A Bitter Pill to Swallow
Did you know that not everything in your medicine cabinet is safe for your pets? This week we are focusing on some of the most common medications and supplements that can cause trouble for our pets.
Marijuana
Toxin
THC
Signs
- hypersalivation
- decreased heart rate and blood pressure
- ataxia, incoordination, and trembling
- urinary incontinence
- glazed, distant eyes
Toxic ingestion can range from ingesting the plant itself to the cigarettes to supplements that contain THC.
If you are suspicious that your dog may have ingested marijuana, please let your veterinarian know right away. It will help us with diagnosing and treating your pet more effectively. With quick and proper treatment, most pets recover well.
Albuterol (inhaler)
Toxin
albuterol
Signs
- increased heart rate
- hyperthermia (increased temperature)
- muscle tremors
- death
Albuterol is found in inhalers. If your pet chews on an inhaler, it can ingest large amounts of albuterol quickly and can have rapid onset of symptoms.
Aspirin
Toxin
salicylate
Signs
- vomiting, gastrointestinal distress, and gastric ulcers
- lowers blood sugar
- hyperventilation
- prevents clotting
- liver necrosis and failure
- kidney failure
Baby aspirin has long been thought to be safe for dogs, but there is such a small margin for safety we do not recommend it for pain control. If you believe your pet is experiencing pain, please reach out to your veterinarian. We have better (and safer) options for pain control!
Ibuprofen
Toxin
inhibits the release of prostaglandins
Signs
- gastrointestinal toxicity
- kidney toxicity
- poor clot formation
- death
Ibuprofen can be toxic to dogs. If you believe your pet is experiencing pain, please reach out to your veterinarian. We have better (and safer) options for pain control!
Opioids
Toxin
variable
Signs
- decreased breathing, heart, GI, and neurologic function
- vomiting and constipation
- coma and seizures
- hypothermia (decreased temperature)
Vitamin D
Toxin
ergocalciferol
Signs
- decreased heart and breathing rate
- vomiting and diarrhea (sometimes with blood)
- kidney failure
- hypercalcemia (which can cause muscle spasms and seizures)
- death
The ergocalciferol in Vitamin D interferes with the normal metabolism of calcium in the body and can manifest as many different symptoms.
Calcipotriene (psoriasis cream)
Toxin
calcipotriol
Signs
- increased heart rate that eventually decreases
- vomiting and diarrhea (sometimes with blood)
- kidney failure
- muscle spasms and seizures
This cream can cause toxicity with direct ingestion, but it can also be dangerous if the pet licks the cream off the owner. The calcipotriol interferes with the normal metabolism of calcium in the body.
Essential Oils
Essential oils have increased in popularity over the years, and they do have many therapeutic uses. However, not all essential oils are safe for pets AND not all types of essential oils are safe to administer or use around pets.
You should ALWAYS contact your veterinarian before applying any essential oils to your pet. If you are going to use an essential oil, make sure you are using one labeled as “therapeutic grade” and not just ones meant for fragrance. Again, please contact your veterinarian before applying any essential oils to your pet.
If you own a bird, we do not recommend using essential oil diffusers, wax melts, scent sticks, or oils around them as birds are sensitive to most everything.
For additional information on essential oils, we recommend visiting Melissa Shelton’s website, https://animaleo.info. Dr. Shelton has information on essential oils for any pet. She also has a YouTube channel where she talks about the many benefits of essential oils.
This is by no means a complete list of toxic or dangerous medications. If you are ever concerned about something your pet ate, contact your veterinarian or call the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 OR the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. There may be a fee associated with the call.
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