Pawparents consider their pets as babies and become very restless if they fall ill. Getting a doctor on call right at the time of emergency is often problematic in India, and we try to use medications to give them some relief if they fall ill or are injured. You may have considered giving them human painkillers such as crocin, aspirin, or even ibuprofen. But, you should avoid doing so as human painkillers can be poisonous to pets, and can kill them. Unmonitored use of crocin and other painkillers can lead to various side effects in humans as well as pets too. You should never administer human medication to pets based on internet research or personal experience.
How do these painkillers affect pets?
Veterinarian Dr Narendra Pardeshi shares some of the harmful effects of giving human medication to pets:
Even a small quantity of crocin or its equivalent leads to toxicity. Paracetamol poisoning is seen due to acetaminophen, which is a common pain reliever that many dog owners will give to their dogs. Some dogs are less tolerant of this drug than others. Paracetamol is toxic to cats and dogs. If it doesn’t kill them immediately the toxic substances will get stored and accumulate in internal organs. The symptoms of paracetamol poisoning in animals include swollen face or neck, jaundice, vomiting, laboured breathing, dark urine, excessive thirst, and coma.
Like humans, dogs tend to naturally produce substances that safeguard their internal organs, and one of those substances is known as prostaglandins. These prostaglandins aid in maintaining blood flow to a dog’s kidneys, prevent clotting and protect the inner lining of the stomach. When human painkillers are given to dogs, they can hamper prostaglandin production. Hence, a dog can suffer from intestinal problems, loss of appetite, red blood cell abnormalities, vomiting and diarrhoea, bleeding disorders, kidney or liver failure, and eventually lead to death.
Cats do not have the enzyme needed to break down paracetamol safely. Instead, dangerous compounds are formed within their bodies. This affects the red blood cells and stops oxygen from circulating effectively. These compounds also lead to liver damage.
Another over-the-counter painkiller- ibuprofen is also toxic for your pet. In humans, Ibuprofen tends to block the chemicals in the body that lead to pain, fever, and inflammation. But, this medication is dangerous for your furry friend. Animals have a different physiology than humans. The products that are safe for us can be fatal for animals. There are some appropriate drugs for animals that have been tested and approved by the relevant authorities. Give only those medications that are prescribed by the vet.
Other common painkillers like combiflam, diclofenac, valcox and aceclofenac can cause gastric irritation if given in overdoses on an empty stomach or without an antacid. This can also lead to vomiting and death.
The takeaway To look for paracetamol toxicity, the vet will carry out a full physical examination and do a complete blood count, urinalysis, and faecal examination. These tests will help to know the level of toxicity in the dog or the cat’s body. The liver and kidney function will also need to be closely monitored to look for any damage and failure. The pet may require hospitalization and supportive care while undergoing treatment for paracetamol poisoning.
After getting discharged from the hospital, the veterinarian will still monitor the kidney and liver function of the pet to ensure that there are no long-term effects of paracetamol poisoning. Certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl), deracoxib (Deramaxx), or firocoxib (previcox) are available for dogs and should be given after the vet’s recommendation. Don’t give ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, crocin or any other pain reliever made for human consumption on your own without the vet’s advice.
