May 22, 2012
Posted in Pet Meds, Pet Supplies

Most medicines today come with a child lock cap that makes it nearly impossible for a small child to open it and accidentally poison themselves. While child locks make it difficult for pets to get into pills, they have teeth and more strength than a small child. With enough motivation, they could get a bottle of pills or another type of medicine open if it was within their reach.

Understanding what is toxic

The top five human medicines that are toxic to pets are, not surprisingly, some of the most common medications in many people's medicine cabinets. Over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil and Tylenol are the number one biggest risk, followed by antidepressants, ADD/ADHD pills, sleep aids and muscle relaxers.

That said, almost anything made for a human is better off away from your pooch, and even drugs that are not necessarily harmful to dogs might be after Fido swallows too many.

Can pet drugs be toxic too?

Pet drugs can be just as dangerous to animals as human drugs can. Your dog might be drawn to the cupboard by the delicious smell of pills like Comfortis or Heartgard Plus for flea and heartworm prevention. Keep your dog's medications well out of reach or in a locked cupboard far away from its pet food and treats, so it never gets into the medication by accident.

You could always switch to a topical medication like Revolution, Frontline Plus or Pet Armor, but still tuck this out of reach, as the most mischievous dogs might still get into it.

How can I keep my dog away?

If you have a room that you gate off with pet products like the Mission Aztec Freestanding Pet Gate, it might be a good idea to keep medications for dogs and humans alike there. Otherwise, it is usually fine to keep medicines in the medicine cabinet or on the top shelf of a closet or cabinet with a secure door.

If your pet has gotten into the medicines and ingested something harmful, it might be lacking energy, vomiting and having diarrhea. It might also seem lethargic or have a lack of appetites. You should bring your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible for treatments that could include stomach pumping or an antidote for a specific toxin. 

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