Should You Give That Drug to Your Pet?
By Dr Cathy Alinovi, DVM.
With the easy access to information online, there’s no reason not to look up a medication before giving it to your pet; just because your vet prescribed it, doesn’t mean it’s safe. Thus, it’s crucial to research any medication before giving it to your dog. When you look up a drug, focus on side effects reported in humans, not just those listed for animals. The reason for this is that people can describe subtle symptoms – like double vision, nausea, or mood changes – that pets can’t communicate directly. Just because an animal can’t tell you it has a headache doesn’t mean it isn’t experiencing one; attentive owners may notice changes in their pet’s behavior or expression that suggest discomfort.
Medications can cause a wide range of side effects, and sometimes these effects are the opposite of what the drug is intended to treat. For example, a medication for diarrhea might actually trigger diarrhea in some cases, or an anti-itch drug could lead to increased itching or even more serious complications like cancer. Antibiotics can sometimes suppress the immune system leading to infection, and chemotherapy drugs, while designed to fight cancer, have the potential to cause additional health issues, including cancer itself in rare cases.
As a pet owner, you have unique insight into your animal’s normal behavior. If you suspect your pet is reacting poorly to a medication, trust your instincts. You know your pet best. While medications are often necessary and beneficial, it’s important to stay alert to possible adverse reactions.
Some drugs come with documented risks. For example, commonly used ear medications can result in hearing loss, and very commonly used anti-nausea drugs frequently are associated with drooling, nausea, or loss of appetite. Preventive treatments like heartworm or flea pills have, in some instances, been linked to kidney or liver problems; some cause seizures – others death. Of course, not every animal will experience the same side effects, or any side effect, and many medications are effective and safe for the majority of pets. However, if you notice anything unusual after starting a new medication, don’t hesitate to trust your instincts. Let your veterinarian know right away – your observations are valuable and could make a significant difference in your pet’s health.
Interestingly, even some herbal supplements can be associated with side effects.
In integrative medical theory side effects aren’t actually side effects but are hidden, latent symptoms that weren’t apparent before the medication or supplement was given. And that once taken into account with the whole picture of the pet and its health, the so-called side effects provide a critical window into how to help the pet. Therefore, simply reporting side effects to a conventional veterinarian doesn’t always help you get to the underlying issue – but sharing the same information with an integrative veterinarian or health care advisor absolutely directs health care advise.
Bottomline: if your pet is having a “side effect” or secondary effect that is not agreeing with him/her – integrative medicine can help figure out the real issue.
Dr. Cathy Alinovi, natural pet wellness and holistic veterinarian. Learn more about how you may be overpaying for “healthcare“ and over medicating your dog at www.healthypawsibilities.com.
