We all enjoy flowers, whether in a vase in our house or in our gardens. We enjoy the multitude of bright colors and the fragrant odor they give us. But there can be a dangerous aspect to some of our favorite plants. The list of poisonous plants is very long, but this will give you information about some of the more common flowers and ornamental plants.

Lilies are common as cut flowers and in landscaping. They are toxic to cats, but fortunately not to dogs or horses. All parts of the plant can cause kidney problems. A cat that walks through a garden of lilies, then ingests the pollen as it grooms its fur, can develop severe kidney problems.

Azaleas are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, mental dullness, cardiovascular depression, collapse, and death. Even eating a few leaves can cause serious problems.

Bird of Paradise is among one of the most beautiful flowers, but it can be toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. The fruits and seeds can cause vomiting and drowsiness.

Begonias, especially the tubers, are toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause oral irritation. This can progress to swelling of the mouth, lips, and tongue, causing drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

All parts of the castor bean plant are toxic, but the seeds contain the highest concentration of ricin, one of the most poisonous compounds known. This affects horses, cats, and dogs. Symptoms are mouth irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, seizures, and death. Signs usually start 12 to 48 hours after ingestion.

Chrysanthemums are toxic to horses, dogs, and cats. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, weakness, inability to walk properly, and even skin problems.

Hibiscus can cause a loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats, dogs, or horses that ingest it.

Oleander is very toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. It has toxins that can cause a low heart rate, heart failure, and death. It is possible to also see vomiting and diarrhea.
There are several ornamental plants that contain cardiac glycosides. Plants such as clematis and foxglove can affect dogs, cats and horses to cause weakness, heart failure, drooling, and death.

There are hundreds of other plants that can be toxic. For more information on any toxic plants, consult with your veterinarian. Simple precautions can keep your pets safe and healthy.

Source:

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

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The effects of secondhand smoke on people are well-documented. Exposure to tobacco smoke causes a variety of serious health problems, including stroke, heart disease, and lung cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not surprisingly, secondhand smoke also increases the risk of health problems for your pet.

Dogs That Live with Smokers Are at Increased Risk of Nasal and Lung Cancers

Breathing in tobacco smoke can increase the chance that your dog will develop lung or nasal cancers. Nasal cancer is more common in long-nosed dogs, including collies, greyhounds, Afghan hounds, dachshunds, and borzois. Because more carcinogens can accumulate in their long noses, fewer carcinogens reach their lungs. In contrast, shorter-nosed dogs that live with smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer because their noses do not filter the carcinogens as effectively.

Unfortunately, the long-term survival rate for nasal cancer is low. Dogs that receive radiation treatment, the recommended treatment for nasal cancer, usually live an average eight to 19 months, according to the National Canine Cancer Foundation.

Exposure to smoke also increases the risk that your dog will develop asthma, bronchitis, or other respiratory problems.

Breathing in Carcinogens Isn’t the Only Problem

If you have ever been in the home of a long-time smoker, you may have noticed that the walls were coated with a yellow, sticky residue from the tobacco smoke. Unfortunately, carcinogens do not just coat the walls, but also fall on your pets’ fur. Since cats clean their fur by licking it, they are more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma in their mouths. The risk of developing the cancer increases if cats have lived in the environment for five years or longer. Cats exposed to secondhand smoke are also 2 1/2 times more likely to develop malignant lymphoma than cats that live in smoke-free homes.

Secondhand Smoke and Birds Don’t Mix

Dogs and cats aren’t the only pets that experience health problems when they live with tobacco smoke. Birds are particularly sensitive to smoke, chemicals, and other pollutants. When they are exposed to secondhand smoke, they are more likely to develop pneumonia, lung cancer, heart problems, skin and eye irritation, coughing, and sinusitis.

Smoke Isn’t the Only Problem

Your cat is unlikely to think an ashtray full of cigarette butts looks tasty, but your dog might decide that they make a good snack. Eating butts can lead to nicotine poisoning, a condition that can cause death if your pet ingests enough nicotine.

Symptoms of nicotine poisoning include:

• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Tremors
• Abnormal heart rate
• Weakness
• Incoordination
• Drooling

Your pet can also develop nicotine poisoning if it drinks water that contains cigarette or cigar butts, or eats nicotine gum or patches.

Preventing Exposure

The best way to prevent these serious health problems is to quit smoking and maintain a smoke-free environment for your pet. Although confining smoking to an outdoor area can help, your pet will be still be exposed to nicotine and carcinogens on your clothing, hair, and body. Vaping is touted as a better solution to smoking, but the e-cigarettes still produce chemicals that can be toxic.

3 Ways to Keep Pets Healthy

Want to keep your pets healthy? Follow these three important tips:

Monitor Your Pet’s Weight

Obesity is just as dangerous for pets as it is for people. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that 52.7 percent of dogs and 57.9 percent of cats are overweight or obese. Obesity can cause a variety of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, respiratory disease, kidney disease, and cancer. Make sure you do not overfeed your pet, and consult your veterinarian if you notice that your furry friend is packing on the pounds.

Encourage Exercise

Exercise is an excellent way to maintain your pet’s heart and respiratory health, and keep bones and muscles strong. Give your dog plenty of opportunity to run and play outdoors. Daily walks or runs and vigorous session of fetch will help ensure that your pooch gets enough exercise. Encourage your indoor cat to be active by enticing him or her with a kitty fishing rod or operating a remote-controlled mouse. Some cats even enjoy outdoor walks on harnesses.

Do Not Skip Yearly Veterinary Visits

During your pet’s yearly exam, his or her veterinarian can diagnose health problems, such as diabetes or skin conditions, and prescribe treatments to prevent the problem from worsening. He or she can also provide advice on maintaining a healthy weight and keeping older animals healthy and comfortable.

We are here to help your pet stay strong and healthy. Give us a call if it’s time for your pet’s annual exam, or if you are concerned about a possible health problem.

Sources:

Science Daily: Secondhand Smoke is a Threat to Pets, 09/03/07

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070831123420.htm

PetMD: Risks of Second Hand Smoke for Dogs and Cats, 06/23/14

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/dr-coates/2014/june/risks-second-hand-smoke-dogs-and-cats-31821

American Journal of Epidemiology: Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Risk of Malignant Lymphoma in Pet Cats, 04/17/02

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/156/3/268.full

Association for Pet Obesity Prevention: 2014 Obesity Facts and Risks

American Journal of Veterinary Research: Urinary Biomarkers to Assess Exposure of Cats to Environmental Tobacco Smoke, 04/07

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17397288

Healthy Pets: How Cigarettes and Smoking Impact Your Pet’s Health, 09/17/09

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2009/09/17/how-cigarettes-and-smoking-impact-your-pets-health.aspx

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke, 02/17/16

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2009/09/17/how-cigarettes-and-smoking-impact-your-pets-health.aspx

National Canine Cancer Foundation: Nasosinal Tumors

http://wearethecure.org/learn-more-about-canince-cancer/canine-cancer-library/nasosinal-tumors/

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People love sweets and so do many dogs. In fact, some dogs love their family’s sweet treats and sneak bites of it when the humans aren’t looking. You or your children probably also share goodies with your family pet. Many sweets are made with the substance called xylitol.

Xylitol is used to manufacture many sweet tasting products including: chocolates, cookies, cakes, ice creams, other baked goods and hard candies. You’ll find it in toothpaste and hygiene products, some vitamins, gums and mints. In fact, xylitol has been included in products that are sweet in nature and may be labeled as sugar-free.

You may be aware that xylitol is available for bulk purchases and large quantities may be regularly maintained in your household for your family’s baking and food preparation needs.

Why? Xylitol is a sugar alcohol being used as a sweetener. Xylitol is often used in products for ingestion by diabetic individuals and it has less calories than regular sugar. The xylitol makes the product taste sweet and doesn’t have the same effect on blood sugar that sugar products have.

Eric K. Dunayer indicates in New Findings on the Effects of Xylitol Ingestion in Dogs, that even though xylitol is safe for people, the lives of dogs can be threatened by ingesting it. Just two or three sticks of xylitol gum could be toxic to a 20-pound dog.

Dogs can experience liver failure due to xylitol toxicity. The substance can create changes in their blood sugar, impair it to create hypoglycemia and derail their liver so that it will not filter properly. The liver is the primary organ that controls detoxification and supports proper blood clotting throughout the body.

The United States Food and Drug Administration warned pet owners that xylitol toxicity can be harmful to their dogs. The FDA also issued this warning about ferrets. Because of the known tendency of xylitol to be toxic to dogs it is critical to keep all products containing the substance out of their reach. The consequences of ingesting xylitol can be catastrophic. If you think your dog has ingested xylitol immediately contact your veterinarian, local poison control center or the pet poison hotline at 800-213-6680.

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We have all heard people say things such as “Don’t give your dog chocolate, it will kill him!” or “Even a small amount of chocolate will kill a dog.” Fortunately for all cabinet opening dogs out there, the truth to the chocolate rumors lies somewhere between the chilling truth in the refrigerator and the trash. Let’s explore the truth behind chocolate and dogs, and what to do if you find your dog has a sweet tooth.

Chocolate is usually associated with being bad for just dogs, but it can be bad for any pet.
It’s important to know that it is not the actual chocolate that will harm your pet, but an ingredient known as “Theobromine” which is toxic to pets. The amount of Theobromine varies from chocolate to chocolate. This ingredient increases urination and affects the central nervous system in pets.

What to do if your pet gets into your secret stash:

It might not be necessary to run out to the emergency veterinary clinic on Christmas or Thanksgiving if your pet decides on a new snack. As soon as you realize your pet got into the goodies, asses the situation. If your pet

snatched a stray M&M that the children dropped on their way through the house, you can relax and move on. If the entire box of chocolate candy bars is gone, start gathering information to give to the vet or veterinary technician you speak with.

Look at the packaging and see how much chocolate your pet ate. Packaging must include the contents weight. Hopefully you will know if the package was already open and about how much was left inside.

Examine the type of chocolate. Unsweetened bakers chocolate is considered Theobromine dense. Milk chocolate has the least amount of Theobromine, while semi-sweet chocolate falls in the middle of the chocolate road.

Consider your pet’s weight. A large Great Dane will not be as affected by the Theobromine as a small Maltese dog.

Assess how your pet is reacting. Did you notice the chocolate had been eaten because they acted funny? Are they vomiting, do they have diarrhea? Increased urination is another side effect. Go ahead and give us a call if your pet experiences any of these symptoms.

Understand that just like humans, dogs who have tasted chocolate can actually crave more of it. Never give in to your pet that keeps eyeballing that chocolate chip cookie from under the table. Letting your pet have a taste of chocolate will leave them looking for more and more.

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Did you ever think that your pet’s rabies vaccination wasn’t all that important? Did you know that if your cat or dog is not current on its rabies vaccination, and a stray or wild animal bites your pet, the County Health Department can, and will, demand that the pet be euthanized or strictly quarantined for six months, and they will not allow them to be quarantined at home? Did you know that if your cat or dog bites someone and it is not current on its rabies vaccination that the County Health Department can demand that the pet be euthanized and tested for rabies? Do you think an indoor only cat has no possible exposure to rabies?

Rabies is a deadly form of viral encephalitis that affects the brain and nerves of mammals. It is most often spread through saliva but it can also be in aerosol droplets that can be inhaled. Rabies is transmitted primarily through bite wounds. Skunks, bats, raccoons, and foxes are the primary carriers. Cats, dogs and cattle account for most of the rabies cases in domestic animals. Rabies is also fatal to humans, as there has been only one case of a person surviving rabies when treatment was started after clinical signs were present. Puppies are vaccinated when three to four months of age and then one year later.

Each state varies in its rabies law, but most states require rabies vaccine every three years for adult pets, and some states still require them annually. We recommend rabies vaccinations even for those cats that live only indoors. It prevents legal and bureaucratic issues in case your cat bites or scratches any visitor. Also, there have been cases where people have found bats inside their house that tested positive for rabies.

Rabies Statistics

1) 55,000 people worldwide die from rabies each year. Most are in Asia and Africa.

2) One person dies from rabies every 10 minutes

3) In the US in 2007, 7000 animal cases of rabies were reported.

4) One to three cases of rabies in people are reported each year in the US.

5) Five years of a canine vaccination program in Mexico reduced human rabies cases in Mexico from 60 per year to less than 20.

6) World Rabies Day is Sept 28. An alliance of US veterinary pharmaceutical companies, the Center for Disease Control, and British organizations are trying to raise awareness of the severity of the rabies problem.

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Pets are incredibly curious creatures who are not above snacking on anything that interests them. When that snack is a plant, problems can occur. Many plants are poisonous if eaten and can cause symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to death. Below is a list of some of the most common plants that sicken pets.

Aloe Vera

The leaves of the aloe vera plant offer quick relief for burns, but eating these plants can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, changes in urine color and tremors in both dogs and cats.

Amaryllis

These flowering plants provide a splash of color during the holiday season, but they can be poisonous to pets. Keep bulbs out of the reach of your cats and dogs, as these are the most toxic part of the plant. Sampling an amaryllis plant can cause drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors and depression.

Azalea and Rhododendron

Eating azalea or rhododendron plants can cause symptoms that range from mild to life threatening. The severity of the symptoms vary depending on how much of the plant your cat or dog eats, but it only takes a small amount to make an animal sick. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, loss of appetite, abnormal heart rate, weakness, abdominal pain, tremors, blindness, seizures and comas.

Baby’s Breath

Found often in floral arrangements, these white flowers can cause vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy and depression if they are ingested.

Buttercups

Cheerful yellow buttercups certainly do not look very threatening, but they can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, tremors or seizures if eaten. Buttercup flowers are very bitter and cause mouth ulcers. In most cases, pets decide that buttercups are not so tasty after all, after a few bites.

Daffodils

The bulbs are also the most toxic part of daffodils. If your pet eats a daffodil, it may experience drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. Eating several daffodils can cause low blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, tremors and convulsions.

Holly, Mistletoe and Poinsettias

Eating one of these classic holiday plants can cause a range of symptoms. Although poinsettias have a bad reputation, eating them really only causes mild irritation to the mouth or stomach. Mistletoe is more dangerous. Eating it can result in gastrointestinal disorders, heart problems, hallucinations, vomiting and diarrhea. Consuming holly can also cause vomiting and diarrhea, but your pet may be most annoyed by the tiny cuts caused by the spiny leaves.

Morning Glories

You may notice some very unusual behavior if your pet eats morning glories. Symptoms include hallucinations, stomach upset, tremors, loss of appetite and difficulty controlling movements or balance.

Mountain Laurel

Mountain laurel plants produce attractive flowers in the spring, but eating these plants can be deadly. If your pet consumes mountain laurel, it may begin to drool and experience vomiting, diarrhea, heart rhythm abnormalities, tremors, coma and even death.

Tomato Plant

If your pet cannot resist eating the leaves and stems of a tomato plant, you may notice drooling, loss of appetite, diarrhea, drowsiness, confusion, weakness, slow heart rate, dilated pupils or changes in behavior.

Tulips

Munching on a tulip bulb can cause stomach problems, loss of appetite, drooling, convulsions and cardiac problems.

If you are concerned that your pet has eaten a dangerous plant, call us immediately. The sooner treatment begins, the more likely that the outcome will be positive. If you have other concerns about your pet’s health, schedule an appointment today.

If your pet has eaten a dangerous plant outside of normal office hours, contact your nearest animal hospital immediately.

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Imagine your concern if you came home to find your dog unable to walk, unresponsive, or in a coma. This is becoming more common as marijuana begins to lose its illicit status, at least in some areas of the world. As the decriminalization and even legalization of marijuana has occurred, cases of toxicity in animals have unfortunately increased. Marijuana seems to have a much more profound effects in pets than in humans.

Marijuana Facts and Statistics

The Pet Poison Hotline has reported a 200% increase, over a five year period, in calls asking about marijuana and pets. California and Colorado both passed legislation to legalize medical marijuana usage. At the University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital there were four cases of marijuana toxicity in 2010, but there were 27 cases in 2013. Two Colorado veterinary hospitals reported a four-fold increase over the last six years, and this was before marijuana became legal. All but two of these cases lived; two dogs who ate cannabis butter died. In a 2002 study of 250 cases, 96% of cases occurred in dogs (dogs will eat anything!). In this group there were two fatal cases, one was a cat, and the other a horse.

Signs of Marijuana Toxicity

The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, tetrahydrocannabinol. THC affects neurotransmitters, so when toxicity occurs, neurological signs are the most common symptoms. These symptoms include depression, lack of cooridination, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, and coma. Other signs that can occur are vomiting, salivation, low blood pressure, slow heart rate (but sometimes a fast heart rate can happen). Death is rare.

Exposure in Pets

Pets are usually exposed by ingesting marijuana, or foods that contain extracts of marijuana. Signs can develop within 30 to 90 minutes after exposure. THC stays in the body up to five days, but symptoms usually last up to 72 hours.

When a veterinarian is presented with a patient where marijuana toxicity is suspected, but the history cannot confirm (either because the owners are not aware, or don’t want to admit it), a urine test can be used to detect marijuana.

Treatment for Exposed Pets

Dogs and cats with marijuana toxicity require hospitalization. Treatment may include inducing vomiting if the ingestion occurred very recently (within 30 to 60 minutes), the patient is awake, and it is safe to do so. Activated charcoal is also administered, often every eight hours for the first 24 hours as this helps to bind the THC so it is not absorbed into the body. Intravenous fluids are started to help flush out the toxin, and to help maintain blood pressure. The pet patient’s temperature, blood glucose, and blood pressure are closely monitored. Other symptoms, such as seizures or vomiting, are treated if they appear.

Many pets will eat anything, so vigilance is needed to keep them out of trouble. Marijuana poisonings are becoming more frequent, and can cause severe symptoms in pets. Pet owners need to be aware of what is accessible in a pet’s environment and keep their pets safe.

Sources:

McKnight, Katrina. “Marijuana Toxicosis.” Veterinary Technician, April 2003

American Animal Hospital Association. “Medical Marijuana Boom Posing Health Threat to Garbage-Eating Pets.” January 2014.

ASPCA. “Animal Poison Control.” 2014

Seligman, Katherine. “Dog’s Pot Poisoning Soars as Pets Dig Through Trash, Stash.” January 10, 2014.

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Keeping your house pet friendly is critical to the health and wellness of your pets. Just what does pet friendly mean? A pet friendly house is a sheltered location for an animal to live, play and relax that is clean, safe, free from hazards and toxic materials. Most pets share house space with their owner. Household items used in a house by an owner are available to the pets. Many of these materials used by owners can be unsafe or deadly to pets.

“Properly storing and locking up hazardous items is the first step to preventing accidental poisonings,” advises Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM in Common Household Poisons. If you haven’t made your house pet friendly, do it now. It will be easiest to move from one room to another checking closets, cabinets, boxes, shelves, and drawers. Yes, drawers – adept, curious pets can easily get into them!

“Not only can a poisoning incident be life-threatening for the pet, it’s traumatic for the pet owner,” said Carol McConnell, DVM, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for Veterinary Pet Insurance. “We recommend that pet owners be aware of which items around their homes can be harmful to their pets-medications, insect poisons, chocolate and certain nuts-and keep these items safely out of reach. They shouldn’t assume that their pets will ignore that bottle of bleach in the laundry room or the Philodendron plant by the window. Our data shows this just isn’t so.”

It could be a good idea to isolate your pet for a few minutes while you remove and secure substances that can be harmful. Pets may enjoy chewing through storage containers you consider safe. Remember that child-proof does not mean pet proof!

Common Household Poisons by veterinarian Janet Tobiassen Crosby suggests properly storing and securing items that can harm your pet. Ensure that they are stored up high and out of reach of all pets (and children) in your home. Your pet doesn’t know ingesting these items can harm or kill them.

Household Cleaners and Chemicals
These items are used to maintain your home, the furnishings, and items in it. They may be located in your laundry room, kitchen, bathrooms, or garage. Secure abrasives, soaps, waxes, disinfectants, powders, aerosol and pump sprays, paints, lubricants, bleach, fabric softeners, and water softener supplies.

Flea and Tick Treatments
In addition to storing where pets cannot reach or gain access to these items, use only the recommended doses. Always follow the dosing schedule.

Antifreeze (Ethylene glycol)
Pets can be attracted to this sweet tasting, brightly colored liquid. “One swallow may be lethal for small animals,” Crosby advises.

Pest Control Baits and Poisons
These are baits you’re using to attract pests and they can also attract your pet! Beware.

Medications
“One of the most common household poisons are medications – either discovered by the pet or purposely administered by the owner,” Crosby says. Your veterinarian must guide you with giving any medications to your pets. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs require authorization from your veterinarian. “Accidental poisonings, especially from NSAIDs are very common,” she says.

Foods and Food Additives
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that can be toxic to animals. It is often found in foods labeled as “sugar free.” Chocolate, caffeine, raisins, and grapes are known toxins for pets.

Trash Cans
“The sheer mix of items in a trash can (may) make a pet owner forget the combined potential hazard,” alerts Crosby. Cleanser containers, food scraps, broken and sharp objects could severely harm a pet who wouldn’t usually bother a trash can. “Make sure your trash is secure.”

Sources:Crosby, Janet Tobiassen, DVM. Common household poisons.

Crosby, Janet Tobiassen, DVM. Top 10 pet poison prevention tips.

Veterinary Pet Insurance.

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An estimated one third of all pets will become lost at some point in their life. Reasons for pets becoming lost include everything from a loose gate to breaking free from a leash. With so many possible ways for a pet to become lost, it is important to follow some simple safety procedures.

Dog Tags (Identification Tags)
Keep an up-to-date “dog-tag” on your pet’s collar, even when they are in the house. The first place someone who finds your pet will look for information is the collar. If your pet escapes the house, you will want them to have their collar on them with their information.

If necessary, make up more than one identification tag to include all of your pet’s information. This includes your address, your phone number, work number, cell number, or any other number you have that will reach a member of your family. Other information should include our information as your pet’s veterinarian (which is included on all rabies tags.) You do not need to include your pet’s name on the tag. There are people who steal pets and this might offer them a chance to lure your pet. Place the word “REWARD” on all tags where you would place your pet’s name.

Tattoos and Microchips
One method of finding out information about a pet is through micro chipping. A microchip is a specialized information holder inserted under the skin in your pets back. When scanned, the chip will give the scanner all of your pet’s information, including information on their humans and how to return your pet. Most veterinarians and shelters have these specialized scanners, though if someone else finds your pet, they will have to locate someone with a scanner before you will be contacted.

Because not everyone owns a microchip scanner, some pet owners opt to have their pet tattooed. The tattoo is placed, while your pet is under anesthesia, on the inside of their thigh or in their ear. An identification number and a phone number of a pet registry are tattooed.

If you find a lost animal, lay them down on their side and examine them for a tattoo. It might be necessary to trim some of the hair that has grown over the tattoo. Contact us if you find a pet and cannot read the tattoo.

Always Use a Leash
Unless you are in a fenced in yard, always use a leash when traveling anywhere with your pet. Your pet might be well behaved, but they may forget the rules if they see something interesting in the distance, such as another animal.

Keep Cats Indoors
Unlike their K-9 counterparts, cats can jump fences and climb trees. For this reason, cats should be kept as an indoor pet. It is best to teach your cat to stay indoors when they are young. Older cats can get confused and forget the way home.

Pets are a part of the family. Taking precautions and keeping an eye on your pet will help keep them safe at home.

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There are many medications available over the counter (OTC) at pharmacies and grocery stores that we consider to be safe, their use to be routine. We don’t think twice about picking up medications to help with pain or flu symptoms. What many people don’t consider is that these same medications can be very dangerous and even fatal for our pets.

As mammals, humans, dogs, and cats metabolize many medications the same way. Your veterinarian will often prescribe medications that were developed for people for use in your pet. However, there are several classes of medications that don’t work the same way for humans as they do for our pets.

NSAIDs

The most common class of medications that is very dangerous and easily fatal for pets are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). These medications are what people think of as OTC pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil) and many others.

We see commercials for them all the time that exclaim how effective and safe they are for everyday use. Because of this, owners feel that they must be helping their pets by giving them these medications for injuries and arthritis.

Unfortunately, in dogs and cats, these medications are not metabolized the same way, and, in our pets, toxic chemicals are created in the body. These toxic chemicals can cause kidney failure, liver failure, stomach ulcers, and even keep the blood from being able to carry oxygen.

With known ingestion, it is important to get your pet to the vet immediately. If too much time has passed and the pet has absorbed the medications or is already showing signs of poisoning, very aggressive therapy is needed and is not always successful.

Because human NSAIDs cannot be used for pain management in pets, animal pharmaceutical companies have been successful in developing very effective NSAIDs for dogs and cats that have a lower risk of side effects. These medications are available from any veterinarian.

As with any medication, prescription or OTC, it is important to discuss with your veterinarian what medication you want to give your pet and possible side effects to be aware of.

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