In general, it is not advisable to administer any drug or medication to your cat without the specific advice of your veterinarian. Often, drugs that are safe in people or dogs can be grossly toxic to your cat; dosages are often very different, and cats have metabolic differences that make many common drugs very dangerous to them. Under dosing drugs, such as antibiotics, can lead to an ordinary infection becoming resistant to treatment.

As is the basis for this program, early, thorough diagnosis and treatment by a qualified veterinarian will provide any animal the greatest chance for cure or control of specific problems. One of the greatest frustrations for veterinarians (and clients too) is to be called upon to treat a patient which has been "treated" by an owner over a period of time. Often home therapy allows a condition to become advanced, resistant to treatment or the strength of the patient becomes weakened as to make it very difficult if not impossible, to render a cure. This cure could have been obtained if care had been sought in a forthright fashion. In these cases, the cost of treatment is often greatly increased due to the more intensive nature of the care then required.

The following is a list of home medications that should not be used in cats. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but rather to provide caution against many medications often contained in home medicine cabinets.

ACETAMINOPHEN (TYLENOL) Can cause severe liver and red blood cell damage. Signs of toxicosis include depression, loss of appetite, salivation, respiratory distress, vomiting, abdominal pain and dark urine. Death can occur quickly.

ANTIHISTAMINES AND DECONGESTANTS (PSEUDOEPHIDRINE, CONTACT, BENADRYL, CHLOR-TRIMATON, etc.) While these drugs have occasional use in cats, dosages are not well established and these should only be used if advised by your veterinarian. Signs of toxicosis include depression, muscle tremors, hyperexcitability, seizures, vomiting, fever, rapid or depressed heart rates and disorientation.

ASPIRIN As aspirin the most commonly used pain medication, many people assume cats will benefit from its use. Because of their metabolic peculiarities, aspirin can be very toxic to cats. Signs of toxicity include loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, blood in the vomitus and/or the stools, staggering, seizures and death. Severe liver and red blood damage can occur.

CHOCOLATE While this may or may not be in your medicine chest, chocolate is a stimulant and can cause extreme side effects and even death to small cats which are not used to ingesting chocolate and can consume toxic doses as easily as eating a few chocolate kisses. Signs of toxicosis include vomiting, diarrhea, excitability, restlessness, incoordination, tremors, altered heart rate, seizures, coma and death. Fortunately, most cats do not have a sweet tooth.

HORMONES These are often found in homes to treat many different human problems, but for some reason, owners seem tempted to give these medications to their cats. Dosages for most all hormones are so radically different and require such specificity of diagnosis that one should be encouraged to resist any temptation to give a hormonal medication to a cat.

NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS Medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Alieve, Naprosyn), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), and phenylbutazone all can be toxic to cats. Signs of toxicosis include vomiting, blood in vomit, depression and weakness. Kidney damage can occur.

OVER-THE-COUNTER WORMERS Many cat owners decide to "worm" their pet cats, even though there may not even be a diagnosis of worms! Unfortunately, these commonly sold wormers are old drugs used decades ago. Most have toxicities not seen with today's modern drugs. Signs of toxicity can include vomiting, weakness, staggering, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures and death. Avoid the temptation to worm your cat by having your veterinarian perform a fecal analysis.

PEPTO-BISOMOL Because this product contains salicylate which is similar to aspirin, toxicity can occur in cats.

PHOSPHATE ENEMA (FLEET) Any time a cat strains, we tend to want to use grandma's old remedy. Most cases of straining are due to either diarrhea or urinary tract problems. These enemas can cause major electrolyte disturbances and cause death within an hour or two of administration. Signs of toxicity include depression, incoordination, seizures, rapid heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea and sudden death.

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©2007 James W. Day D.V.M., P.C.