Vetstoria

These pain killers are widely used by the human population and are present in the medicine cabinet of many households.

Danger for dogs and cats:

Animal dosages are much lower than human dosages

Side effects in dogs and cats:

• Decrease the mucous production in the stomach

- Causing gastric ulcers

• Decrease the blood flow to vital organs

- Causing kidney failure

• Suppress the bone marrow activity

- Causing bleeding disorders

The first symptoms are associated with the stomach ulcers:

• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Black, tarry stools (digested blood)

The pet may also pant excessively and develop neurological symptoms including restlessness, anxiety and lack of coordination.

Following the initial illness and the gastro-intestinal signs:

• Acute kidney failure may develop
• Life threatening condition
• Difficult to treat

In people:

• Paracetamol ingredients are broken down by the liver
• Generally a safe and useful painkiller

In dogs and cats:

• Incomplete breakdown (especially in cats)
• Dangerous products circulating in the blood stream
• Damage various organs
• Liver and red blood cells most frequently affected

Symptoms begin within hours of ingestion and include:

• Drooling
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain
• Blue gums (cyanosis)
• Weakness
• Difficulty breathing
• Dark urine
• Death within a few days

Paracetamol is a very toxic product to cats and one tablet may be enough to kill a cat.

The aim of this podcast is to make sure you understand the threat of self medicating your pet.

It might be that one night you pet needs pain relief and you might have aspirin in your cupboard. Call a veterinarian for instructions on what to do. If aspirin is indicated, your vet will be delighted to advice without having to see you in the middle of the night.

Similar intoxications occur following excessive doses of veterinary licensed pain killers. Here again, the best preventative care is to give your dog medications only as directed by your veterinarian and remember: more is not necessarily better.

Make sure you store your pet’s medication in a safe place. Some tablets are developed specifically to be tasty and attractive to pets, and if they can reach them, dogs will often eat a whole container of tablets when they get hold of it.