9 Human Medications That Are Safe For Sick Pets

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There are many human medications that are harmful to your pets. But there are also some that could be a lifesaver! Sometimes, human medications have the ability to help sick pets, or at least provide quick relief. These medications are vet approved and pose no threats to your pets. Remember to take your pet’s size into account when administering these drugs to them.Here are 9 medications that are safe for your pet.

1. MiraLAXThe main use of this drug is to help reduce constipation. Give this to your pet in small doses in order to help relieve the discomfort and pain of constipation. Although it’s safe, ask your vet for the proper dosage when it comes to animals of various sizes and stages of life. If this drug is overly administered, it may cause diarrhea which, in turn, causes dehydration.
2. Pepcid The use of this drug is to protect the stomach lining and help reduce acidity in the stomach. It can be used to prevent and treat inflammation and ulcers that are caused by acidity in the stomach for both humans and pets. It can sometimes also help with the vomiting. If symptoms continue after the administration of the drug, seek veterinary advice. The signs of overdose are increased heart rate, vomiting, pale gums, red ears and mouth,  low blood pressure, and restlessness.
3. Prilosec Used to treat and reduce stomach acid. Another safe medication to reduce stomach acidity problems. Although safe, side effects may include diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, flatulence, and a change in behavior and urination patterns.
4. Lomotil Used to treat cough and diarrhea. While it is capable of treating diarrhea, it is more commonly used as a treatment for cough in dogs. Lomotil dries out the air passages and reduces the frequency of the spasms that lead to excessive coughing.
5. Benedryl Used as a mild sedative and an antihistamine. Just like we use Benedryl to treat allergic reactions, it can be used for the same purpose in our pets, with a moderation in the dosage. It also works as a mild sedative to pets who are restless during travel. It helps relieve motion sickness. Side effects are decreased urination, dry mouth, loss of appetite, and vomiting.
6. Saline Drops Saline drops can be used on pets as a way to clear the upper airways in the nose, to relieve congestion. Saline eye drops can also be used to help alleviate slight conjunctivitis and other irritations in the eyes.
7. Dramamine Used to relieve vertigo and motion sickness. It can also alleviate the sins of carsickness. The most popular side effect is drowsiness.
8. Supplements Although not all supplements are suitable for pets, supplements such as Chondroitin, Glucosamine, and Omega-3 can be hugely beneficial in improving joint health for pets. These supplements can be used to treat joint problems and pain caused by arthritis.
9. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide can be a lifesaver for when your pet has swallowed something dangerous. It induces vomiting in order to get the harmful substance out of your pet’s digestive system.

How excess vitamin D makes dogs sick

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Vitamin D is a mineral extremely important for the regulation of calcium and phosphorous in a dog’s body, it also aids in the retention of calcium which promotes healthy bone growth and development. It must be surprising to hear that too much vitamin D can cause fatal effects in dogs, such as threatening levels of calcium known as Hypercalcemia, and threatening levels of phosphorous called hyperphosphatemia. There are several ways vitamin D poisoning can occur, but the most commonly reported is due to chemicals used to kill rodents. There is no safe age limit to vitamin D poisoning, all dogs can fall prey to this disease, though younger dogs or puppies are more prone to do so.

Common symptoms
There are several methods to diagnose vitamin D poisoning, some common symptoms are listed below:

1. Loss of appetite.
2. Dark feces containing blood.
3. Abdominal pain
4. Excessive drooling.
5. Loss of weight.
6. Muscle tremors.
7. Vomit containing blood.
8. Increased urination.
9. Increased thirst.
10. Depression.
11. Constipation.
12. Seizures.
13. Weakness.

The initial signs of vitamin D poisoning generally go by unnoticed, and sometimes it may take up to 2-3 days for serious signs to show up. Hence, being alert and cautious of these symptoms can be life-saving for your dog.

Diagnosing vitamin D poisoning

Once you suspect a vitamin D overdose and take your dog over to the vet, there will be a number of tests starting with blood work, specifically of the kidney function, urine concentrations and electrolytes. If there is no known history of vitamin D poisoning, the vet may also run additional tests to rule out other diseases such as cancer, bladder stones and hyperparathyroidism, as these can portray similar symptoms.

Treating an overdose

A vitamin D overdose can be fatal for dogs, an urgent and aggressive treatment is extremely necessary to save the life of your pooch. The treatment will include intensive care, round-the-clock, for a duration of 48 hours. The treatment further includes:

• Decontamination. This includes induced vomiting, followed by giving several doses of charcoal to remove the poison from the intestines.
• Gastrointestinal antacids that will aid in decreasing phosphorous.
• Intensive IV fluids, which will help flush the excess calcium out of the body.
• Medication to remove calcium from the body.
• Medication to prevent hypercalcemia.

Observing kidney function and electrolytes is extremely necessary even after going home as the goal is to prevent acute kidney failure and hypercalcemia.
The treatment can be quite expensive, but it is a small price to pay for the life of your dog.
Staying alert and cautious for early signs is the best way to increase the chances of a healthy life for your beloved pooch.