The reality: Nearly 50% of
the poisoning cases managed
by Pet Poison Helpline
involve human medications—both
over-the-counter and prescription
drugs. Often, the culprit is a
curious canine that chewed into
a bottle of pills, but cats can get
into their share of trouble as well.
In fact, cats appear extremely
attracted to certain types of human
medications, notably a few
antidepressants. Other poisonings
involve mix-ups when pet owners
accidently give their pets their own
medications or try to self-medicate
pets with drugs that are safe for
people but toxic to pets. However
pet poisonings from human
medications occur, they can result
in serious illness or death.
Awareness is half the battle, so
here is a list of the top 10 human
medications pets most frequently
ingest to make sure you keep your
pets safely separated from these
drugs in your home.
- NSAIDs
(e.g. ibuprofen, naproxen)
Topping this list are common household
medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs, or NSAIDs, which include
common names such as ibuprofen (e.g. Advil
and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (e.g.
Aleve). While these medications are safe for
people, even one or two pills can cause serious
harm to a pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other
small mammals including ferrets, gerbils and
hamsters may develop serious stomach and
intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure and
potentially fall into a coma.
- Acetaminophen,
alone or in combination
with cold and flu products
When it comes to pain medications, acetaminophen
(e.g. Tylenol) is popular. Even though this
drug is safe for children, it is not safe for pets—
especially cats. One regular strength tablet of
acetaminophen may be fatal to a cat by causing
irreversible damage to their red blood cells, limiting
their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen
leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red
blood cell damage. Be sure to also look out for
acetaminophen in medications designed to treat
"cold & flu" symptoms.
- Antidepressants (e.g. Celexa,
Cymbalta, Effexor, Lexapro, Pristiq)
While some antidepressant drugs are occasionally
used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurologic
problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors
and seizures. Some antidepressants also have a
stimulant effect, leading to a dangerously elevated
heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.
Pets, especially cats, appear to enjoy the taste of
Effexor and often eat entire pills. Unfortunately, just
one pill can cause serious poisoning.
- ADD/ADHD medications
(e.g. Adderall, Concerta,
Focalin, Strattera, Vyvanse)
Medications used to treat attention deficit disorder
(ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) often contain potent stimulants such as
amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal
ingestions of these medications by pets can cause
life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body
temperature and heart problems.
- Thyroid hormones
(e.g. Armour thyroid, Synthroid)
Pets—especially dogs—get underactive thyroid
glands too. Interestingly, the dose of thyroid hormone
needed to treat dogs is much higher than a
person's dose. Therefore, if dogs accidentally get
into thyroid hormones at home, it rarely results in
problems. However, large acute overdoses in cats
and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness,
panting, a rapid heart rate and aggression.
- Beta-blockers (e.g. Coreg,
Sectral, Tenormin, Toprol, Zebeta)
Beta-blockers may also be used to treat high blood
pressure in pets; however, given their potent
effect on blood vessels and the heart, the same
doses given to people may cause life-threatening
decreases in blood pressure and a very slow heart
rate in pets.
- Benzodiazepines
(e.g. Ativan, Klonopin,
Restoril, Valium, Xanax)
These medications are designed to reduce anxiety
and help people sleep better. However, in pets,
they may have the opposite effect. About half of
dogs that ingest drugs like this become agitated
instead of sedate. Severe lethargy, incoordination
and slowed breathing in pets can also occur. In
cats, some types of benzodiazepines can cause
liver failure when ingested.
- Albuterol
Dogs puncturing albuterol inhalers with their
teeth results in the most common cause of albuterol
poisoning in pets since a massive dose of
drug gets delivered all at once. Albuterol, while
helpful in appropriate doses, can cause vomiting,
a dangerously elevated heart rate and severe
weakness due to an intracellular shift of potassium
in overdoses.
- ACE inhibitors
(e.g. Altace, Lotensin,
Prinivil, Vasotec, Zestril)
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
are commonly used to treat high blood pressure
in people and, occasionally, pets. Although
overdoses can cause low blood pressure, dizziness
and weakness, this category of medication is
typically safer than many other heart medications.
Pets ingesting small amounts of this medication
can potentially be monitored at home, unless they
have kidney failure or heart disease.
- Birth control and other
estrogen-based drugs
Birth control pills often come in packages that
dogs find irresistible. Thankfully, small ingestions
of most birth-control medications typically do not
cause trouble. Large ingestions of estrogen and
estradiol, especially those formulated as topical
creams, can cause bone marrow suppression.
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