Pets can take some human medications, but some of them can be extremely toxic. Unfortunately, it is frequently believed that drugs that are available over the counter for use on people won’t harm animals. indicating that every year, numerous animals are unintentionally poisoned by their kind owners.
Another common issue is that even though a human medication may be safe for use in dogs, it does not necessarily follow that it is also safe for cats or other animals. Importantly, even those safe for use in pets must be administered with the proper dosage to prevent potentially harmful side effects. Always seek advice from your veterinarian before attempting to treat your pet at home.
The most frequent misconceptions, queries, and half-truths regarding the administration of human medications to animals are listed below.
1 Claritin (Loratadine)
Claritin is another popular human allergy medication that can be used to treat dogs with allergy symptoms, relieve inflammation related to mast cell tumors, and to reduce side effects from vaccines. Both in vivo and in vitro studies found it to be safe and sometimes effective for different conditions.
Consult your veterinarian about the dosage instructions prior to giving your dog Claritin. Keep an eye out for any side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary retention, and increased thirst, even when giving Claritin to a pet while under a veterinarian’s care.
Keep in mind that if your dog has liver disease or is pregnant, you should never give them Claritin. Additionally, Claritin-D specificially should never be given to dogs. Even in small doses, the decongestant in Claritin-D (pseudoephedrine) can be fatal to your dog.
1 Zyrtec (Cetirizine)
Zyrtec is a very popular brand used to treat allergy symptoms in humans, but it’s also been used in dogs for the same purpose, particularly in cases of chronic dermatitis. It can also be used to treat hot spot itching. Many times, Zyrtec is used as an alternative to Benadryl in dogs that don’t tolerate Benadryl well.
Zyrtec has been tested and has been shown to be quite safe for use in dogs, in contrast to many other human medications for dogs listed here. That being said, it should only be used with caution in senior dogs after consulting a veterinarian and should never be given to dogs whose kidney function has been compromised.
Aspirin is dangerous for my pet – DEPENDS
Since there are more effective painkillers for pets with fewer side effects available, veterinarians don’t typically use aspirin as a first-line pain reliever. Anemia, liver or kidney issues, stomach or gastrointestinal bleeding are possible side effects.
Despite this, veterinarians occasionally administer low doses of aspirin to animals who have a higher risk of developing blood clots (such as patients with certain heart or kidney conditions). However, these are very unique circumstances, and its safe application depends on a variety of factors.
FAQ
What human medicine can you give a dog?
- Antihistamines. …
- Antidiarrheals/Antinauseants. …
- Loperamide (Imodium®). …
- Famotidine (Pepcid AC®) and cimetidine (Tagamet®). …
- Steroid sprays, gels, and creams. …
- Topical antibiotic ointment. …
- Anti-fungal sprays, gels, and creams. …
- Hydrogen peroxide.
What human meds are safe for dogs for pain?
Many human painkillers, especially over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin, are generally dangerous for dogs. But amantadine is regarded as one of the safest painkillers for dogs. This might be helpful if you’re wondering what to give a dog for discomfort and swelling.
What can you give a dog for pain relief at home?
- Hot and Cold Therapy.
- Ginger.
- Turmeric.
- Boswellia.
- Devil’s Claw.
- CBD Oil.
- Acupuncture.
- Fish Oil.
Can dogs have Tylenol or ibuprofen?
Never give your dog any of the most popular over-the-counter human pain relievers, including ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and acetaminophen (Tylenol).