Over the Counter Medication for Pets

Can This OTC Medication Treat Me and My Pet?

Have you ever wondered if some of the over-the-counter (OTC) medications you have around the house could also be used on your pup or cat? As it turns out, you can treat your fur babies with some OTCs depending on the circumstances.

But don't get too eager—some human medications can also be deadly for your pets. You should always check with your veterinarian first, but you can use this quick guide to learn which OTC medications are safe or unsafe for your furry friends in the meantime.

Constipation

Have you noticed that your dog is having trouble passing their bowel movements, or that your cat is going in and out of the litter box? It's possible that they could be dealing with a bit of constipation.

We've all been there, and MiraLAX can be just as useful for our four-legged friends to get their bowels moving. How much to give depends on the size of your pet. For smaller cats and dogs (less than 10 pounds for a cat and 30 pounds for a dog), you can sprinkle 1/8 - ¼ teaspoon of MiraLAX into their wet food twice daily; for larger dogs (over 55 pounds) you can mix ½ - ¾ teaspoons twice daily. Be sure to keep your pet hydrated with plenty of water, and check with your vet before administering.

Acid Reflux

Your vet has just informed you that your fur baby is temporarily suffering from acid reflux. Luckily, you may already have some vet-approved options in your medicine cabinet. Medications like omeprazole (Prilosec) or famotidine (Pepcid) can be used to protect your pet's stomach.

Under all that fur is sensitive skin that can require extra love and protection from the outside environment, just like ours. If you are walking your dog in cold weather—or perhaps your cat turns up with a scratch after a serious case of the zoomies—consider protecting their skin and paws with a wax-based petrolatum or lanolin product, like a healing ointment by Aquaphor or CeraVe.

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Allergies

Has your pet been sneezing or outside playing with those beehives again? Medications like diphenhydramine or cetirizine can relieve your pet's allergy symptoms, and as explained below, you should avoid medications with decongestants that are harmful to dogs and cats.

The amount of allergy medication you give to your pet is important to avoid side effects or overdose, so only use these medications after talking to your vet first.