2024-02-14 07:00:57
In France, there are no less than 7.5 million dogs, pets or working animals, who, like us, can become ill. Can we give them a medicine intended for humans? Do our medications pose a danger to our animals? Decryption.
Human medicines for veterinary use
In a large majority of situations, animals are treated exclusively with veterinary drugs, that is to say drugs specifically developed to treat animal diseases. Animals have particular diseases, but also a physiology and metabolism different from ours. However, there are some special situations where human drugs can be used in animals. Current regulations designate these medications as human medicines for veterinary use. These drugs are all subject to a prescription from a veterinarian and can only be dispensed by a community pharmacist. The pharmacist then indicates on the medication packaging that it will be used as a veterinary product.
This situation is only possible when there are no veterinary drugs available to treat the animal species and disease. The owner of the sick animal must have a prescription from a veterinarian and obtain the medication from the pharmacy. In all other cases, the animal is treated with a veterinary drug. You should therefore never use a human medication in an animal without advice or a prescription from a veterinarian. And for good reason, many human drugs are dangerous for certain animal species and sometimes formally contraindicated for veterinary use. Only the veterinarian, the animal’s health professional, knows which human medications can be used without risk for the animal.
To know ! You should also not give your animal medication prescribed by a veterinarian for another animal, whether it is of the same species or not.
Read also – One Health: preserving human, animal and ecosystem health
Human medications often dangerous for animals
Every year, a large number of dogs and cats are poisoned, sometimes seriously, following the accidental or voluntary intake of human medications. Several medications are frequently the cause of these poisonings:
Ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) widely used in humans to relieve inflammatory conditions. In dogs, ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal disorders, gastric ulcers, and even kidney failure. Such effects are also found with other anti-inflammatory drugs; Paracetamol, widely used to relieve pain and fever in children and adults. In dogs, paracetamol impairs liver function and in cats, it is a deadly poison, even at low doses! Le tramadol, another analgesic medication used to relieve moderate pain. In animals, it can cause tremors and even convulsions; Anxiolytic drugs may in some animals cause a major drop in blood pressure and sedation; Antidepressant medications can cause severe tremors and seizures.
Medications used in many clinical contexts in humans and sometimes over the counter, can be very dangerous in animals.
Read also – Dog bites: children on the front line
Three reflexes to preserve the health of your animal
These few examples demonstrate that a human drug can cause serious effects in animals. And the animal can be exposed to it in two ways:
By ingesting medications left within reach by humans: capsules dropped on the ground, a box left open on a coffee table, etc.; By ingesting medications deliberately given to the animal by its owner, poorly informed of the risks.
Faced with these risks, three reflexes are essential :
No human medication in animals, even at low doses, without a prescription from the veterinarian; All human medications should be stored in a medicine cabinet, inaccessible to pets; No vitamin supplements or food supplements for human use in pets. Here once more, the veterinarian’s advice is essential. Read also – What makes us allergic to animals?
Written by Estelle B., February 14, 2024, Doctor of Pharmacy
Sources
– The veterinary pharmacy. cpcms.fr. Accessed February 14, 2024.
– Be careful before giving human medication to an animal. www.anses.fr. Accessed February 14, 2024.
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