toxic Medications To Pets

Accidents can happen even to the most attentive pet owners. Sometimes, a pet will eat
something harmful completely by accident or could be fed something that isn’t safe for them.
No matter the circumstances, if you know or suspect your pet has swallowed potentially harmful
medication, don’t panic. By acting fast, you can prevent health problems for your pet. Here’s
everything you need to know when it comes to toxic medications and your pets – what’s okay
and what’s not, and most importantly, what to do if you’re concerned.

What Medications Are Safe for Pets

Many human medications are not safe for pets – their anatomy and physiology are different.
While there are over-the-counter (OTC) medications approved for humans, there are no OTC
medications approved for pets. In certain situations, your veterinarian may direct you to use a
human OTC medication for your pet; often the dose is different than the human dose. However,
some of these are dangerous to pets, or to certain species of pets. It is best to only give
medications prescribed or recommended by a veterinarian for your specific pet. Some common
examples of dangerous human medications to pets are Tylenol (acetominophen) in cats, which
causes liver failure, and Advil (ibuprofen) in dogs, which can cause severe GI upset, kidney
failure, and neurologic problems.

What to Do If Your Pet Ingests Medication

If you suspect or know that your pet has ingested any medication they shouldn’t have, start by
calling your veterinarian or your local emergency veterinary hospital. They can help walk you
through the best course of action for your furry friend. If they need additional information, they
may reach out to ASPCA Poison Control or Pet Poison Hotline. Do not give hydrogen peroxide
at home unless specifically recommended by a veterinarian – this works by irritating the stomach
and may make some toxic ingestions worse.

Please note that if your pet is displaying symptoms from medication, it is best to take them to the
emergency veterinarian immediately. Take the pill bottle(s) with you so your veterinarian knows
the medication and dosage that your pet consumed. If you are unaware of what your pet has
swallowed and they are vomiting, it can actually be helpful to quickly collect this in a plastic bag
or container before heading out. This will help the vet identify what’s harming them.

Once arriving at the emergency veterinary hospital, make sure to be as accurate as possible
with what your pet ingested, so your pet can be triaged properly by the staff and veterinarians.
They may induce vomiting with IV medication, give activated charcoal, give subcutaneous or IV
fluids, and may recommend hospitalization for monitoring and more specific treatment based on
what and how much your pet ingested.

Pain/Anti-Inflammatory Medicines

For animals, common over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines like Tylenol, Advil, Motrin and
Aleve can result in serious side effects, including death. Never give your pet an OTC pain
reliever.

Symptoms of OTC pain medication poisoning can take a few hours to appear, but can include
lethargy, inappetence, vomiting, elevated heart rates, diarrhea, and panting, among others.

Antidepressants, Anxiety and ADHD Medications

Antidepressants, anti-anxiety and ADHD medications are commonly ingested by pets. If your
pet has accidentally eaten antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication, have them evaluated
by a veterinarian right away. These drugs can cause severe problems for our pets. Side
effects in dogs can appear anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours after ingestion, and can last
for 3-4 days in the case of extended release medication.

Dogs that ingest antidepressants may exhibit the following symptoms: restlessness, agitation,
vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, and abnormal heart rhythms, among
others.