Are OTC Meds Safe for My Dog
We are animal lovers and tend to think of our four-legged poochies, as our family. This is why we always strive to look for the best ways to incorporate only healthy and non-toxic food items into their diet. One of these things that we take into very high consideration is OTC medications.
Numerous times pet owners assume that giving their animals any over the counter meds will help them just as well as it has to themselves. However, this is a terrible misconception that causes severe negative effects on the pet and scars it for life. To avoid this from happening we have put together some vital information to help you out before reaching for that bottle of Advil for your dog.
Human OTCs That Are Given to Pets
OTC, or over the counter meds require no prescription from doctors or veterinarians. There are some drugs that people take, that can also be given to their pets. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs for instance, are one of them. These help with pain and inflammation. Similar to Ibuprofen, but the human version is too toxic for animals thus manufacturers create slightly milder versions with a variety of other chemicals in them.
If you give the pet an NSAID that is not specifically for animals, you could risk causing it a lot of issues. It can cause side-effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, and also add toxins to the pooch’s liver and kidneys causing stomach ulcers and internal gastrointestinal bleeding. Read more on this recommended site.
This will then start a whole different array of treatments to get rid of all of the above side-effects. So, in trying to treat something as simple as a leg pain in the dog, you will have made matters a lot worse for it by pumping it with your stronger meds.
This is one of the many reasons why it is always advisable not to ‘play doctor’ at home when your animals seem a bit ‘off’ and rather take it to the vet to get checked and make everyone feel better in the long run.
If, however, you’re like us and prefer the all-natural way of treating your pet’s ailments, keep reading.
Two Alternatives – The Safer and The Natural
Dogs suffer from arthritis, just like humans do. They get similar pains and the inflammation that related to it, in their joints and it makes it hard for them to move or basically, live a proper life. This is onset by a few things such as age, diet, toxins in the body, to name a few.
We, as pet owners it is our duty to observe, listen to, and look after our companions. Because some pets can’t indicate to us that they are unwell, we need to do regular checks to make sure they are doing okay – ignorance, in this case, is not bliss.
Well, help you figure what the overall tell-tale signs of any animal that is not feeling well include. Things such as limping, biting themselves and others, trembling, panting and shortness of breath (heavy and speedy heart rate), swelling or inflammation on its body, and a decrease in its appetite are just a few things to observe in both dogs and cats. More about this can be found online too http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-checkups-preventive-care/top-10-signs-your-dog-may-be-sick-and-what-you-can-do-about
When these things happen and your canine is in pain, instead of reaching for the first OTCs that you think may help, stop for a moment because there are some reputable online sources and veterinary recommendations have been mentioned that can come of use. Two known and recommended medications are Chondroitin and Glucosamine.
Glucosamine is known for its effective treatment of arthritis. Paired with Chondroitin, it usually benefits the healing of joint tissues. It is a much safer joint-supplement alternative to any OTC meds that you can ever give any four-legged friend. Plus, it has no side-effects and is not toxic to the system.
The other alternative we can recommend is CBD Oil (Cannabis oil). With a natural extract from the marijuana plant, and is the none-toxic, and none-psychotic ingredient that has been included in a variety of natural remedies and it works. Both humans and animals can take it and have been used to treat pet arthritis for a few years with positive visible results. By increasing the number of healthy cells in the body, it strengthens the immune system which can then fight against any ‘bad guys’ in our doggies!
There you have it, don’t jeopardize your creature’s health for the sake of convenience.
