Q. My dog was in pain and I gave him ibuprofen. A friend said I should be careful because it could make him sick. Is that true?
A. Many times a veterinarian may recommend certain over the counter drugs used by people for dogs. She has the knowledge of what is safe for your best friend. Here I am going to discuss the more common over the counter (OTC) drugs people give their companions and what can happen if you use the wrong dose and frequency.
Let’s begin with antihistamines. These are the go-to if our best friend is having allergic reactions to insect stings and other environmental allergic reactions. The dosage is not the same for humans or the frequency. Commonly used antihistamines are chlorpheniramine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, promethazine, meclizine, and loratadine. Many of these products are combined with other drugs to relieve cold and sinus symptoms. Adverse side effects are dependent on the amount ingested. Signs of antihistamine toxicity can include depression or hyperactivity, drooling, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, gastrointestinal upset, lack of coordination, tremors, fever, and seizures. Treatment is supportive care with fluids, medication too for the heart and to control seizures.
Next are decongestants. There are many of these available over the counter. The ones to be concerned about are imidazoline decongestants. Common names for derivatives of imidazoline are oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, tetrahydrozoline, and naphazoline. They are used for nose and eyes congestion due to colds, allergies, and sinusitis. Poisoning involves heart, lungs, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include vomiting, heart abnormalities, panting, increased breathing sounds, weakness, nervousness, hyperactivity, and shaking. These symptoms can show up rapidly. Supportive care by your veterinarian is what is needed. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are also used as decongestants and will affect the heart and the central nervous system. These are treated with supportive care.
Guardians do not like to see their companions in pain. Many will go to their home pharmacy and give a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory to relieve distress from inflammation, pain, and fever. The problem is the dose and frequency of dosing is much different for a dog than a human. Commonly found in the medicine cabinet are aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen. Some of these can be used with caution under your veterinarian’s supervision. Symptoms of toxicity involve bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, damage to the kidneys and, or liver. Central nervous system symptoms and coma can also occur.
The next are gastrointestinal drugs. The first group are called H2 blockers. You will easily recognize these common drugs. Examples are cimetadine, famotidine, and rantlidine. They are used to treat gastrointestinal ulcers, inflammation of the esophagus, and gastric reflux (a backward flow of stomach contents). Generally, these are safe to use with low toxicity. Sensitive or overdosed pups can develop symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and dry mouth. Treatment generally consists of monitoring and supportive care. Antacids are another widely used over the counter drugs. They come in pill and liquid forms and are used for GI upsets. Relatively safe and poorly absorbed these contain calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide. Calcium and aluminum products cause constipation while magnesium containing products cause diarrhea. Some products contain both aluminum and magnesium to try and cancel out unwanted effects.
The take home message here is to consult with your veterinarian before giving your best friend anything over the counter.
Judith K. Herman, DVM, CVH
Animal Wellness Center
Augusta, Maine
www.mainehomeopahticvet.com
