You may recognize that some of the medications that your Veterinarian has prescribed for your pet are the same medications prescribed for people. In some instances the same is true for over-the-counter medications. Some of the more commonly used over-the-counter medications include antihistamines and anti-diarrhea medications. While these drugs can be administered to your pet safely and effectively upon your Veterinarians advice, they can have dangerous side-effects if dosed incorrectly. Over-the-counter analgesics such as baby aspirin and buffered aspirin have been used in dogs in the past; however those medications can cause gastrointestinal upset, even gastric ulcers, and are not as effective as some other pain relievers for dogs. Ibuprofen (ie Advil) can cause kidney failure in dogs and cats. Acetaminophen (ie Tylenol) is lethal to cats and should NEVER be administered. To be safe, always consult your Veterinarian before administering ANY non-prescription medication to your pet.
Over the Counter Medications and Your Pet
Posted Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009Return to Pet Health Information
