Keeping these medications out of pets' reach to prevent potentially life-threatening effects.

Nearly half the calls the team at Pet Posion Helpline receives are for pets that have accidentally ingested

human medications. With such a high number of incidents occurring each year, it’s critical to stay up-to-date

in case your pet is exposed to potentially toxic(to pets) human medications.

 A recently released report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics lists the top five human prescription

drugs dispensed in the United States. As explained below, some of these drugs cause only minor symptoms while

others can be potentially life-threatening. Awareness of these drugs and how they affect pets can save lives.

Likewise, in cases where a pet has ingested a nonlife-threatening drug, awareness can save the pet owner a great

deal of heartache and cost .

 1. Lipitor (atorvastatin). Reduces cholesterol levels. Generally when pets get into Lipitor, only mild side effects are

seen, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, Lipitor is not considered to have high toxicity levels for pets. While

some human drugs are utilized in veterinary medicine, Lipitor is not.

2. Nexium (esomeprazole). An anti-ulcer medication and proton-pump inhibitor that results in decreased gastric

acid secretion. While it’s used in veterinary medicine for some pets, mild side effects can include vomiting and

diarrhea. Pet owners should watch their pet closely but not be alarmed since symptoms will generally subside on

their own.

 3. Plavix (clopidogrel). A drug that affects platelets in humans, inhibiting clot formation and reducing the risk of

stroke. It’s rarely used in veterinary medicine. When pets get into Plavix, it has a wide margin of safety and

generally is not considered to be acutely toxic. Only mild vomiting or diarrhea may be observed.

4. Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol). Used for treating asthma and administered through an

inhaler, Advair Diskus contains beta-agonist drugs that expand the lungs and steroids that decrease inflammation in

the lungs. Because inhalers contain many doses, dogs that chew into them are exposed to massive amounts of the

drug all at once. This can result in heart arrhythmias, an elevated heart rate, agitation, vomiting, and even acute

collapse. Severe electrolyte abnormalities such as very low potassium levels are likely and can be life-threatening without immediate veterinary treatment.

 5. Abilify (aripiprazole). Contains aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic agent that is used to treat schizophrenia,

bipolar disorder, and clinical depression. Clients should keep this drug out of pets’ reach, as ingestion can result in

profound lethargy, vomiting, hyperthermia, significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure, and seizures. If a

pet ingests this drug, it needs immediate veterinary attention.

In order to keep pets safe from ingesting these and other dangerous human medications, follow these recommendations:

 > Store human medications in a different location from pet medications. Pet Poison Helpline often takes calls from

pet owners who accidentally give their human medications to pets.

> Weekly pill holders are irresistible to some dogs because they resemble chew toys and make rattling noises. The

danger is that a dog could ingest a full seven days’ worth of medications, significantly increasing the risk for

poisoning.

> Avoid putting medications into plastic storage baggies before traveling—these are not pet proof (or child-proof),

and can easily be chewed into by dogs.

For any questions you might have calls can be directed to the veterinarians at Northwest Animal Hospital. 719-593-8582