Image Source:
Pixabay
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 petโs size into
account when administering these drugs to them.Here are 9
medications that are safe for your pet.
-
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 itโs 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Dramamine Used to relieve vertigo and
motion sickness. It can also alleviate the sins of carsickness.
The most popular side effect is drowsiness.
-
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.
-
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 petโs digestive system.
How excess vitamin D makes dogs sick
Image source: Pixabay.com
Vitamin D is a mineral extremely important for the regulation of
calcium and phosphorous in a dogโs 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:
- Loss of appetite.
- Dark feces containing blood.
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive drooling.
- Loss of weight.
- Muscle tremors.
- Vomit containing blood.
- Increased urination.
- Increased thirst.
- Depression.
- Constipation.
- Seizures.
- 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.