Drugs for human use have undergone exhaustive clinical trials and, even so, on numerous occasions they are subsequently withdrawn from the market for causing potentially dangerous side effectsthat had not been evidenced during the clinical trial phases. Therefore, if such are the effects that the drugs studied in humans can cause, imagine the serious danger to which you can expose your best friend if you decide to medicate him with drugs that have not passed clinical trials in dogs.
The processes of pharmaco-dynamics (mechanism of action and pharmacological effect) and pharmaco-kinetics (release, absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination) are very different in the human organism and in the dog's organism, therefore, a bad action by the owner can put the dog's life at risk In this article on our site we show you10 prohibited drugs for dogs
1. Paracetamol
Paracetamol belongs to the pharmacological group of NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Some sources indicate that no NSAID can be administered to dogs, however, this group includes numerous active ingredients and it is possible that some of them may be suitable for treating some canine pathology, always under veterinary prescription.
On the other hand, if there is an anti-inflammatory of these characteristics that under no circumstances can be administered to a dog, it is paracetamol, potentially dangerous by the damage it can cause to the liver. Administering paracetamol to a dog can severely damage its liver, it can cause liver failure leading to death and it is also possible to destroy a large part of the blood cells red.
two. Ibuprofen
This is an active ingredient that also belongs to the group of NSAIDs, it is more anti-inflammatory than paracetamol but has a lower capacity to reduce fever. Its habitual and dangerous use in humans means that we consider this anti-inflammatory on many occasions as an option to treat our dog when it presents pain or movement difficulty.
However, ibuprofen is toxic to dogs at doses above 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, meaning that an adult ibuprofen tablet (600 milligrams) would be fatal to a small dog. Ibuprofen poisoning manifests itself through vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, kidney failure, liver failure and even death For more information, see this article: "Ibuprofen for dogs - Dosage and uses".
3. Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines by themselves form a pharmacological group where we can distinguish active ingredients such as alprazolam, diazepam, clorazepate dipotassium or zolpidem tartrate Se These are drugs that are used in humans as powerful sedatives for the central nervous system, and are prescribed in cases of anxiety, nervousness or insomnia, among other conditions.
Some benzodiazepines, for example diazepam, are used in the treatment of epilepsy or anxiety, however only a veterinary can prescribe the use of these drugs. For this reason, many people consider it appropriate to give this type of medication to their pet when it is restless or anxious, but benzodiazepines cause nervousness and panic attacksin dogs, in addition to being very dangerous for their liver he alth.
Curiously, benzodiazepines were formulated with the aim of having a greater therapeutic margin than barbiturates, however, in dogs it happens the other way around, barbiturates are used because they are safer, as long as they are administered under veterinary prescription.
4. Antidepressants
There are many types of antidepressants, although the best known are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI), a group within the which we can distinguish active ingredients such as fluoxetine or paroxetine. Not only do they directly affect the dog's kidney and liver he alth, but they can also disrupt the proper functioning of its nervous system, resulting in a fatality for our pet's he alth.
5. Aspirin
Aspirin is a very common medicine in every home. This familiarity and its over-the-counter sale may cause some caregivers to view it as a harmless drug and, therefore, do not hesitate to administer it to their dog. But the truth is that in these animals aspirin can produce a severe intoxication, with symptoms such as vomiting, even blood, diarrhea, which can be tarry, respiratory problems, kidney failure, fever, tremors, weakness, seizures, and, in severe cases, death
This does not mean that aspirin cannot be used in dogs, but its administration should only and exclusively be prescribed by the veterinarian, since the dosage controldepends on whether it produces intoxication or not. That is why we consider it a prohibited human drug for dogs. If ours shows symptoms like those described and we suspect that he may have ingested aspirin, we must immediately take him to the vet. The treatment will depend on the severity of the condition.
6. Antibiotics
Antibiotics are widely administered drugs to fight bacteria and of course can also be prescribed for dogs. But this does not mean that we should give them to ours without any veterinary control. If we do so, we run the risk of causing intoxication, even serious It is in this sense that we consider them a prohibited human drug for dogs.
The symptoms that occur in cases of poisoning are hypersalivation, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, hepatic or renal failure, lesions in the skin, convulsions, tremors and, in extreme cases, death. There are a large number of antibiotics for sale and each one will have a different risk of toxicity, so if our dog has ingested one without control, we should consult the veterinarian immediately.
7. Antihistamines
Antihistamines are very common drugs in homes where someone with allergies resides, as they are widely used to treat all kinds of hypersensitivity reactionsin both human and veterinary medicine. But this does not mean that they are harmless and that we can give them to the dog without a veterinary prescription. An inadequate intake makes these human drugs prohibited for dogs. They can produce symptoms such as agitation, lethargy, drowsiness, changes in heart rate, vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, seizures and even death It is therefore important that we contact See your vet for any of these signs.
8. Diuretics
Diuretics, such as furosemide or spironolactone, are drugs used to remove excess fluid, for example, when these accumulate in the lungs, which often happens in heart disease. They are prescribed both in veterinary and human medicine, that is, they can be used in dogs but never outside the veterinary recommendation, because improper use would make these human medicines prohibited for dogs, so that their intake could end in intoxication, whose severity will depend on the amount ingested and the characteristics of each animal. The typical symptom of a poisoning by diuretics is going to be dehydration. The dog will urinate excessively and we will notice it thirsty and lethargic. It could even cause acute renal failure, although this is not common. Go to the vet immediately.
9. Decongestant Medications
We refer to drugs that are used in colds or flu They are human drugs that are prohibited for dogs, especially those that are made up of several active ingredients, since their combined action would be more dangerous. They also have a low safety margin, which means that little more than a dose will already trigger symptoms of intoxication. These will be agitation, hyperactivity, vomiting, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure, muscle tremors, seizures, or even death if the dose ingested has been very high. Getting to the vet quickly is vital.
10. Thyroid medications
Dogs, like people, can develop thyroid gland problems, especially canine hypothyroidism. This situation will require pharmacological treatment. The doses of medications for these disorders in dogs are higher than in the treatment for humans, so it is unlikely that poisoning can occur if we accidentally give the dog the prohibited human medication. But even so, there is risk of poisoning if there is an overdose The symptoms of this would be muscle tremors, agitation, panting, tachycardia and vomiting. As in all cases in which we suspect poisoning, it is vital that we contact the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Do not self-medicate your dog
As you have seen, there are various he alth problems that can appear if we decide to self-medicate our dog, even using drugs commonly used in dogs. We remind you of the importance of visiting the vet whenever a he alth problem appears to confirm the diagnosis and receive appropriate medical treatment, always bearing in mind thestate of he alth, weight or age of the individual to medicate.
To finish, if you are evaluating the option of learning more about the he alth of dogs and their care, do not hesitate to train as a professional in the Veterinary Assistant course VETFORMACIÓN, one of the best online veterinary training centers.
