One Medicine Cabinet For The Entire Family (Including Your Pet!)

Did you know that some of the over-the-counter and even prescription medications that you have in your medicine cabinet may be used to treat your pet? Many of the prescription medications that veterinarians prescribe are also the same medications that your doctor might prescribe to you for various ailments. However, this does not mean that you should attempt to treat your pet without a veterinarian’s expert advice, as dosages and frequencies are often VERY different for pets than for us humans.

For the most part, veterinary prescriptions are meant for pets and human prescriptions are meant for people. But there are some medications that can be used both for you and your pet! These medications may be used in treating everything from stomach aches to car sickness. Among the common household human medications that can be used for your pet are:

• Buffered aspirin (for pain relief -- keep in mind, though, this is not recommended for cats! Also, do not use Ibuprofen or Tylenol for your pets. It should be buffered aspirin only!)
• Vitamin B (to stimulate the appetite)
• Benadryl (for allergic reactions and itching)
• Dramamine (car sickness)
• Pepto Bismol (used for diarrhea, vomiting, and as an antacid)
• Mineral oil (helps with constipation)
• Kaopectate (relieves diarrhea)
• Canned pumpkin (relieves constipation)
• Pepcid (for use as an antacid)
• Robitussin DM (for coughs -- this is also not recommended for cats)
• Imodium AD (relives diarrhea -- not for cats!)

If your pet is showing any signs of discomfort, you should always check with your veterinarian. You should also call your vet before dispensing any household medications or treatments. It’s always better to be safe than sorry and your vet can tell you whether or not the medications are still considered safe and acceptable based on the latest findings. In addition, your vet can tell you the correct dosages and give you peace of mind by informing you of what to watch for and how long your pet may feel ill.

Between your vet and your medicine cabinet, your pet can soon be feeling better after having gotten into the garbage. Just a little advice on how much Pepto Bismol to spread on a piece of bread will have your pet well again in no time!