Dogs love to eat just about anything that looks or smells interesting to them! This even includes our medications! Have you ever dropped a pill on the floor, and your dog starts searching for it right away? He doesn’t want to miss out on what he believes could be a yummy morsel!
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But what happens if your dog takes Lipitor? Is Lipitor toxic to dogs?
What is Lipitor?
Lipitor (also called Atrovastatin) is a medication that works to lower bad cholesterol and fats (LDL and triglycerides) and raise good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. This is drug is a statin, which works to reduce the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver. Lipitor may help lower the risk of heart disease and prevents strokes, as well as heart attacks.
Lipitor comes in tablet form and unlike other medications, it’s not used in veterinary medicine.
What if Your Dog Eats Lipitor?
Lipitor is not extremely toxic to dogs. However, there can be a major problem if a smaller dog ingests several pills.
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has swallowed Lipitor:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gas
If your dog is small or large and swallowed one pill, he should be OK. One pill may cause some digestive issues, but this should pass within 24 hours.
However, if your dog (large or small) has swallowed several pills (or more), then it’s a good idea to call the vet right away. It’s just good to let them know what’s happened and seek their advice on how to handle the situation.
If your dog shows the following symptoms, then this is a medical emergency:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Pale gums
- Difficulty breathing
- Lack of appetite
- Trouble walking
- Other concerning symptoms
Please call your vet immediately—this is a medical emergency, and your dog needs to have medical care now.
The good news is that if your dog receives medical care right away, after eating several Lipitor pills, he should fully recover.
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Ask a Vet Live NowPrevention of Poisoning in Dogs
Prevention is always the best way to keep your dog from accessing medications he shouldn’t have. While accidents do happen, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of medication poisoning in your dog:
- Keep pills out of your dog’s reach—don’t leave them on tables or counters, etc.
- Pick up all medications immediately; if you can’t find them, then vacuum right away to keep your dog from fining the medicine.
- Never give your dog medications that are meant for humans.
Dogs are determined fur babies, so we have to everything possible to keep them safe and keep medications away from them.
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Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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