Pet Poisons In Our Medicine Cabinets

With many of us staying tucked up and cozy inside, our pets are at higher risk of ingesting some of our commonly used human medications, and unfortunately, some do not mix well with our canine and feline friends:

IBUPROFEN:

With brand names such as Motrin or Advil, this is a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

that many of us use to treat an ache or pain. Unlike us, our cats and dogs are not able to clear the ibuprofen from their body efficiently, and so it just recycles over and over.

Signs of toxicity & treatment: Because this NSAID recirculates through the body, many organs can be damaged and so signs can vary from vomiting all the way to depression and death depending on the dose. The organs we worry most about are the kidneys, stomach and intestinal tract. To treat, we try to empty the stomach contents if ingestion was within the last ~2 hours, and then support the body with fluids to protect the kidneys, and medications to try to prevent ulcers of the digestive tract.

How precious is Penny with RVT Melissa?!

Toxic Dose:

Cats: 25mg/kg is where we start to see symptoms of toxicity.

Dogs: 50mg/kg is considered toxic, and fatal doses are seen at 400- 600mg/kg.

ACETOMINOPHEN

Also known as Tylenol, this medication can cause dramatic side effects

within only hours of a dog or cat ingesting it, with cats being incredibly sensitive to Tylenol poisoning due to a genetic predisposition. In both canines and felines, it will lead to liver damage, but the biggest concern is the ensuing damage to the pet’s red blood cells, leading to the body’s inability to deliver oxygen efficiently.

Signs of toxicity & treatment: As the body’s red blood cells rupture, the urine can appear dark, and the pet may begin to breath rapidly, while its mucous membranes can be bluish in color. Depending on the amount consumed, death can occur within 1-2 days. Treatment involves supporting the body, and starting a medication called N-acetylcysteine.

Toxic dose:

CATS: 60mg/kg. So ½ – 1 pill of extra strength Tylenol can be fatal for a 5kg cat.

Dogs: 200mg/kg. So for a 15kg dog, 6 extra strength tabs can be fatal.

References: https://vetmeds.org/pet-poison-control-list/ibuprofen-naproxen/;https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC340050/; https://www.dvm360.com/view/toxciology-brief-ibuprofen-toxicosis-dogs-cats-and-ferrets.

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