In India, it is very common for a lot of people to self-medicate. From homemade decoctions to herbal teas and kadhas, with age-old wisdom (natural and allopathic), it becomes second nature for many people to self-medicate. Unfortunately, self-medication is prevalent even among well-meaning pet parents, as we at BCS Pune have seen several cases where pets have been given paracetamol as an emergency drug to dogs.
With many veterinary clinics unavailable 24/7 for emergencies, many pet parents resort to anything they can lay their hands on to give their pets relief. Sadly, giving them paracetamol can cause more harm than good. This guide provides essential information that all pet parents and volunteers must have about this drug and why it can be so risky for our pets.
Why Pet Parents Often Consider Paracetamol for Dogs
We’ve all seen that one senior family member pop a Crocin, Disprin, or paracetamol if they have a fever or are suffering from a migraine or a cold. Similarly, when pet parents notice their dogs are lethargic or in pain, they don’t think twice before giving them paracetamol (an over-the-counter drug) to make them feel better.
At BCS Pune, we advise all our pet parents to avoid human medication, as it is considered toxic and can cause harm to their internal organs.
Can Dogs Take Paracetamol?
The simple answer to this question is no! Dogs are not allowed paracetamol! It is best that you consult your vet before administering any medication to your dogs. Veterinarians provide medication that is pet-friendly and causes no harm, and only addresses their condition.
Dogs do not have the same metabolism as humans do to break down medication as we humans do. For dogs, medication goes through the liver and kidneys, unlike humans, which can damage them in the long run.
What you might think is a small dose for humans could turn out to be toxic and harmful even for a medium-sized dog. So, the best thing is to leave it in the hands of the professionals to help medicate your dogs the right way.
Why Paracetamol is Risky for Dogs
There could be several complications with human medication on dogs. They experience severe side effects, from breathlessness to toxicity of the liver. Paracetamol affects the blood and prevents it from carrying oxygen to the tissues, leading to anaemia and dizziness.
- Liver stress and toxicity: The primary threat of paracetamol in dogs is acute liver failure. The drug creates toxic by-products that a dog’s body cannot handle, which leads to rapid destruction of the organ.
- Breathing issues and oxygen reduction: Paracetamol also affects the blood cells, making it difficult to carry oxygen to the organs and causing the dog to lose consciousness and pass out.
- Blood cell damage: This drug also damages the blood cells and destroys the red blood cells, causing anaemia and making the dogs very weak.
Smaller breeds and puppies are even more vulnerable, and the symptoms can be more detrimental to their health.
Symptoms of Paracetamol Toxicity in Dogs
A few signs that you should look out for if your dog accidentally consumes paracetamol. You will notice the following symptoms within the first 4 hours of consumption.
Physical symptoms
- Vomiting
- Swollen face
- Rapid laboured breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness
- Rapid heart rate
- Jaundice
- Brownish gums
Behavioral signs
- Sudden lethargy: Your dog may seem lethargic, and their movements would appear slow.
- Confusion: They may seem disoriented and fail to recognise basic commands.
- Hiding: You would notice your dog hiding under your bed or the table, which is not common to their usual behaviour.
- Restlessness: They may seem uneasy and restless, eager to rush out and unable to sit in one place for too long.
- Reduced response to commands: Another unusual behaviour that you would notice is a reluctance to respond to your commands, a high state of confusion, restlessness, and discomfort.
How Fast Does Paracetamol Toxicity Set In
If you suspect your dog has accidentally consumed paracetamol or you have unknowingly given it to them and notice them behaving unusually, you need to rush them to the nearest vet as soon as possible or within the first 4 hours of detecting the symptoms mentioned above.
While some dogs may show signs within an hour, others may not, though liver/kidney/cell damage starts immediately and can progress within 24-72 hours, causing liver or kidney failure or worse. Hence, it is crucial to observe your pet’s behaviour and take immediate action. The sooner you observe and act, the higher the chance of healing or survival.
Why Home Remedies and Guesswork Are Dangerous
Although home remedies may work for a cough or a cold in humans, they do not work on animals. Avoid home remedies, guesswork, and the internet to treat your pet. You will find a plethora of information and other self-help information online when it comes to humans and pets. However, it is extremely dangerous to play around with such information when it concerns your pet’s health.
As we’ve read so far, dogs metabolise drugs differently from humans. Their bodies are much smaller than ours, and hence 1 wrong dosage can lead to fatality within hours. Since dogs cannot break down human medication effectively, it can result in severe organ damage, causing them much discomfort.
Combining paracetamol with other home remedies like turmeric, honey, garlic, or ginger can further worsen their condition and damage the liver, compromising its ability to heal. And, waiting for the home remedies/medicine to take effect rather than taking your dog to the doctor can lead to irreversible damage, causing your pet unnecessary and avoidable pain and stress.
What You Should Do If Your Dog Ingests Paracetamol
Firstly, ensure you do not give your dog paracetamol under any circumstances. If your dog has accidentally consumed it on their walks or picked it off the street, call your vet immediately. This is urgent and needs immediate medical attention.
Try to identify how many tablets your pet may have consumed. Check their face for swelling and gums if they have turned brownish. Check for other symptoms like rapid breathing, swelling on the face, weakness, lethargy, or rapid heart rate.
Things you should avoid:
- Do not induce vomiting, as it may cause more harm, unless advised to do so by the vet over the phone.
- Do not try human medication or home remedies
- Do not wait for hours hoping the condition will improve
Head to the vet immediately. This is a medical emergency!
When to Seek Immediate Veterinary Care
Seek immediate veterinary care if your pet shows any physical symptoms or behavioural signs mentioned above.
Common Pain and Fever Causes in Dogs (Indian Perspective)
It is common for pet parents to be concerned about their dogs’ health, but it is more important to understand why your dog is behaving peculiarly or is restless. Could it be a seasonal issue, or could it be something they ingested on their walk?
Seasonal issues
Severe weather conditions like extremely hot summers in Pune, could cause your dog to get dehydrated or seem warm to the touch. During monsoons, another issue they could face is tick fever and bacterial infections due to the humidity and moisture in the air. Extremely cold winters can cause joint pain in senior dogs, mimicking lethargy, which could be something you may want to check for with your vet.
Environmental triggers
In stray and community dogs, road injuries and street fights can cause internal injuries that may not be visible instantly. Also, the extreme weather conditions can make them drowsy, lethargic, or parched and cold. Do not mistake these behaviours as symptoms of fever or pain, unless you notice a trend over a few days. In such cases, you would need to consult a vet, not self-medicate them.
Safe Home Monitoring Checklist for Pet Parents
Instead of rushing for self-help tips online or reaching for the medicine cabinet for your pets, you should run through a few vital checks.
- Hydration checks: Have they drunk enough water? Is their nose dry?
- Temperature checks: Check their temperature accurately with a digital thermometer before concluding a fever or illness.
- Behavioural observation: Are they pacing restlessly, hiding in some corner, or sleeping excessively? Is this behaviour unusual?
- Environmental cleanliness: Are their surroundings clean, safe, and quiet, or are they surrounded by chaos and disturbance?
- Stress triggers: Do they seem anxious or afraid? Are they shivering, or is their tail constantly tucked in?
Why NGOs Like BCS Pune Create Awareness on Medication Safety
With blogs and informational posts like these, we aim to reduce the number of emergencies caused by the misuse of human medication. By increasing the awareness among our community pet parents, volunteers, and caregivers, we can drastically reduce the fatality risks caused by negligence and misinformation.
You can help us by supporting the work that we do in protecting stray dogs and assisting us in ensuring they are fully recovered and rehabilitated through your generous donations.
FAQs
1. Can we give paracetamol to dogs in small amounts?
There is no safe dosage for any human medication for dogs. Even half the dosage can cause liver damage
2. What happens if a dog accidentally eats paracetamol?
You need to rush them to the nearest vet as soon as possible (within the first 4 hours of detecting any symptoms).
3. How long does paracetamol take to affect a dog?
It can take between 1 and 4 hours for paracetamol to take effect. However, liver damage happens within 24-72 hours.
4. Can puppies handle paracetamol better or worse than adult dogs?
Dogs do not have the same metabolism as humans to break down medication effectively. Hence, paracetamol can affect dogs of any size and can have stronger and more detrimental effects on puppies.
5. Are there any human medications that are safe for dogs?
It is not advisable to give human medication to dogs. Seek advice from your vet before administering any medication to your pets.
6. What makes paracetamol toxic for dogs but safe for humans?
Humans have a specific metabolic pathway that safely breaks down the drug and eliminates any toxic waste from the body. Dogs lack the efficiency of this pathway, which leads to a build-up of toxicity in their blood, damaging their liver.
7. Does paracetamol toxicity vary depending on dog size?
Yes, weight plays a role to an extent; however, it is not safe for dogs due to the toxic waste build-up in the blood that can seriously affect the dog.
8. Can paracetamol cause long-term damage even after recovery?
Yes, due to the liver toxicity, dogs can have permanent liver scarring/damage and may require long-term dietary restrictions.
Final Note: Awareness Saves Lives
As a pet parent, you are the first line of defence (support and care) for your canine companion. We all want our pets to be safe, happy, healthy, and comfortable. But don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment and reach for your medicine cabinet at home. You don’t want to compromise their health by ever giving them human medication. It’s a risk you never want to take.
Remember, human medicines are highly toxic and can cause more harm than good. You create a safer environment for all stray and pet animals if you stay informed and support organisations like ours at BCS Pune to spread awareness. Your knowledge and support can save lives.