How You May Be Killing Your Pet

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Many pet owners have killed their pets doing something the average person would think is harmless.

Despite the purest of intentions some pet owners have been given their companion human painkillers and medicine.

I wrote this article to tell fellow animal lovers about how dangerous self medicating your pet can be. I highlight painkillers because it is very easy for pet owners to see their old dog or cat suffering from joint pain and simply feed them an aspirin.

I will even admit that I have done it once or twice in the past...

But did you know that it only takes two regular strength aspirin tablets to cause severe organ damage to a medium sized dog?

Now the first thing you have to understand about human drug given to pets is that nearly all the dangers they pose to us are drastically increased them.

For example any human who takes aspirin has to worry about vomiting, diarrhea, ulcers, and liver damage. That is why drinking while taking these painkillers is not advised.

By now I'm sure you already can see the problem with giving something that already causes us problems to animals a third our size.

On top of the already clear dosage problem, each type of pet has a different metabolizing rate. In other words you may give your pet a painkiller that it cannot metabolize properly resulting in an overdose and ultimately death.

Every time you give your pet an aspirin without consulting a vet you are essentially play Russian Roulette with the animals well being.

Painkiller Breakdown

Most painkillers on the market (including ones made specifically for pets) are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). With the right dosage these drugs can be effective short term solutions to pain but they come with the risk of stomach problems at best and Intestinal ulceration at worst.

It should also be noted that cats cannot take these drugs due to the toxins that are produced when their bodies breakdown the drug.

Any pet that is going on NSAIDs must see a veterinarian and have blood work done before hand. The pet should also be checked for bleeding and clotting problems before the drug is administered.

And be sure to watch your pet carefully for liver problems. Things like yellow skin and eyes are an indicator that you should immediately stop giving your pet painkillers.

Pet owners should also be cautious of pain relievers made specifically for dogs. Popular brands like Rimadyl has led to the deaths of 3,200 dogs and injured 19,000.

While this is a small percentage of the total amount of dogs taking the drug, owners must still go through the proper channels when giving drugs to their pet. When it comes to drugs for animals the FDA is not nearly as strict in its testing requirements as they are with humans.

That being said Rimadyl and the second most popular pain killer Deramaxx both had to change their label warnings because of a lack of risk warning.

If you ever have to give your pet pain killers please please please look out for these warning signs. And take them to the vet if you see them.

Warning Signs

Vomiting diarrheaBloody or black stoolChanges in drinking and urinationYellowing of gums, skin, or eyes (Indication of liver problem)

By now you are probably wondering what alternatives you have.

Luckily the solution isn't too hard to understand...

The main reason people give painkillers to their pets is joint problems associated with old age. The best thing you can do for your pets is keeping them at a healthy weight and properly exercised.

It would also be smart for you to start giving your dog some natural supplements and vitamins. They may not be getting all the nutrition they need from their diet.

And last but not least stop giving them table scraps. You will have to ignore the whining because a lot of the food we eat has ingredients that can wreak havoc on your pet's health.

Thanks for reading and keep your dogs healthy and safe!

I'm Ralph and I love pets and keeping them healthy.

Find out more about painkiller alternatives in my blog: http://doggynutrition.blogspot.com/