Is Paracetamol Safe for Pets?

Here's What Every Owner Should Know

‍If you’re resting up at home with the lurgy this winter, make sure to keep your cold and flu medications well out of reach of your pets. Unfortunately, paracetamol, ibuprofen and decongestants can cause pretty nasty unwellness in dogs or cats who consume them. Here we’ll go through the potential symptoms.

Paracetamol

Whilst paracetamol at a carefully prescribed dose is usually well tolerated in dogs with healthy livers, it’s vital to remember that paracetamol at any dosage is fatal for cats. This is because cats do not have the enzyme needed to safely metabolise paracetamol in their bodies.

When paracetamol is given to cats or administered at the wrong doses in dogs, toxic by-products are formed that damage red blood cells, making them unable to properly carry oxygen around the body. Severe liver damage can also occur.

Affected pets will show symptoms such as:

• Vomiting
• Tummy pain
• Rapid breathing
• Jaundice (yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes)
• Weakness
• Discoloured gums (pale, blue-tinged, yellow or even a muddy brownish colour)

Ibuprofen

Cats are particularly sensitive to ibuprofen compared to dogs. Overdoses of this drug in either species can lead to tummy upset, stomach ulcers, or severe kidney, liver or brain damage.

Symptoms of ibuprofen toxicity in cats and dogs include:

• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea, which may be bloody or tarry in appearance
• Tummy pain
• Increased or decreased drinking and weeing
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Pale gums
• Jaundice
• Seizures

Pseudoephedrine

The decongestant pseudoephedrine acts as a stimulant to the cardiovascular and central nervous systems (heart and brain), leading to symptoms such as:

• Agitation, hyperactivity or panting
• A rapid or irregular heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Dilated pupils
• Tremors or seizures
• An elevated body temperature

Unfortunately, any of the above medications could potentially be lethal to your pet.

The bottom line? Always keep your medications up in a high, secure cupboard that your pet can’t reach. For more information on common household toxins for dogs and cats, consult our experienced vets.

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