Keeping Our Pets Happy And Healthy: Pet Med Mix-Ups And Dog Bite App

Air Date:
Heard On The Larry Meiller Show

Larry Meiller finds out if it’s a serious problem when cats get dogs’ medication or vice versa. Plus, information on a new app that can help to prevent dog bites.

Featured in this Show

  • Medication Mix-Ups Can Be Dangerous For Pets

    When it comes to pet medications, it’s important for owners to give animals the right medicine at the right time and in the correct dosage, according to a University of Wisconsin-Madison veterinarian.

    Dr. Sandi Sawchuk of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, cautioned that even if the same medication is prescribed for two different pets, owners should never treat one pet with the other’s prescription. Many medications, like heartworm preventatives and flea and tick control, are dosed very specifically according to weight, she said.

    When it comes to cats and dogs, Sawchuk warned that giving one the medication that is meant for the other can be especially dangerous, since the two species metabolize active ingredients differently.

    Moreover, in terms of flea and tick prevention, the type of medication that is safe for cats is different from the type used for dogs. Sawchuk said that many tick preventives made for dogs contain Permethrin, a synthetic chemical version of a compound derived from chrysanthemums. While Permethrin is safe for dogs, Sawchuk said that it is highly toxic for cats, causing serious neurologic problems like seizures, and in some instances, death.

    Contact with the dog’s fur while the tick medication is still wet can harm a cat, as can the cat rubbing up against furniture or bedding where a dog was lying while wet.

    “There can be enough transfer that the cat can become quite ill,” Sawchuk said.

    For households with both dogs and cats, she recommended applying the medication to the dog right before bed and then keeping the pets separated. In the morning, she suggested washing the bedding to remove any residue. After that, she said it should be fine to let them again come in contact with each other.

    Accidental direct application of a Permethrin product on a cat is even more serious. If a cat is accidentally given a topical canine medication with that chemical, Sawchuk said to bathe the cat immediately to lessen the amount that is absorbed through the skin. Even if the cat isn’t showing any symptoms, added Sawchuk, it is crucial to get them to an emergency veterinary clinic as soon as possible.

    Even when owners are careful about giving the correct medication to the right pet, it can be tricky to remember when the dose is due, especially for medications given once a month. Sawchuk said that tying it to a specific day of every month is one useful technique for ensuring that the timing of the dose is correct. Marking a calendar, and setting a reminder digitally if possible, can also help.

    Aside from owner error, Sawchuk said that there are concerns stemming from pharmacies that dispense both human medications as well as prescriptions for pets. She said that it is not clear whether those pharmacists “are going to be aware that this is a cat, and cats need certain doses, or dogs need different doses.”

    In those situations, she said that owners should double-check that the pharmacist has followed the specific directions from the veterinarian.

Episode Credits

  • Larry Meiller Host
  • Judith Siers-Poisson Producer
  • Dr Sandra Sawchuk Guest

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