As Pet owners we assume that pets can use human OTC products. However we need to be very cautious about OTC medication use for our pets. It is important to always check with your veterinarian before giving your pet any OTC medication. For instance Tylenol or acetaminophen can never be given to cats. Cats cannot metabolize acetaminophen and this can lead to liver failure. Therefore even small amounts can be lethal to cats. Aspirin use is also not recommended in cats because they cannot metabolize aspirin and this can lead to over-dosing. Antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and ChlorTrimeton (Chlorpheniramine) can be used to treat allergic reactions for pets. These products can also be used for sedation. It is okay to use these medications by themselves. Pet owners, however, need to be cautious about combination products which often contain Tylenol and aspirin. A lot of cough and cold medications contain benadryl and chlorpheniramine in combination with tylenol and aspirin. Always look at the active ingredients when buying or using OTC products.

Dogs owners need to be cautious about using OTC pain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) and naprosyn (Aleve) to treat pain. Dogs are more sensitive to gastro-intestinal side effects with these medications. NSAIDs like Advil or Motrin can cause kidney failure in dogs. It is very important that owners only use veterinarian approved medications for pain relief in pets. Pets metabolize medications differently than humans therefore always check with your veterinarian before giving your pet any OTC human medication prescription or non-prescription. You can always call the Animal Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435 to report any accidental overdose or poisoning