Tag Archives: dog medications

Dogs, health, Medicines

Dangerous Mistakes With Medicine for Dogs

 

Do you have a drawer or cabinet full of half-used, perhaps expired pet medications? We all know that we are supposed to dispose of “extra” medications, not keep them around “just in case,” but sometimes frugality makes getting rid of something that might be useful in the future awfully hard. Here we inform you of several instances when you must restrain yourself. The risks far outweigh any potential benefits.

Oral Antibiotics

What are you doing with “leftover” oral antibiotics anyway? Weren’t you told to give your pet the entire prescription? Anyway, do not be tempted to give your pet whatever is lying around when a new problem arises. Antibiotics have no efficacy against viruses, fungi, or any disease that isn’t caused, at least in part, by a bacterial infection.

Also, a particular type of antibiotic is only active against a certain subset of bacteria. What are the chances that the antibiotic you have on hand is the ideal one for treating the infection your pet now has? Finally, expired antibiotics can lose their effectiveness. Giving your pet an antibiotic when it is not needed, the wrong type of antibiotic, or an expired antibiotic can result in antibiotic resistant infections that are very difficult to treat.

Steroids

Avoid giving your pet any medication that contains a corticosteroid unless it has been prescribed by your veterinarian to treat your pet’s current medical problem. Corticosteroids suppress the immune system (among other things) and if your pet has an infection of any sort, they can make your pet’s condition worse rather than better.

Prednisone, prednisolone, cortisone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, betamethasone, flumethasone, isoflupredone, methylprednisolone, and triamcinolone are all commonly prescribed corticosteroids. Check the medication label. If you see any of these listed as an active ingredient (any other ingredients that end in “-one” are suspect also) do not give that medication to your pet. This applies to both oral and topically applied medications.

Eye Medications

Unless your pet has a chronic eye condition and you are 100% sure you know that is what you are treating with previously prescribed medications, never put anything in your pet’s eyes without first consulting a veterinarian. Most eye injuries/disorders cause pets to have similar symptoms (redness, drainage, and squinting).

Without an exam and a few simple tests, it is virtually impossible to know what is going on. Problems affecting the eyes have a disturbing tendency to go from bad to worse VERY quickly, particularly if they are treated with the wrong medication.

Diana Ruth Davidson,  Westside Dog Nanny,             Certified Professional Pet Sitter,                            Certified by American Red Cross in Pet First Aid

Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in Your Home, Doggie Day Care.

Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372

Dogs, health, Medications

Human Medications for Dogs: Never Give to Your Dog

 Pets are a lot like kids. They depend on you for their safety – and you can never be too careful. Your most important job as a pet parent is to keep your pet healthy. So today, I want to give you some information about toxic medications that could potentially save your dog’s life.

Just because a medication is safe for humans DOESN’T mean it’s safe for dogs. I’ve seen cases where pet parents with the best intentions accidentally poisoned their dog with common over-the-counter medications because they didn’t understand the dangers. That’s why you should NEVER give your dog medication without first checking with your veterinarian.

Here are 3 common over-the-counter medications that you should NEVER give to your dog:

1. Aspirin – Aspirin interferes with platelets (which help the blood to clot). So if your dog has a wound or laceration, aspirin would make it harder to stop the bleeding. Aspirin is especially dangerous when mixed with other drugs, like steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Dogs may experience gastrointestinal problems, respiratory difficulties, neurological problems, bleeding disorders and kidney failure.

2. Ibuprofen – This over-the-counter medication is a popular way to treat pain and inflammation in people – but for dogs, ibuprofen can easily exceed toxic levels. Well-intentioned owners may give their dog what they consider to be a “safe dose” – but it can easily lead to bleeding stomach ulcers and eventually kidney failure. And, if left untreated, this can be fatal. Symptoms include poor appetite, vomiting, black tarry stools, vomiting blood, abdominal pain, weakness and lethargy.

3. Acetaminophen – Medicating your dog with acetaminophen without consulting a veterinarian is dangerous. (Pets also consume tablets that are dropped on the floor or left around the house.) Dogs are less sensitive to acetaminophen than cats are. For example, a 50-pound dog would need to ingest more than seven 500 mg tablets to suffer toxic effects. For a cat, one 250 mg acetaminophen tablet could be fatal. If you suspect that your dog has ingested a toxic amount of acetaminophen (one pill or more), contact your family veterinarian or local veterinary emergency facility immediately. Common brands of acetaminophen include Tylenol®, Percocet® and aspirin-free Excedrin® among others.

So remember to keep all medications out of your dog’s reach and NEVER give your dog any medication without first consulting your veterinarian. If you ever suspect that your dog has ingested any of these medications (in any amount), please contact your family veterinarian or local veterinary emergency facility immediately.

Diana Ruth Davidson, Chief Pet Officer and Managing Nanny, Westside Dog Nanny

We offer pet services such as:  Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in Your Home, Doggie Day Care.

Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372

Cats, Dogs, Health

Misuse of Prescription Drugs for Pets

 Misuse of prescription drugs for your dogs and cats may have harmful effects on them.

Do you have a drawer or cabinet full of half-used, perhaps expired pet medications? We all know that we are supposed to dispose of “extra” medications, not keep them around “just in case,” but if you’re anything like me, frugality makes getting rid of something that might be useful in the future awfully hard.
The doctor in me must first say that you really shouldn’t give your pet any medication without first talking to your veterinarian. Of course, your vet will most likely say that he or she needs to see your pet before making a treatment recommendation, and a trip to the clinic is probably just what you were trying to avoid. Don’t blame your veterinarian though; he or she really is just trying to do right by your pet. Imagine how terrible everyone involved will feel if the treatment that was recommended without the benefit of an exam makes your pet’s condition worse rather than better.
The realist in me now has to admit that owners will continue to medicate their pets without the benefit of veterinary advice no matter what I say. The point of this post is to inform you of several instances when you must restrain yourself. The risks far outweigh any potential benefits.

Oral Antibiotics

What are you doing with “leftover” oral antibiotics anyway? Weren’t you told to give your pet the entire prescription? Anyway… do not be tempted to give your pet whatever is lying around when a new problem arises. Antibiotics have no efficacy against viruses, fungi, or any disease that isn’t caused, at least in part, by a bacterial infection. Also, a particular type of antibiotic is only active against a certain subset of bacteria. What are the chances that the antibiotic you have on hand is the ideal one for treating the infection your pet now has? Finally, expired antibiotics can lose their effectiveness. Giving your pet an antibiotic when it is not needed, the wrong type of antibiotic, or an expired antibiotic can result in antibiotic resistant infections that are very difficult to treat.

Steroids

Avoid giving your pet any medication that contains a corticosteroid unless it has been prescribed by your veterinarian to treat your pet’s current medical problem. Corticosteroids suppress the immune system (among other things) and if your pet has an infection of any sort, they can make your pet’s condition worse rather than better. Prednisone, prednisolone, cortisone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, betamethasone, flumethasone, isoflupredone, methylprednisolone, and triamcinolone are all commonly prescribed corticosteroids. Check the medication label. If you see any of these listed as an active ingredient (any other ingredients that end in “-one” are suspect also) do not give that medication to your pet. This applies to both oral and topically applied medications.

Eye Medications

Unless your pet has a chronic eye condition and you are 100% sure you know that is what you are treating with previously prescribed medications, never put anything in your pet’s eyes without first consulting a veterinarian. Most eye injuries/disorders cause pets to have similar symptoms (redness, drainage, and squinting). Without an exam and a few simple tests, it is virtually impossible to know what is going on. Problems affecting the eyes have a disturbing tendency to go from bad to worse VERY quickly, particularly if they are treated with the wrong medication.                                                                             by Dr. Jennifer Coates