Bad
Drugs!
Human medications that can
kill
This list has been
compiled from various online sources. All sources carry disclaimer that
Just because something is on the poisonous list doesn't mean it's fatal, and
just because it is absent from the list doesn't mean it is safe! Many
cause merely gastric distress, some can kill your pet.
All medications should be kept safely out of pets' reach at all times.
NSAIDs
NSAIDs (non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most common cause of
pet poisoning in small animals, and can cause serious problems even in minimal
doses. Pets are extremely sensitive to their effects, and may experience stomach
and intestinal ulcers and—in the case of cats—kidney damage.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants can cause vomiting and lethargy and certain types can lead to
serotonin syndrome—a condition marked by agitation, elevated body temperature,
heart rate and blood pressure, disorientation, vocalization, tremors and
seizures.
Acetaminophen
Cats are especially sensitive to
acetaminophen, which can damage red blood cells and interfere with their ability
to transport oxygen. In dogs, it can cause liver damage and, at higher doses,
red blood cell damage.
Methylphenidate (for ADHD)
Medications used to treat ADHD
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in people act as stimulants in pets
and can dangerously elevate heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature, as
well as cause seizures.
Fluorouracil
Fluorouracil—an
anti-cancer drug—is used topically to treat minor skin cancers and solar
keratitis in humans. It has proven to be rapidly fatal to dogs, causing severe
vomiting, seizures and cardiac arrest even in those who’ve chewed on discarded
cotton swabs used to apply the medication.
Isoniazid
Often the first line of defense
against tuberculosis, isoniazid is particularly toxic for dogs because they
don’t metabolize it as well as other species. It can cause a rapid onset of
severe seizures that may ultimately result in death.
Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a popular decongestant in many cold and sinus products, and
acts like a stimulant if accidentally ingested by pets. In cats and dogs, it
causes elevated heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature as well as
seizures.
Anti-diabetics
Many oral diabetes
treatments—including glipizide and glyburide—can cause a major drop in blood
sugar levels of affected pets. Clinical signs of ingestion include
disorientation, lack of coordination and seizures.
Vitamin
D derivatives
Even small exposures to Vitamin D
analogues like calcipotriene and calcitriol can cause life-threatening spikes in
blood calcium levels in pets. Clinical signs of exposure—including vomiting,
loss of appetite, increased urination and thirst due to kidney failure—often
don't occur for more than 24 hours after ingestion.
Baclofen
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that
can impair the central nervous systems of cats and dogs. Some symptoms of
ingestion include significant depression, disorientation, vocalization, seizures
and coma, which can lead to death.
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