Attention for self-medication !
Your pet is maybe part of those for whom disease resurfaces periodically:
– Dog showing frequent ear infections (especially after baths sea or swimming pool)
– Animal in which any gap or food change inevitably leads to vomiting or diarrhea.
– Cat conjunctivitis or skin problems…
It is sometimes very tempting to resume a previous treatment prescribed by the veterinarian for the same pathology or trying to treat animal using sound human drugs. We must nevertheless keep in mind that any medication can cause various side effects and has a contraindications.
Thus, certain substances can be used without danger (use of an antiseptic shampoo when recurrence of allergic skin disorders, administration of digestive plaster (smecta, kaopectate) an animal suffering from diarrhea but which remains in the form and does no vomiting…), many others should be used with caution.
Mistakes made when self-medication can be at different levels :
Inappropriate dosages
The dosages of a drug are specific to each species. They can be very different between man and the animal. It is therefore not enough to report a human drug assays to the weight of your dog, cat or ferret to use it safely in your animal.
Medicines that are used very frequently in humans (including children) and which seem innocuous job are responsible for many cases of poisoning by overdose in domestic animals (the cat, for example, is very sensitive to aspirin and paracetamol ) CF: How to use anti-inflammatory?
Use of a toxic drug for a species
A drug very well tolerated in a species can be lethal in another.
A cat is not a small dog !
Thus, the pipettes or pest control collars containing permethrin or deltamethrin (ADVANTIX, scalibor) are very effective in the fight against the bites of mosquitoes and ticks in dogs but are extremely toxic to cats.
Similarly, certain antibiotics used very frequently in the dog and cat should not be administered to rabbits orally.
CF: the veterinarian has prescribed antibiotic treatment for my pet
It even happens that drugs are very well tolerated in a species except for some breeds specific. For example, loperamide (Imodium) can be used in many dog breeds, but is responsible for very serious nervous disorders in the Collie breed.
Use of drugs not adapted to the age or State of health of the animal
Some molecules are not suitable for animals very young or pose a risk to the offspring of females pregnant or lactating.
Furthermore, the administration of drugs, yet used safely in animals in tip-top shape, can have a serious impact on the State of health of a suffering animal a chronic disease. For example, anti-inflammatory drugs are not to be used in animals with hepatic or renal impairment. Contrary to what one might think, This type of illness is not easy to spot by the owners and only one blood tests ensures their absence in an old animal (Indeed, Some older cats with kidney drink just "a little more" and lost "some weight" but seem in great shape: very good appetite, still very active chat… and their master do not at all imagine they may be sick).
Reuse of a previous drug in an inappropriate situation
When a dog has suffered a otitis media having responded well to a local ear treatment, the fear owner be tempted to reuse this same solution if the dog presents new symptoms of an ear infection. However, use of these lotions and atrial suspensions should not be without veterinary consultation. Indeed, These drugs may be used only if a careful examination of the ear canal allowed to check theabsence of foreign bodies in the ear (spikelet for example) and theabsence of perforation of the eardrum.
Similarly, the use of a eye drops containing of the Cortisone (case of many eye drops) must be done only after verifying thenon-ulcer on the cornea of your pet. Instillation of inappropriate eye drops can exacerbate an ulcer and cause very serious injuries to the cornea. (CF corticoids treatment)
From many cases of foodborne illness or serious side effects listed in the pets are following theAdministration by the owners of inappropriate drugs (overdose, contraindications not known…). The use of veterinary medicinal products may limit these risks (detailed records specifying the dosage for each species, adverse effects and contraindications) but should especially never hesitate to seek advice from your veterinarian. Familiar with your pet, his age and his medical history, It will be able to tell you if the treatment you want to give him is suitable, indicate you the dose regimen and the precautions to be observed, and you advise a consultation if necessary.
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