Keeping your Dog off (Harmful) Drugs

Dogs

We all want to take great care of our dogs, and when they aren’t feeling well many think of solutions like Ibuprofen, Tylenol or other drugs that solve human pain. But your pet’s metabolism and organs function differently than yours, and medication that may greatly improve your symptoms may be a toxic poison to your dog.

Dogs commonly gain access to human medications. Or, they are given these medications by a well-intentioned (but misinformed) owner. Human medication can easily be given in an overdose amount, and some human medications are toxic to dogs.

Some of the most common over-the-counter medications can result in serious illness if not used properly.

The truth is, you should never give your dog any medication without approval from your veterinarian. It’s true that many medications available for people can help animals, but you must be careful to give the correct medication in the proper dosages for your dog. Some medications that may be safe for dogs when used as the only medication can be toxic when mixed with other medications. It is important that you consult your veterinarian to avoid serious effects from overdose or toxicity of medications.

There are a variety of signs of toxicity that depend on the type of medication taken. Hyperactivity, vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding stomach ulcers, blood disorders, constipation, liver damage and kidney damage are just a few of the complications that have been associated with improper use of over-the-counter medications.

We’ve created several articles on how common drugs like Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Tylenol and others can effect dogs. We’ve pulled many of them together in this piece to give you a quick look at the possible outcomes and dangers.