Did you know that more than 50% of pet poisoning cases are caused by ingesting human medications ? Either because we, as owners, have tried with all our good will to cure our animal by giving it a medicine from the medicine cabinet, or because the animal has accidentally ingested some, the truth is that certain medicines used in people can have serious and even fatal effects on the organism of a companion animal.
As noted on the website of the Pet Poison Helpline , an animal poison control service that serves pet owners and veterinarians in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, animals metabolize medicines very differently than they do. we do . Also medicines that can be bought without a prescription or those made from herbs can be a bomb for them. Therefore, we should not give our pet any medication without consulting the veterinarian beforehand, not even in those cases in which the animal has taken it as a treatment on a previous occasion.
And what are the human medications that are most frequently ingested by pets? Next, we show you the list of the ten most common that Pet Poison Helpline has prepared.
1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Like ibuprofen or naproxen . As safe as they are for us, just one or two tablets can cause serious harm to a pet. In birds, dogs, cats, and small mammals (ferrets, gerbils, and hamsters) they can cause severe stomach and intestinal ulcers, as well as kidney failure.
2. Paracetamol
Paracetamol is especially dangerous for cats as it can damage their red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs it can lead to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage.
3. Antidepressants
Although there are cases in which the vet sends antidepressants to a pet, an overdose can be very dangerous and cause neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Some antidepressants also have a stimulating effect, causing a dangerous rise in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
4. Medications that treat attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
These types of medications contain powerful stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even a minimal dose can cause the animal to tremble, seizures , a high body temperature, and heart problems.
5. Benzodiazepines and sleep medications
Interestingly, if these medications help us reduce anxiety and sleep better, pets can have the opposite effect. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, about half of dogs who take sleep medications become agitated rather than calm . In addition, these drugs can cause severe lethargy, incoordination (including drunken gait), and slow breathing in pets. In cats, some forms of benzodiazepines can cause liver failure when ingested.
6. Birth control pills
The danger here is in the large intakes. Large amounts of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, especially in birds. Additionally, unspayed females are at increased risk of estrogen poisoning side effects.
7. ACE inhibitors
These drugs are used to treat high blood pressure in people and sometimes pets. An overdose of ACE inhibitors in animals is considerably safer than in the previous cases and can cause low blood pressure, dizziness and weakness. If an animal ingests a small dose of this type of medication, it can be treated at home (with the supervision of the veterinarian) unless it suffers from kidney failure or heart disease.
8. Beta-blockers
This type of medication is used to treat high blood pressure but, unlike ACE inhibitors, a small dose can seriously poison the pet . An overdose can cause life-threatening drops in blood pressure and a very slow heart rate.
9. Thyroid hormones
In this case, the danger to the animal would come from an overdose , since small doses do not generate problems. The reason is that the thyroid of pets, especially that of dogs, is underactive and higher doses than those used in humans would be needed to treat problems related to it. Large overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, and a rapid heart rate.
10. Medications to lower cholesterol
Fortunately, accidental ingestion of these medications only causes mild vomiting or diarrhea . It is a different thing to ingest them for a long period of time, there will be serious side effects.
How to prevent your pet from ingesting a human drug
- Do not store your medicines in plastic bags , such as zip-lock bags, as the pet could easily chew them.
- The medicine cabinet should be up high .
- Don’t store your medicines next to theirs.
- If you use a weekly pillbox, make sure you leave it in the closet or medicine cabinet because if the pet were able to open it, they would consider it a toy.
- Hang up your bag. There are very curious animals, for example, cats, who love to put their heads inside the bag to find out what is hidden inside. If you carry medicine, it can chew on them.
If your pet has accidentally ingested a human medicine or you have given it yourself in the belief that you will help, you should quickly contact your vet. Your animal could be in danger.
