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Dogs are curious about everything in their environment. Your dog may pay a lot of attention to you when you “eat” things, such as medications. He may believe he’s missing out, and when you’re not looking, he may eat your medicine! But what happens if a dog eats human medications?
Has your dog eaten your medication? Are you worried the medication will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve gathered information about human medications and whether they can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What are Human Medications?
Human medications are drugs that are used to treat health issues. Some medications can only be bought with a prescription from the doctor, while others are available over the counter.
While human medications are safe for humans (when used as directed), what about dogs? Can human medicines make a dog sick?
Human Medications & Dogs
Unfortunately, many of the medications we take can be toxic to our dogs. Some are even deadly. In addition, some medicines are the same for dogs; however, the difference is that a dog’s dose is much less than a human dose of the same drug.
And drug toxicity in dogs is a very common problem. That’s understandable when you consider all the many drugs available in our homes to treat various health conditions.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Medication Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten your medication:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Pale gums or mucus membranes
- Difficulty breathing
- Excessive drooling
- Lack of coordination
- Bloody urine
- And more
If you notice any of these or other symptoms in your dog, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.
Note: Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by the vet.
Treatment of Medication Ingestion in Dogs
The vet may induce vomiting if your dog has recently eaten the medication. They may also use activated charcoal on your dog. The vet may also give your fur baby an IV with fluids to flush the toxins from his system. They will also treat other symptoms as they arise.
In some cases, your canine companion may need to be hospitalized until he’s in stable condition. That may be several days, depending on the severity of his condition.
The prognosis is best for dogs that receive prompt medical attention after eating human medications. For this reason, getting your dog to the vet ASAP is essential—it could save his life.
In the future, it’s a good idea to keep all medications and supplements out of your dogs reach. You’ll both be happier for it!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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