My Dog Ate Cold Medicine What Should I Do?

Cold medicine is something many of us have in our medicine cabinets. When we’re sick, we may reach for this type of medicine and end up dropping one on the floor. Or we may take some medicine and leave the container sitting on the counter. In these scenarios, it’s possible the cold medicine could look enticing to your dog. So much so that he snarfs up the medicine right away! But can cold medicine make a dog sick?

Has your dog eaten some cold medicine? Are you worried the cold medicine will make your dog sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something he shouldn’t.

In this article, we’ll take a look at cold medicine and whether or not it can make your dog sick. Let’s get started!

What is Cold Medicine?

Cold medicine is usually an over-the-counter medication that’s taken to ease the symptoms of a cold, the flu, or sometimes even allergies. The most common ingredients in cold medicines include:

• Acetaminophen
• Pseudoephedrine

Some of the most common brands of cold medicine include:

• Sudafed Entex
• Tylenol Cold & Food
• Sinarest
• Triaminicin
• Drixoral
• Nyquil
• Tavist
• Dristan Cold
• And more

These substances are very toxic to dogs.

Cold Medicines & Dogs

As you can see, cold medicines can be very dangerous for dogs. If your dog has eaten cold medicine, then it’s time to call the vet as soon as possible. Your dog’s life could depend on whether or not he receives prompt treatment.

Symptoms of Cold Medicine Ingestion in Dogs

You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten cold medicine:

• Discolored gums
• Swollen face/paws
• Seizures
• Racing heart

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, then call the vet immediately. This is a medical emergency.

Prevention: Keeping Cold Medicines Away from Your Dog

There are some things you can do to help keep your dog from accessing cold medicines, including:

• Sealing all medication containers when not in use.
• Put all medications away immediately after use. Make sure they’re in a place that your dog can’t access.
• If you drop a pill, look for it right away. You don’t want the dog to find it!

It’s hard to do all of this when you’re really sick; however, the extra effort is well worth it. This is a great way to keep your dog from being accidentally poisoned by cold medicines. Prevention is always the best medicine!