Aunt Lyn's Doggie Wellness Update »
Commonly Prescribed Drugs that May Be Causing Harm to Your Fur Friend - KNOW THE SIGNS
- Intro to Prescription Drug Side Effect
- List of Common Prescription Drugs and their Side Effects
- Time Sensitive Discount Code
- Cute Pup Of the Week
At Aunt Lyn’s we have the ability to see the connection more clearly than a pet parent, because we are recording the medications of our daycare members.
Whether short term like antibiotics, or after surgical care, or long term.
In this issue we will focus on long term medications and the side effects but please understand ALL medicines have side effect.
We suggest you not only google
- ( Canine + Medicine+ Side effects)
- ( Human + Medicine + Side effects)
- ( My dog + reaction to + medicine)
IF YOU HAVE NOT SUBSCRIBED PLEASE CONSIDER SIGNING UP FOR OUR WEEKLY K9 WELLNESS UPDATE ….
After all, the side effects listed are only derived from small studies of either humans or dogs- before the drug goes to market.
With canines – rarely is your vet or anyone’s vet- going to call up a Pharmaceutical company and say Fido got hair loss, rash, bleeding ulcer….from his arthritis pain reliever.
More often than not – the medication is not perceived as the reason.
After all he/she has been taking it for months or years, right?
Yes - but it can take months or years for the damage to the kidney - liver to
show in blood work.
If months later or years, the canine becomes itchy- scratches, later develops a rash- no one attributes to the medicine .
If a dog on inflammation medicine for arthritis, begins to lose vision or develope eye issues, people will attribute to age- not the side effects of the medicines.
It's easier to see side effects with Antibiotics , which tend to be prescribed short term . We learn to connect the after antibiotic UTI, or Yeasty ears ... as due to the antibiotic killing off good bacteria.
Sometimes it's a weakening of the eye tissue- in older dogs with certain antibiotics and eye ulcers can occur.
It is harder to see the connection from medication to a side effect - when the med is given long term and the issue begins much later .
So whether a simple pain pill, the vet likens to a human aspirin….to antibiotics, to Nsaid to Opiods ….
YOU are your pets Best Advocate - they CANT TALK but they can signal.
Know the Side Effects -Watch -Journal
Here's is a list of common pain meds and what to watch for:
1-Gabapentin :
Is now a commonly prescribed pain reliever for canines.
With regards to people this is why it was developed;
What Is Gabapentin?
In recent years there has been a significant increase in the prescriptions written for a medication called gabapentin. Available as capsules, an oral solution, and tablets, the primary use of gabapentin is to reduce or control epileptic seizures. There are additional uses for gabapentin to be prescribed.
It’s recommended to treat pain related to a condition called postherpetic neuralgia, occurring after a shingles outbreak. There’s an extended-release version of gabapentin used to treat symptoms of restless leg syndrome. On occasion, gabapentin is used to treat pain stemming from diabetic neuropathy, which is numbness or tingling from diabetic nerve damage. This medication is classified as an anticonvulsant, and it’s believed to calm certain impulses that occur in the central nervous system.
Gabapentin may alter how neurotransmitters communicate with one another by increasing the amount of GABA produced. GABA is known as a calming neurotransmitter.
There is also some research showing gabapentin can slow the production of glutamate, which causes nerve excitement. Doctors believe glutamate is a specific neurotransmitter that plays a role in epileptic seizures.
More severe gabapentin side effects can include seizures, problems breathing, and allergic reactions. People who begin used gabapentin are warned to watch for changes in their mood or emotional state.
- Drowsiness.
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Vision problems.
- Anxiety.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
2-PROIN- Urinary Incontinence – Leakage…
Don’t we always say JOURNAL JOURNAL JOURNAL?
Because we have seen times when Vets were not given enough clues as to what could be causing the issue.
- Yes could be ordinary puppy excitement which clears up when they mature – somewhere around a year.
- Yes it could be with Females or even Males that the spay or Neuter procedure, caused some weakening of nerves.
- It could be a UTI! And even after antibiotics are prescribed – the UTI may not be fully eradicated. RECHECK
- It could be Diabetes, Kidney, or Several Medical Issues.
- It could be a side effect from another medication
Lastly – dogs like people age.
Often a pill may seem to solve “cure” a natural occurrence of aging but the reality is …its can silently be causing WAY MORE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES.
ABOUT PROIN
High levels of phenylpropanolamine in a dog’s bloodstream have been associated with undesirable side-effects including:
- high blood pressure
- hyperexcitability
- increased heart rate, and
- decreased appetite
Proin Side Effect and Dangers:
Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:
- hives
- swelling of the face, tongue, or the lips, and/or
- breathing difficulties.
If you notice any of these side-effects in your dog after administering Proin, do not give any further doses and contact your veterinarian immediately.
-PROIN may cause increased thirst; therefore, provide ample fresh water.
-Overdose has been associated with dogs chewing through closed bottles of PROIN and consuming multiple tablets.
-Use in dogs with incontinence due to a urinary tract infection will mask symptoms.
PROIN is not effective in dogs with incontinence due to neurologic disease or malformations.
PROIN may cause hypertension; therefore, use with caution in dogs with pre-existing heart disease, hypertension, liver disease, kidney insufficiency, diabetes, glaucoma, and conditions with a predilection for hypertension.
Use with caution in dogs administered halogenated gaseous anesthetics as this may increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias.
A laboratory study on human blood revealed that PPA used in conjunction with aspirin may potentiate decreased platelet aggregation.
- tremors or seizures
- kidney failure
- urine retention
- blood in urine
- vomiting
- confusion
- diarrhea
- fever
- weakness
- change in skin color, and/or
- abnormal gait.
3-Carprofen (Generic to Rimadyl, Novox, Vetprofen) Caplets for Dogs
A word about NSAIDS -non steroid anti Inflammatory drugs. They tend to relieve pain too. Used short term after surgery – or an injury – they are great !
However- let’s think about some of the Long Term issues they are prescribed for:
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Chronic Disc Injuries
- A canine like a person with Chronic Injury or Illness- to the bone joins ligaments- should not be jumping, running, twisting.
Right? Common Sense.
What happens when the dog with Arthritis or Osteoporosis other ligament and Joint Issues- cannot feel pain?
Without this warning sign- a dog can go from mild arthritic to bone on bone severe osteoporosis, suffer breaks, and become lame.
What's the difference between an ache and stiffness and PAIN
How can you tell if your canine is in pain?
Sometimes it's Hard.
But look for these signs one or more.
- * Panting.
- Circling.
- Not able to rest for more than a few minutes without getting up and moving position…..
- If when you touch the area - he or she twitches or pulls away
- if you see your dog licking at a joint , knee, hip....
A limp after exertion can be a good thing !
Simply a warning to REST.
Try giving your fur baby Aunt Lyn’s Maximum Strength Calming Cologne – to relax and calm them both mentally and physically.
Still allowing your canines built in SLOW IT DOWN Mechanism to signal when he or she should stop.
A little watchfulness, journaling and Holistic natural products – can get your canine off the pain meds to chronic pain that can cause other WORSE medical issues.
Read the Side Effects below and decide for yourself – if the pain med is really worth the risk.
Carprofen -All NSAIDs (not just the Rimadyl) can cause the same sinister side effects in dogs as in humans: gastrointestinal bleeding and liver disease (not liver cancer).
When Signs of minor digestive upset occurs – Vets usually reduce the dose and prescribe a different pharmaceutical like the addition of other drugs such as the opiate, tramadol.
It the cycle of more and more meds.
NSAIDS like Rymidal CARPROFEN Side Effects and DANGERS
Tell your veterinarian about:
- Experienced side effects from Carprofen or other NSAIDs, such as aspirin
- Digestive upset (vomiting and/or diarrhea)
- Liver or kidney disease
- A bleeding disorder (e.g. von Willebrand's disease)
- Any other medical problems or allergies that your dog has now or has had
- All medicines that you are giving your dog or plan to give your dog, including those you can get without a prescription
- If your dog is pregnant, nursing or if you plan to breed your dog
Serious side effects can occur with or without warning and in rare situations result in death.
- Carprofen should not be given with other NSAIDs (e.g. aspirin, deracoxib, etodolac, firocoxib, meloxicam, tepoxalin) or steroids (e.g. cortisone, dexamethasone, prednisone, triamcinolone), as well as phenytoin, valproic acid, oral anticoagulants, salicylates, sulfonamides, sulfonylurea anti-diabetic agents, probenicid, methotrexate, furosemide and digoxin.
The most common NSAID-related side effects generally involve the stomach (such as bleeding ulcers), and liver or kidney problems. Look for the following side effects that can indicate your dog may be having a problem with Carprofen or may have another medical problem:
- Decrease or increase in appetite
- Vomiting
- Change in bowel movements (such as diarrhea, or black, tarry or bloody stools)
- Change in behavior (such as decreased or increased activity level, incoordination, seizure or aggression)
- Yellowing of gums, skin, or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Change in drinking habits (frequency, amount consumed)
- Change in urination habits (frequency, color or smell)
- Change in skin (redness, scabs or scratching)
4-OPIOIDES
The facts: tramadol is a centrally-acting, oral analgesic (pain drug) that contains an opioid (narcotic).
These are the dangers with Adult Humans.
Stop and think what the dangerous long term effects on canines can be.
The medical industry is wary of giving to children and elderly and yet- canines are now prescribed these drugs for long term use.
Other opioids include drugs you may be more familiar with, like oxycodone or codeine.
Opioids have made headlines over the past few years due to the tremendous problem of opioid addiction in the U.S.
Tramadol is approved for the treatment of pain in adults that is severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which other treatments do not work or are not tolerated.
In addition to acting at the opioid pain receptor, tramadol also inhibits uptake of two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and serotonin, which may add to its pain-relief effects, although the exact mechanism isn't exactly known.
The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) has reported that over 50,000 emergency department visits were related to tramadol and half were serious side effects.
Common OPIOID side effects may include:
• headache
• itching
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• diarrhea
• heartburn
• dizziness
• sleepiness
• nervousness, anxiety, agitation
• tiredness
• stomach pain
More Serious OPIOID side effects, may include:
- Depressed breathing (respiratory depression), which may be life-threatening or fatal
- Ultra-rapid metabolism (break down of the drug in the body for elimination) of tramadol and other risk factors for life-threatening respiratory depression in children (some cases occurred after tonsillectomy or removal of adenoids).
- Effects due to drug interactions with benzodiazepines or other sedative-type (CNS depressant) drugs
- Serotonin syndrome
- Seizures
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Severe hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Gastrointestinal adverse reactions
- Androgen deficiency
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Severe hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions
Additionally Canine’s May Experience:
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Decreased heart rate
- Tremors
- Sleepiness
- Seizure
- Excessive drooling
- Sedation
- Agitation
- Dilated pupils
- Ataxia (uncontrollable movement)
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma
Breathing changes like slowed or stopped breathing can occur at any time with tramadol, but the risk is greatest when treatment is first started (within the first 24 to 72 hours) or when there is a change in your dose.
You should not use tramadol if have severe asthma or breathing or lung problems, a bowel blockage or narrowing, or an allergy to tramadol.
Seizures have occurred in patients taking recommended doses but are more likely at high doses associated with abuse of tramadol.
Do not abruptly stop taking tramadol as withdrawal symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, anxiety, or tremors may occur.
Why play Russian Roulette?
When you can use our recommended Trifecta of
- NU JOINT DS has natural glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate the carrier needed for your dog to absorb Vit C plus MSM for reducing inflammation and pain ….without the risk.
- Along with Natural Product with no Harmful Side Effects like AUNT LYN”S CALMING COLOGN MAX – can ease the discomfort and Help your Dog rest more comfortably
- And do not forget to serve up a Healthy Collagen packed Broth -Our Recipe Here
NLJuneCalmingCologneMax 15%off
15% off Maximum Strength Calming Cologne
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Citations:
Gabapentin- https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/gabapentin-addiction/gabapentin-safe/#gref
- Gabapentin. Epilepsy Foundation. https://www.epilepsy.com/medications/gabapentin/advanced. Accessed June 19, 2018.
- Neurontin (prescribing information). New York, N.Y.: Pfizer; 2015. http://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=630. Accessed June 19, 2018.
- Information for healthcare professionals: Suicidal behavior and ideation and antiepileptic drugs. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://wayback.archive.org/7993/20171114185152/https:/www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm100192.html. Accessed June 22, 2018.
PROIN 75- phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride tablet ... - DailyMed
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/getFile.cfm?setid=089bde88-521a...
OPIOIDS like Tramadol https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/tramadol-for-dogs/
https://www.drugs.com/article/tramadol-need-to-know.html