by H. Marlow

Created on: July 16, 2010

Having worked in the veterinary field, I have come across owners who have self medicated their pets, thinking they were doing something good only to find out later that they have made things worse. It is clear that these people had good intentions, giving their painful dog Tylenol, or their coughing cat Robitussin. However, without knowing what is causing the symptoms your pet is exhibiting, it is NEVER a good idea to give your pet medication without first consulting a veterinarian.

Many of the human medications can have severe side effects in animals. Tylenol and Ibuprofen, for instance, are not processed the same way in animals as they are in humans and can cause severe liver failure if given in a high enough dose. Instead of helping the animal with the pain, they cause even more troublesome problems that will take a lot longer to fix than say the bruised rib that is causing the pain.

Also, if pain is the problem, it is always better to get to the cause of the pain, than just to medicate. A veterinarian will give your pet a full look over and may run diagnostics such as blood work and x-rays to determine the problem. If something like a cancerous mass is causing your pet pain, it is better to find out sooner rather than later rather than just self medicating your pet's symptoms rather than treating the actual problem.

Also cough syrups may contain ingredients such as acetaminophen (found in Tylenol), caffeine, and alcohol which can all be deadly to pets. 

Some owners feel that they should do something for their pet when it is whining and yelping in pain. The best thing to do is to have it seen by a vet immediately. While getting to the root of the problem, the doctor can also prescribe medication that is more appropriate and much more safe to the animal than over the counter human medications.

When dealing with these issues, it is alway better to be safe than sorry when concerning your pets health. Help your pet by taking him or her to the doctor. You may be afraid of the costs, but it is better to pay a little bit now that to wrack up hundreds of dollars in vet bills because you overdosed your animal with Tylenol.

If you have given your pet any of these medications contact your veterinarian or Animal Poison Control immediately to determine whether or not the medication and dose is a danger to your pet and whether it should be treated as soon as possible.

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