9 Human Medications That Are Safe for Sick Pets

Vet-Approved Human Medications for Pets

When our pets are sick, we want to do everything possible to make them feel better. Sometimes that means giving them the same medications we use to treat our own strains, sprains, and symptoms.

While some of the pills and potions in our medicine cabinets are safe for pets, it’s imperative to consult your veterinarian before administering any new medication, says Dr. Cathy Meeks, a board-certified internal medicine specialist and a Group Medical Director at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa, Florida.

“We have to remember the size of our pets compared to us,” she says. “Even with the medications that are safe for pets, the dosages are drastically different.” And some drugs are flat out dangerous for pets at even the tiniest doses.

Here are nine “human medicines” that, when dosed properly, are vet-approved to help your pet feel better faster.

MiraLAX

Uses: Helps reduce constipation

MiraLAX can be given to your pet in small doses to help alleviate the pain and discomfort of constipation, Meeks says. While it’s relatively safe, you’ll want to work with your veterinarian to determine the proper dosage. Too much can lead to an upset stomach and diarrhea. Excessive diarrhea can also lead to dehydration. 

Pepcid

Uses: Helps reduce stomach acid and protect the stomach lining 

Pepcid can be used to treat or prevent ulcers and inflammation caused by stomach acid in pets and humans. Some pet owners also administer it to pets to help with vomiting. But this isn’t always a sure-fire plan, Meeks says. If your pet is vomiting and uninterested in her food, it could be a sign of a bigger problem. Consult your veterinarian if symptoms continue, she advises.

While Pepcid is relatively safe for pets, in dogs it may cause side effects such as loss of appetite and drowsiness, says Dr. Carol Osborne, an integrative veterinarian and author of the books “Naturally Healthy Cats” and “Naturally Healthy Dogs.”

“Signs of overdose include vomiting, increased heart rate, red mouth and ears, pale gums, restlessness, low blood pressure, and collapse,” Osborne says.

Prilosec

Uses: Helps reduce stomach acid

Prilosec is another acid-reducing medication that’s generally safe for pets, Osborne says. But it’s not without its side effects, which may include decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, and changes in urination or behavior

Lomotil

Uses: Antidiarrheal and cough reliever

While Lomotil can treat diarrhea, it’s most often used as a cough suppressant in dogs. Smaller toy breeds are predisposed to collapsing trachea, a condition whose symptoms include a persistent cough, Meeks says. Lomotil can help dry out the air passages and reduce the spasms that cause coughing.

Lomotil is a relatively safe drug, but since it’s also an antidiarrheal, side effects may include constipation in pets and confusion in pet owners, she says.

“Whenever I prescribe it, people will call back and say, ‘I think you gave us the wrong medicine,’” Meeks says.

Benadryl

Uses: Antihistamine and mild sedative

Just like with humans, Benadryl can be used to help treat acute allergic reactions, Osborne says. It can also serve as a mild sedative for pets who are stressed out by road trips or fireworks and as a preventative for motion sickness.

Side effects include dry mouth, decreased urination, vomiting, and loss of appetite, Osborne says. It may also cause hyperexcitability in cats.

To learn more about giving Benadryl to dogs, watch this video.

Saline Eye and Nose Drops

Uses: Rinses, moisturizes, and relieves congestion

Meeks says she uses children’s nose drops to help clear the upper airways of congested cats. Saline eye drops can also help relieve mild conjunctivitis and other eye irritations.

Dramamine

Uses: Relieves motion sickness and vertigo

Pets get dizzy too, Meeks says. Properly dosed Dramamine can help relieve the symptoms of carsickness and vertigo. The most common side effect is drowsiness, she says.

Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Uses: Improves joint health

These supplements can be administered to older or injured animals to help alleviate the pain caused by arthritis and other joint problems, Meeks says. There are little, if any, side effects, she says.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Uses: Emetic

Everyone’s favorite stinging antiseptic can also help induce vomiting in pets who have swallowed something they’re not supposed to, say a dog who just ate five chocolate bars. But call your vet first. You don’t always want to induce vomiting when a pet has eaten something dangerous. Batteries, among many other examples, can damage the esophagus on the way back up, Meeks warns.

Source: PetMD, www.petmd.com