It’s normal for you to be panic when your pets are getting sick. You have to try the best treatment for curing your pets. However, as a pet parent, you need to be careful in deciding the best treatment for your sick pet.

The best treatment would be bringing your pets to the vets because they are skillful about it. Pet’s medicine should only be given and prescribed by veterinary care professionals.

The thing that you cannot do is giving your pets your medicine. Though the illnesses are the same, such as fever or coughing, but the medicines for humans mustn’t be given to pets.

The consumption of humans’ medicines can lead to adverse and unintended effects or consequences. For instance, all humans NSAIDs are toxic to cats and cause blood pressure and digestive issues.

Let’s get to know better the reasons why giving human medicines to pets is a bad idea.

Pets are More Sensitive to Certain Human Medicines

NSAIDs may be used by both humans and pets, such as cats and dogs. However, NSAIDs for pets should be prescribed by a veterinarian. Human NSAIDs are not safe for pets. The owners should never give their pets or even leave a bottle within reach of their pet.

Pets, such as dogs and cats, are more sensitive than humans to NSAIDs. Even low doses of it may put them at risk for some serious complications, such as kidney failure and stomach ulcers.

Symptoms of toxicity caused by human NSAIDs are vomiting, sometimes with blood, lethargy and increased thirst and urination. Get to know more about reasons your cat is vomiting blood and lethargy in cats.

If you suspect your pet has ingested NSAIDs, you should call the vet immediately.

Some Human Medicines Cannot be Properly Metabolized by Pets

An example of human medication that cannot be given to pets is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is a common medication used by human to treat mild pain, such as toothaches, backaches and even cold. However, this medicine is really toxic to pets, both cats and dogs.

However, it may be more sensitive to cats. Due to the lack of enzymes needed to process acetaminophen, the effects might be severe, such as liver damage which results in the inability of the blood to carry oxygen to the cells.

Liver damage can be prevented just like explained in how to prevent liver damage in dogs.

The symptoms of acetaminophen toxicity are change in the gum color from pink to purple, increased respiratory rate and lethargy. As always, if you suspect your pet consuming this type of medicine, call the vet immediately.

Affecting the Body System in a Bad Way

Some human medicines are having some bad effects on the body system, such as nervous and cardiovascular systems. The examples of human medicines that are harmful for pets are nasal decongestants and ADD or ADHD drugs and amphetamines.

Nasal decongestants, for instance, it stimulates the nervous and cardiovascular systems by causing some symptoms, such as restlessness, hyperthermia, panting and tremors.

ADD or ADHD drugs and amphetamines are the other types of human medicines that can affect the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. When amphetamines are ingested, they may cause hyperactivity, seizures, fever, abnormal heart rate, coma and even death.

You may also want to know more about seizures in pets, such as in cats. causes of seizures in cats.

Make sure that your pets avoid finding these kinds of human medicines because the effects are really harmful. Be alert if you suspect your pet ingesting these types of medicines by contacting your vet immediately.

Your pets are naturally curious creatures, and this what possibly makes your pets ingesting your medicines. As a pet parent, it is very important for you to keep the medicines out of reach of your pets. Here are some tips to help ensure your pets never ingest your medicine:

Always keep all your medications in a secure area. Make sure that the area cannot be accessed by your pets.
Never keep your medicines in a secondary containers that can be easily tampered with, such as plastic baggies.
When you’re taking your medicine, make sure you don’t drop any of them on the floor.
Never mix up your medicines with your pet’s medicine. Put them in different spots, so you won’t mix them up while giving the medicines to your pets.
Lastly, never give any human medication to your pets without consulting with your vet. Don’t rely on the internet or even friends and family about the particular medication they give to their pets before.

When your pet is sick, it is better to use natural or home remedies because they are safer and more practical. You can consider home remedies for your vomiting dog and ways to treat your sick cat with home remedies.