In general, it is not advisable to administer any drug or medication to your dog without the specific advice of your veterinarian. Drugs that are safe in people can be grossly toxic to your dog; dosages are often very different, and under dosing drugs such as antibiotics can lead to an 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. Home treatment often allows a condition to become advanced, resistant to correct treatments, or the strength of the patient may become weakened as to make it very difficult if not impossible to render a cure. This cure more likely 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 dogs. 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 liver and red blood cell damage. Signs of toxicosis include depression, vomiting, abdominal pain and dark urine.

ANTIHISTAMINES AND DECONGESTANTS (PSEUDOEPHIDRINE, CONTACT, BENADRYL, CHLOR-TRIMATON, etc.) While these drugs have occasional use in dogs, 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.

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 dogs which are not used to ingesting chocolate. Dogs 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.

HORMONES These are often found in homes to treat many different human conditions and for some reason, owners seem tempted to give these medications to their dogs. 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 dog.

IBUPROFEN (ADVIL) On occasion this has been used to treat dogs, but current evidence indicates that this drug most always causes gastric irritation and/or ulceration and should be avoided. Signs of toxicosis include vomiting, blood in vomit, and diarrhea.

OVER-THE-COUNTER WORMERS Many dog owners decide to "worm" their pet dogs, 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 dog by having your veterinarian perform a fecal analysis.

PHOSPHATE ENEMA (FLEET) Any time a dog 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.