Are you hurting your pet? ... Giving your pet human medication can cause your pet to become ill or worse!

If your pet has a sore paw or is just feeling a bit under the weather, it can be very tempting to search your medicine cabinet for a quick fix. Never give your pet any medication without first checking with a qualified veterinarian. It’s true that many medications are the same for pets and humans, but the dosages can be very different. Also there are many medications that are ok for humans but can be toxic to your pet. For example, acetominophen (medication in Tylenol) is very toxic to cats and ibuprofen at high dosages is poisonous to dogs.

Cats lack a specific enzyme in their bodies that is required to properly break down acetominophen. When cats ingest even a very low dose, it can lead to a medical condition called methemoglobinemia. When the veterinarian draws your cat’s blood to help make a diagnosis, the blood will be very brown instead of red. Usually rapid breathing and blue tinged gums and ears are signs that you might notice at home. One tablet is enough to be toxic to your cat, so if you suspect that your cat got into the Tylenol, get to your veterinarian right away. Treatment should be started before the symptoms appear.

Dogs that have arthritis pain or have injured themselves during play or exercise should be diagnosed and treated by your veterinarian. Ibuprofen or even aspirin can be used in dogs, but only under the direction and close supervision of your veterinarian. Often, the dose that is required to relieve the pain is too high and can lead to stomach upset and ulcers and even problems with the kidneys or liver. There are many good medications designed specifically for dogs that your veterinarian can prescribe with much smaller risk of side effects.

At Diamond Pet Foods, we know how deeply you care for your pet and we urge you to never give them any kind of medication without first checking with your vet.