According to the ASPCA, human medications were at the top of their list of top ten household poisons in 2009. Dogs often suffer poisoning after eating medications that were dropped on the floor or left accessible on countertops. Some of these medications can cause serious side effects or even death.
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Pain Relievers
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Pet MD explains that acetaminophen, a common household pain reliever, can cause irreversible liver damage in dogs. Some of the symptoms of acetaminophen toxicity are jaundice (the whites of the eyes and the skin may turn yellow), vomiting, difficulty breathing, and brownish colored gums. Dogs with acetaminophen poisoning must be treated immediately to avoid coma or death. The condition can be treated using oxygen and intravenous drugs, including vitamin C and amino acids. These medications will help to counteract the liver damage.
Aspirin is also toxic. When aspirin is ingested, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Ulceration and hemorrhage can develop in the intestines if the dog consumes large amounts. He may have difficulty walking and may collapse, lose consciousness or die suddenly. A veterinarian can diagnose aspirin poisoning by testing his blood. The dog may need hospitalization and medical treatment depending upon the severity of the poisoning.
Antidepressants
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Some types of tricyclic antidepressants such as trimipramine, amitriptyline and imipramine can be toxic to dogs. Pet Education explains that the toxicity will vary depending on the type of antidepressant that the dog ingests. Some of the symptoms of antidepressant toxicity are anxiety, aggression, depression, confusion, trembling and weakness. Eventually the dog can suffer heart failure and death. A veterinarian may recommend that you try to induce vomiting to remove the substance from the body. She may also orally administer activated charcoal, which is a powdered form of charcoal that prevents the toxins from being absorbed into your pet's body.
Cold Medications
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According to Pet Education, common household cold medicines such as Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, Claritin and Dramamine, as well as many others, can be lethal to dogs if ingested. The level of toxicity depends on what the dog consumed and how much of it he ate. Some of the symptoms of antihistamine and decongestant poisoning are trembling and weakness, vomiting, fever, seizures and heart rhythm irregularities. A veterinarian may induce vomiting, use charcoal to absorb the poison, or she may flush out the stomach in a procedure called gastric lavage. The dog may also need medication to control the secondary effects of the poisoning, such as seizures and heart irregularities. Finally, she may treat the dog using intravenous fluids.
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