Toxic Cold & Flu Medicine for Your Dog: What to Avoid
Medicine that might be completely normal for you to take when you have a cold could actually be fatal for your furry friend. Both over-the-counter and prescription medication used to ease cold & flu-like symptoms contain ingredients that are dangerous for your pup and should be kept out of paw’s reach.
Ingredients That Are Deadly for Fido
If your canine companion consumes medicine that contains any of these ingredients, you should seek medical attention immediately:
- Sudafed
- Entex
- Comtrex
- Dristan Cold
- Tavist
- Contac
- Tylenol Cold
- Theraflu
- Sinarest
- Triaminicin
- Drixoral
- Nyquil
- Acetaminophen
- Ibuprofen
- Pseudoephedrine
It’s important to point out, though, that this is a comprehensive list and that you should never give your canine medicine without consulting their veterinarian first.
What to Do if Your Pup Eats Cold or Flu Medicine
There are a variety of symptoms that your pooch could display after ingesting any of these ingredients. You might notice discolored gums, swollen face & paws, seizures, or a racing heart. Since the list of possible side effects is so wide, though, you should take Fido to the vet if you just suspect they consumed medicine with any of those ingredients. It’s better to be safe and precautions than wait for the side effects to begin; by then, it could be too late. So, once again, always err on the side of caution.
Tips for Keeping Medicine Out of Paw’s Reach
The best thing you can do for your pooch is to be proactive by ensuring they can’t get into your medicine to even begin with.
- Whenever you’re not using a medication, make sure it is sealed.
- Store your medication out of paw’s reach in a cabinet or drawer.
- If you spill any medicine, be sure to clean it up right away and dispose of it securely in a garbage bin (if you can throw it away in a bin outside, even better)
Remember, always check with Fido’s vet before giving them medicine, and if you think something is wrong, always play it safe! You can also reach out to the poison control hotline.