OTC OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS
You may help to ease your pet's symptoms with the use of some over-the-counter medicines. However, it's never a good idea to just assume a human medication will be a safe and effective treatment for your pet. Contact your veterinarian before starting any medical therapy, to discuss your options. Always let the veterinarian know your pet's symptoms and what you have been treating it with. As with all illnesses, persistent symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor's office.
ALWAYS ASK YOUR VET.
PEPTO-BISMOL:
Can be administered to dogs (never cats!) with upset stomach or vomiting. Give one teaspoon per 20 pounds of weight every 4-6 hours for 24 hours, or until symptoms begin to resolve.
Can be administered to dogs (never cats!) with upset stomach or vomiting. Give one teaspoon per 20 pounds of weight every 4-6 hours for 24 hours, or until symptoms begin to resolve.
BENADRYL(Diphenhydramine):
Benadryl is an antihistamine that helps relieve swellings and itching from allergic reactions and is used long-term to treat allergies. The dose is one milligram for every pound given twice daily. (Although safe to use, Benadryl is not very effective in cats, and other antihistamines are more commonly prescribed.)
Benadryl is an antihistamine that helps relieve swellings and itching from allergic reactions and is used long-term to treat allergies. The dose is one milligram for every pound given twice daily. (Although safe to use, Benadryl is not very effective in cats, and other antihistamines are more commonly prescribed.)
| Benadryl Dosage Twice daily | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dogs (1 mg per pound) | Cats | |
| weight | amount | |
| 12 lbs | 12 milligrams (pediatric dose) | NOT EFFECTIVE |
| 25 lbs | 25 milligrams (1 adult capsule) | |
| 50 lbs | 50 milligrams (2 adult capsules) | |
ASPIRIN:
Can be given short term to dogs (never cats!) to help relieve inflammation and pain. Buffered Aspirin (Bufferin) is easier on the stomach but regular (non-coated) aspirin can also be used. Aspirin may be given once or twice a day. Always give aspirin with food.
Can be given short term to dogs (never cats!) to help relieve inflammation and pain. Buffered Aspirin (Bufferin) is easier on the stomach but regular (non-coated) aspirin can also be used. Aspirin may be given once or twice a day. Always give aspirin with food.
Aspirin has potent blood thinning properties, and continued usage
may be dangerous in some animals. For long term pain relief there are safer
veterinary-specific alternatives. DO NOT GIVE TO DOGS WITH NASAL CANCER OR ANY BLEEDING CANCERS.
| Aspirin Dosage Once or twice a day, with food | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | Cats | |
| weight | amount | |
| less than 10 lbs | ½ baby aspirin | NEVER! |
| 10-30 lbs | 1 baby aspirin | |
| 30-50 lbs | ½ regular aspirin | |
| 50-100 lbs | 1 regular aspirin | |
| over 100 lbs | 2 regular aspirin | |
TAGAMET (Cimetidine) /PEPCID-AC (Famotidine) /ZANTAC (Ranitidine):
Reduces the amount of stomach acids and can be dispensed to dogs and cats suffering from ulcers, acid reflux or belly ache. Sometimes they are used to prevent ulcers in animals taking other medications. These medications are given once to twice daily. It's best to discuss the exact dosage with your veterinarian.
Reduces the amount of stomach acids and can be dispensed to dogs and cats suffering from ulcers, acid reflux or belly ache. Sometimes they are used to prevent ulcers in animals taking other medications. These medications are given once to twice daily. It's best to discuss the exact dosage with your veterinarian.
| Tagamet/Pepcid-AC/Zantac Dosage one or twice daily | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | Cats | |
| weight | amount | |
| less than 20 lbs | ¼ tablet | ¼ tablet |
| 20-60 lbs | ½ tablet | |
| over 60 lbs | 1 whole tablet | |
ALWAYS ASK YOUR VET.
