Human Medicines and Our Pets
The other day, a client brought in an old dog that was lethargic, not eating, and had diarrhea. The the client told our doctors that she thought her dog was in pain 
from arthritis and the day before gave her 50 lb dog one Tylenol- Extra Strength (500mg) tablet.
Tylenol can be a great pain reliever in humans but in dogs and cats, even a small dose can be toxic or deadly to any animal. In dogs, Tylenol destroys liver cells, and damages the kidneys. So we aggressively treated the dog for Tylenol toxicity and after a few weeks the dogs kidney levels returned to normal.
Dogs and humans have many similarities in the organ systems, but the organs process certain drugs and medications differently. Some everyday drugs that we do not think twice about taking, can be very deadly to our pets, even in a small dose.
Most medications that veterinarians use are dosed based on the patient’s weight. We must be very cautious with certain drugs, because some human medicines our pet’s bodies cannot process and can be lethal.
You should always consult with our doctors before giving your pet human medications. If you find your pet sick after hours, we are a 24 hour emergency hospital, so give us a call at 505-869-2627. Do not take it upon yourself to give your pet your medications because it can cause more harm than good.
| Drug | Uses/Indications | Dog dosage | Cat dosage |
| Antacids (Pepcid, Zantac) | Upset stomach | Consult with one of our doctors |
Consult with one of our doctors |
| Aspirin | Short term pain, inflammation relief |
Sometimes cause bleeding tendency | Never |
| Benadryl | Variety of allergic reaction |
1 mg per pound every 8 hours |
1 mg per pound every 8 hours |
| Dramamine | Reduces motion sickness given 1/2 hour prior to travel |
12.5 mg every 8 hours |
12.5 mg every 8 hours |
| Hydrogen Peroxide 3% | Induce vomiting after accidental poison ingestion |
10 ml by mouth every 15 minutes or until vomiting occurs (up to 3 doses) | Consult with one of our doctors |
| Ibuprofen, Tylenol | Anti-inflammatory | Never | Never |
| Imodium | Diarrhea | 1 mg per pound every 8 hours | Not recommended |
| Mineral Oil | Relieve Constipation |
Consult with one of our doctors |
Consult with one of our doctors |
| Pepto Bismol | Vomiting, diarrhea, gas |
1 tsp per 5 pounds every 6 hours | Never |
| Robitussin DM | Coughing in dogs | 1 tsp per 20 pounds every 8-12 hours | Not recommended |