Here are the top 10 human drugs that poison pets, according to the Pet Poison Hotline (infographic below):
- Ibuprofen
- Antidepressants and anxiety medications
- Vitamin D3
- Stimulants
- Acetaminophen
- Thyroid hormone drugs
- Beta-blockers
- Allergy medications
- Albuterol
- sleep aids
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — When your pet accidentally ingests one of your human medications, it can be a cause for concern. The specific drug may be toxic to non-humans, or its concentration may be dangerous. But what happens when an animal accidentally ingests several drugs? That’s when you want the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline on your side.
“Due to the wide range of drugs for humans, most veterinarians do not have in-depth knowledge regarding their pet toxicology,” said Dr. Renee Schmid, senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline. “It becomes even more difficult for veterinary teams when treating an animal that has ingested multiple medications. The veterinarian should not only be concerned with each specific drug, but also its potential interaction with other ingested drugs. Pet Poison Helpline veterinary toxicologists like myself regularly face this challenge, which is why we offer expert advice that pet owners and the veterinary community can trust. In the first 10 months of this year alone, Pet Poison Helpline has assisted in over 7,600 multi-drug cases, including one involving 30 medications and supplements.
Pet Poison Helpline is a division of SafetyCall International, which provides adverse event management services to some of the nation’s largest consumer product manufacturers, including the majority of veterinary pharmaceutical companies. As a result, the company has developed an extensive database of hundreds of thousands of household and commercial products and medicines, built over 30 years. With proprietary data and years of experience, the toxicology team has access to answers that others simply don’t.
“As we manage and document cases daily, our cumulative knowledge base continues to grow, allowing us to better inform our clients,” says Dr. Schmid. “It is this unique knowledge and expertise in toxicology that makes us your first continuous line of defense, especially when an animal ingests multiple drugs. »
“Last October, we had a case where a five-year-old Georgia dog could have ingested more than two dozen types of medications and supplements while his owner organized his medications in bed,” Dr. Schmid said. “The next morning the owner woke up to find her dog Murphy retching, trying to vomit and showing signs of lethargy. The immediate challenge for the veterinary team was to review the list of potential drugs ingested and determine which were dangerous, at what dose and if there were any potentially dangerous interactions. Several drugs could potentially cause the clinical signs Murphy was exhibiting. For example, the drug list included Adderall and amitriptyline, which produce central nervous system (CNS) and cardiovascular effects. Fortunately, after treatment and a day in the hospital, Murphy was able to return home healthy.
Not only can each case of ingestion be different, but how the animal encounters hazardous drugs can be as well. Sometimes it’s not as simple as finding a supply of medicine on a counter or chewing on a bottle of pills. Take the case of Petunia, a two-year-old English bulldog who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“A sick person at home was taking 11 different medications and they threw up on the floor 30 minutes after taking the pills,” Dr. Schmid said. “Dogs being dogs, they are not the most choosy eaters and Petunia was quick to consume this material. When we are faced with a situation like this, the challenge is not only to determine if the drug will be a problem. Now we need to identify how long it will take for this medication to be absorbed or cleared from the stomach and the time between when the owner took their medication and when the animal ingested the vomit would still allow that problems arise.
In the case of Petunia, the main drugs of concern were those used for patients with heart disease; metoprolol, ranolazine and isosorbide mononitrate. With these drugs, especially in combination, bradycardia, hypotension and arrhythmias may occur. There is also a risk of electrolyte changes, including hypoglycaemia and increased potassium in the event of an overdose of metoprolol.
Depending on the timing between taking the medications and when the vomiting occurred, it was possible that medications of concern were still in the vomitus.
In another case, a puppy named Wanda ingested 15 different prescription medications and over-the-counter (OTC) supplements from a pillbox that had a two-day supply. For animals, the potential risk of poisoning is not limited to prescription drugs. Many dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications can also be cause for concern. After calculating the ingested doses for each and comparing their toxic doses, the main concern was with Effexor and 5-HTP. The animal’s clinical signs were also consistent with this potential diagnosis.
“Although veterinarians have a wide range of medical knowledge, most have limited experience in toxicology,” says Dr. Schmid. “In the event of an emergency or distress, the professionals at Pet Poison Helpline have the unique knowledge and experience needed to help pet owners and veterinary staff make urgent and life-saving decisions. I hope you and your pet never have to deal with this situation, but if you do, know that there is a reliable source available just a phone call away.
About the Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline, your trusted source for toxicology and animal health advice in potential emergencies, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who need help. to help treat a potentially poisoned animal. We are an independent, nationally recognized Animal Poison Center, triple accredited by the Boards of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Pharmacy, offering unparalleled professional leadership and expertise. Our board-certified veterinarians and toxicologists provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for pet poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s $75 per incident fee includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the case. Based in Minneapolis, Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
Contact: Dr. Renée Schmid
Pet Poison Helpline
(952) 806-3803
RSchmid@petpoisonhelpline.com
SOURCE: Pet Poison Helpline
You might also be interested in reading:
Top 10 pandemic pet poisons (infographic)
14 Herbs That Can Poison Pets (Infographic)
Where you live can increase the risk of toxic pet exposure
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