Pills and Paws: Keep Your Dog Safe from Medications

Dog looking at pills

As pet owners, we work hard to keep our homes safe for our furry family members. We "puppy-proof" by tucking away electrical cords and securing trash cans. But one of the most significant dangers is often hiding in plain sight: our medications. Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be extremely toxic to dogs, and accidental ingestion happens more often than you might think.

How to Keep Your Dog Safe from Medications: Two recent incidents bring this danger into sharp focus. In one case, a client's dog found and punctured a child's inhaler. The curious pup ingested some of the medication, and while the story had a happy ending with only minor effects, the outcome could have been much worse.

More recently, a dog belonging to one of our team members bit through a bottle of Advil and swallowed some of the pills. The dog seemed fine at first, but two days later, he began showing distressing symptoms. A trip to the emergency vet revealed he had sustained kidney damage. While his prognosis is cautiously optimistic, it’s a stark reminder of how quickly a common pain reliever can become a poison.

These stories underscore a critical lesson: what is safe for us can be deadly for our dogs.

How to Prevent a Poisoning Emergency : Keep Your Dog Safe from Medications

Prevention is the single most important step you can take. Dogs are naturally curious and often explore the world with their mouths. A dropped pill or a bottle left on a nightstand can quickly turn into a tragedy.

Follow these steps to secure all medications in your home:

• Store Medications Securely:  Keep all prescription and over-the-counter medications in a high, locked cabinet. A simple cabinet or drawer is not enough for a determined dog. Do not leave pill bottles on countertops, nightstands, or in purses and bags that are within your dog's reach.

• Be Mindful of Dropped Pills:  If you drop a pill, stop everything and find it immediately. A small pill can be hard to spot, but your dog's powerful nose will find it easily.

• Never Medicate Your Dog Yourself:  Do not give your dog any human medication unless specifically directed by your veterinarian. Dosages for dogs are very different from human dosages, and many common drugs like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are highly toxic to them.

• Dispose of Medications Safely: When getting rid of old or expired medications, don't just toss them in the trash where a dog could find them. Check for local drug take-back programs or follow FDA guidelines for safe disposal.

What to Do If Your Dog Ingests Medication

Even with the best precautions, accidents can happen. If you suspect your dog has ingested any medication, you must act immediately.

Step 1: Stay Calm and Gather Information Quickly gather the medication container. You will need to know the name of the drug, the strength (e.g., 200mg), and your best estimate of how much your dog consumed.

Step 2: Contact a Professional Immediately Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Time is critical. Call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away. Keep these numbers saved in your phone and posted in a visible place:

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435 (A consultation fee may apply)

• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (A consultation fee may apply)

Step 3: Do NOT Induce Vomiting Unless Instructed Inducing vomiting can be dangerous or even life-threatening depending on the substance ingested. Only do this if you are explicitly instructed to by a veterinary professional.

The Role of Activated Charcoal

You may have heard about using activated charcoal in poisoning cases. Activated charcoal can bind to certain toxins in the stomach and prevent them from being absorbed into the bloodstream. It can be a useful item to have in your pet's first aid kit.

However, it is not a cure-all or a substitute for veterinary care.

• It doesn't work for all toxins.

• The dosage and timing are critical for it to be effective.

• Administering it incorrectly can cause serious complications.

Always speak with a vet or poison control expert before giving your dog activated charcoal. They will tell you if it is appropriate for the situation and guide you on the correct dosage.

Your dog's safety is in your hands. By taking a few extra moments to secure medications and preparing for an emergency, you can protect your best friend from a preventable accident.