Pets and Your Medication

               Every household contains medications of some kind. Whether it be aspirin, cold medicine, other over the counter medications, or prescription medications, almost everyone has something. Most people know the importance of keeping these medications away from children, but we should also be concerned with keeping them away from our pets.

                Dropped human medications made more pets sick in the U.S. than any other toxin last year (Manning, 2011). Ibuprofen, antidepressants, and ADHD medication were the top contributors to making pets sick. If somebody notices

                Hotlines are available for pet owners to call if they notice that their pet has eaten any medications. Out of 168, 000 calls received by a ASPCA hotline in Urbana, Illinois, a quarter of them were about pets who had swallowed human drugs (Manning, 2011).  Another helpline in Minnesota has handled more than 750,000 calls and about half of them dealt with human medicine (Manning, 2011).

                Some symptoms that your pet may show if they have gotten into your medication include lethargy, vomiting, depression, seizures, and refusing food (Manning, 2011). Symptoms can also vary depending on what kind of medication is swallowed. If a dog swallows ADHD medication, they may appear agitated (Manning, 2011). Rogaine can be dangerous for pets and can cause heart failure. Birth control doesn't usually have an effect on most pets since the amount of estrogen is small and Viagra has been used to treat dogs with pulmonary hypertension (Manning, 2011).

                Consumption of one aspirin probably will not kill your pet but, eating a large quantity of aspirin, a few bars of chocolate, a single lily, or even a bunch of grapes could (Manning, 2011).  Alcohol can make pets drunk very quickly and will cause them to wobble, vomit, and cause inhalation of vomit into the lungs (Manning, 2011).

                It is important for owners to be responsible for keeping harmful medications out of the reach of their pets. While humans may need to take the medications to keep themselves healthy, they can become a serious problem for pets when not taken care of properly. Not only should medications be regulated, but certain foods should also be monitored and properly stored.

Manning, S. (2011). Pets Poisoned By Your Pills. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from                 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41317308/ns/health-pet_health/

Keep Your Pet and Family Healthy

               While there are many benefits to owning a pet, it is important to know that they may carry germs and diseases. These diseases can easily be spread to people and make them sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer information on how to protect you and your family from these diseases.

                When choosing a pet, people should make sure that it will be the right one for their family. Families with children under the age of five should not have reptiles or amphibians (CDC, 2010). Pregnant women should not be in contact with rodents because they may be exposed to a virus that could cause birth defects (CDC, 2010). Pregnant women should avoid handling stray cats and cleaning litter boxes to avoid contracting toxoplasmosis. People with a compromised immune system also need to be careful when handling pets (CDC, 2010).

                People should always wash their hands when they have come into contact with an animal. Individuals should also wash their hands after handling pet food and treats since they can be contaminated with bacteria and other germs (CDC, 2010). The CDC recommends washing hands whenever you leave a place where animals live, regardless of whether you touched an animal or not.

                Individuals need to keep their pets vaccinations up to date. When vaccinations are current, you not only keep your pet healthy, but you and your family healthy as well. Applying medications such as Frontline to your pets will reduce the risk of ticks which can spread Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Pets should be provided with a good diet, fresh water, clean bedding, and exercise (CDC, 2010). When your pet is healthy, the risk of germs and disease are reduced. Another very important vaccination that a pet should have is the rabies vaccination. Rabies can kill your pet and even people.

                Lastly, children younger than five years need to be supervised whenever animals are present. Parents need to teach their children proper hygiene when handling pets or their environment. Parents should be extra cautious when their children visit farms, petting zoos, and fairs (CDC, 2010).

Reference

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010).  Healthy Pets Healthy People. Retrieved March 8, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HealthyPets/.