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THE BERNARDS-RIDGE CONNECTION
JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2015
20 Years Emergency Veterinary Medicine Behind Us. ANIMAL PAWS Please call for FREE consultation. Last minute bookings for existing clients. (no late fee) BONDED & INSURED Nominated by National Animal Pet Sitting Association for 2015 for one of the Best Pet Sitting Services in the Nation. PETS ENJOY BEING HOME! Pet Sitting, LLC 13 Years of Loving Professional Pet Sitting Experience Cell 908-963-0311 email: michele@animalpaws.net animalpaws.org Vacations, daily dog walking, overnight stays, client education on animal care. We do transporta- tion, give insulin injections, SQ fluids, dog hikes. ! " # !"# !"# ! " # $ $ %& "' ! $ % $ #& HUMAN MEDICATIONS HARMFUL TO PETS By: Michele Patanio, Animal Paws Pet Sitting LLC 908-963-0311 animalpaws.net Animal Poison Center has given me so m e informa-ti
on and I want to share with all of you! Medication that does one thing for people does notn
ecessarily do the same for our pets, according tot
he American Veterinary Medical Association(
AVMA). Although there are many medications usedi
n both animals a n d people, the effects, doses need-e
d, and other things can differ. A pet can easily ingest dropped pills or may be givenh
armful human medications by an unknowingo
wner, causing illness, or even death. A b out one-q
uarter of all phone calls to the ASPCA Animal Poi-s
on C o ntrol Center are about human me d ications,t
he AVMA says. The center lists the 10 most com- mon human-medi c ation complaints they r e ceive.1
. Ibuprofen: Also sold as Advil and Motrin, this ist
he most comm o n human drug ingested by pets. Many brands have a s weet outer coating that makesit
appealing t o pets (think “M&M,” but a potential-l
y de a dly one). Ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcersa
nd kidney failure.2
. Tramadol: Also sold as Ul t ram, this is a painr
eliever. Your veterinarian may prescribe it for yourp
et, but only at a dose that’s appropria t e. Never givey
our medication to your pet without first consulting your veterinarian. Too much tramadol can cause sedation or agitation, wobbliness , disorientation, vomiting, tremors and possibly seizures. 3. Alprazolam: Also sold as Xanax, this is pre- scribed as an anti-anxiety medication and a sleep- aid. Most pets that ingest alprazolam can become sleepy and wobbly; however a few will become very agitated instead. These pills are commonly ingested by pets as people put them out on the nightstand so they remember to take them. Large doses of alpra- zolam can d rop the blood pressure and could cause weakness or collapse. 4. Adderall: This is a combination of four dif f erent amphetamines and is used to treat Attentio n Deficit Hyperactivity Di s order (ADHD) in children. This med- ication doesn’t have the same effect in pets as it does in people; it acts as a stimulant in pets and causes elevated heart rate and body t emperature, along with hyperactivity, tremors and seizures. 5. Zolpidem: Also sold as Ambien, this is a sleep- aid for people. Pets commonly eat pills left on the bedside table. Zolpi d em may make cats wo b bly and sleepy, but most pets become very agitated and develop elevated heart rates. 6. Clonazepam: Also s o ld as Klonopin, this drug is used as an anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety medica- tion. It is sometimes a lso prescribed as a sleep-aid. When animals ingest clonazepam, they can become sleepy and wobbly. Too much clonazepam can lower the blood pressure, leading to weakness or collapse. 7. Acetaminophen: Also sold as Tylenol, aceta- minophen is a very common pain killer found in most households. Cats are extremely sensitive to acetaminophen, can lead to death, but dogs can be affected, too. A cetaminophen can cause liver dam- age. It also can cause damage to your pet’s red blood cells so that the cells are unable to carry oxy- gen – like your body, your pet’s body needs oxygen to survive. 8. Naproxen: Also sold as Aleve or Naprosyn, t his is an over-the-counter pain reliever. Dogs and cats are very sensitive to naproxen and even small amounts can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure. 9. Duloxetine: Also sold as Cymbalta, this drug is prescribed as an antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent. When ingested by pets it can cause agitation, vocalization, tremors and seizures. 10. Venlafaxine: Also sold as Effexor, v e nlafaxine is an antidepressant. F o r some unknown reason, cats love to eat the capsules. Ingestion can cause agitation, vocalization, tremors and seizures. APCC warns that any human medication could pose a risk to your pets – not just these 10. Keeping your pets safe by following simple common guidelines: • Always keep human medications away from pets unless you are specifically instructed by a veteri- narian to give the medication • Do not leave pills sitting on counters or any place a pet can get to them (You’ll be surprised how fast your dog can chew through a pill bottle.) • If you’re taking medications out of the bottle and you drop any of it, pick it up immediately so you know your pet won’t be able to eat it. Rem e mber your four footed one is very fast • Always contact your veterinarian if your pets have ingested any medication not prescrib e d for them. NEVER GIVE YOUR PET ANY MEDICATION WITH- OUT ASKING YOUR VETERINARIAN FIRST! • Always keep the number for your veterinarian and the APCC handy in case of emerge n cy. Have a safe and happy summer! Enjoy your four footed friends! Hi all! Well summer is on its way. For our 4 footed friends Lets make sure we have all our vaccines, flea and tick and heartworm meds all ready for summer. www.theconnectionsnj.com