Safe OTC Medications For Dogs

Know what Over The Counter (OTC) products you are giving your dog before you give it to them.

Dogs Are Family Too   Dogs are Family

I know when it comes to our dogs, they are considered a family member in our house. They do everything with us. I don’t even run to the local market without one of them with me. So, if your dog gets this kind of treatment, why would we not give them things that we would take from the medicine cabinet to make them feel better when they are down?

This is completely possible with a bit of information and understanding of what they can and cannot have. I have had several dogs in my life. Some acquired from being weened to seeing them all the way through their life. I have experienced a lot of things with these pups. Somewhere they needed a little help from the marvels of medical science.

Even if it was just having a great time on the boat, swimming all day and just being so worn out and sore from a lot of playing. You have to know what you can or cannot give them to help. If you don’t, it could do more harm than good.

Because of this I have done an extensive amount of research on this topic. I am going to list some information you should know before giving your dog any OTC medication.

Talk To The Doc

It is understandable, you do not talk to the doctor every time you take an aspirin. You have the ability to determine when you should and should not have to talk to the doc. The medications you take that are purchased OTC are manufactured and regulated by the FDA to insure they are good for you. You are not a dog!

There are differences in the way dogs react to some of the substances that are OK for people to take. Some that we can metabolize and process through our bodies may be completely toxic to a dog. This is the same for foods. I will write an article on that next, so come back and visit for more information later!

Please use good judgment with the dogs attributes in mind to decide when you should talk to the vet about giving any medication to your dog.

I Can’t Cover It All

There are too many products out there for people and dogs for me to cover every one. What my intention here is, is to cover what I consider a few topics that you may encounter in day to day life with a dog. I am going to list some things that are actually safe for a dog, with precautions. If I have not listed it, I strongly recommend consulting a vet.

What I Have CoveredWhat's Your Ailment

This list should give you enough information to cover a wide range of common ailments that you may encounter sharing your life with a dog that do not necessarily require a visit to the vet. If you use any of these items, please make sure you understand the dosage. It is commonly not the same as you would take.

1. OTC Pain Medication for Dogs: Aspirin is OK but not usually recommended by a vet.

  • Do Not give a dog Acetaminophen.
  • Do Not give a dog Ibuprofen.

2. Allergy Medication for Dogs: These are typically OK for dogs. Some included are Benedryl, Claritin, Zyrtec.

  • Do Not give a dog anything with a decongestant.
  • Dosage is not the same as and adult. 1ml/1# of dog.

3. Gastrointestinal Medication for Dogs: Typically given for excessive gas, diarrhea, or vomiting. These may include Pepto Bismol or Imodium.

  • Do Not give to Collies, Shelties, Australian Shepards, or Long Haired Whippets. These breeds do not react well.
  • Dosage is not the same for dog. Use 1ml/20# of dog.
  • Pay close attention to symptoms. Could be from an underlying ailment that needs professional attention.

4. Cold & Cough Medications for Dogs: Recommend No. Some such as Robitussin DM is OK but small amount and NO decongestant.

  • If your dog is coughing, it could be Bordetella or Parainfluenza which there are vaccines for.

5. Dramamine for Dog: If your dog does not travel well. This medication works well for motion sickness as well with dogs as it does people.

  • Dosage is not the same. Small dog, 12.5mg. Medium dog, 25 mg. Large dog, 50 mg.
  • If unsure about size to mg, go light. It will help.

6. CBD Oil for Dog: Get the good stuff! Make sure it is a natural product. Works well for several symptoms. One of my dogs has separation issues. He can’t be left alone without crying. The vet recommended CBD.

  • Anxiety
  • Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Inflamation
  • Nausea
  • Epilepsy
  • Dosage varies by product. Remember it’s not a human.

7. Eye Drops/Nasal Spray for Dogs: Some dogs have allergies, this can help with dry itchy eyes.

  • Saline only!
  • No medicated stuff.
  • No Visine.

Pretty Good List

That should cover it! This is a pretty good list of things you can give a dog for mild symptoms. Always remember to use good judgment for a dog. Always pay attention to the symptoms. If they persist or get worse it could be a more serious problem and need to go to the vet.

If you are looking in to purchasing items to help relieve any ailments your pup might have, check out the Pet Medication page.

If you have questions or comments feel free to drop a line in the comment section below. I am always trying to help the coolest dogs on the planet!

I have also covered several other topics on things a dog owner should be aware of. Please browse through the list of blogs to see if I can help you in any other area.

Thank you for taking care of your dog!

Chad

groomydude.com

4 thoughts on “Safe OTC Medications For Dogs”

  1. A very interesting article and one that I was not aware of so I have shared this with my brother and sister who have many dogs as I thought it would be useful to them. 

    I like the way this article is written and that people do need to understand that dogs are family and need to be treated just like humans. Be careful of medications and try to go natural as this is better for all of us. 

    I also liked the dog picture with the bottled water but just goes to show you need to understand what medications might be more harmful for your dog. I do not take medications so I would be careful to give to any dog.

    I do plan on getting a dog so this will be really useful for me. 

    Thank you 

    Reply
    • Thank you for sharing Imelda! That is my goal to get this to as many people as I can and help all the coolest dogs on the planet!

      I hope you do get a dog, they are good for people. I will be writing a post about hoe they relieve stress and some of the benefits of having a dog. Please come back now, ya hear!

      Reply

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