Key takeaways<\/h2>\n\n- \n
Sharing medication with pets is illegal and dangerous, as dosages and inactive ingredients can differ significantly between humans and animals.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Pets often require medications based on their weight and species, making human prescriptions unsuitable for direct sharing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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All pet medications should only be given under a veterinarian\u2019s guidance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Pet medications can be acquired from veterinary offices, local or compounding pharmacies, and Vet-VIPPS certified online sites, with options available for cost savings through services like .<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Just like humans, pets sometimes need prescription medications. Many of the diagnoses that result in these prescriptions (such as heartworm disease and parvo) are pet-specific. But, pets can be diagnosed with conditions that humans experience, too\u2014like <\/span>anxiety<\/span>, heart disease, arthritis, and cancer. In many cases, the medications used to treat these conditions in humans work for pets, too. Meaning, every now and then, pets and their humans are prescribed the same medication at the same time for an identical (or similar) condition. <\/span><\/p>\nIf both have high blood pressure, for example, both might receive a prescription for <\/span>atenolol<\/span> (<\/span>a beta blocker<\/span>). \u201cHow convenient!\u201d a pet owner may say. \u201cI can just give Bailey some of my medicine so I don\u2019t have to fill separate pet prescriptions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nNot so fast! The practice of sharing medication with a pet is a bad idea\u2014and one that should be avoided at all costs, says Dr. Laurie S. Coger, DVM, founder of<\/span> The Healthy Dog Workshop<\/span><\/a> and a veterinarian in private practice in Albany, New York. For one thing, it is illegal (according to the<\/span> Title 21 United States Code Controlled Substances Act<\/span><\/a>) to share medications with anyone, including pets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBeyond that, the practice is dangerous and can cause real harm to your beloved fur baby, Dr. Coger warns. \u201cDon\u2019t do it,\u201d she says. \u201cEven though they may be prescribed the same drug, it is not going to be used in the same way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nMedications commonly prescribed to both humans and pets include antibiotics like <\/span>amoxicillin<\/span>, antidepressants such as <\/span>Prozac<\/span>, pain medication like <\/span>tramadol<\/span>, various chemotherapy drugs, certain thyroid-control medications, and <\/span>prednisone<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>What you need to know about putting your dog on Prozac<\/b><\/p>\nWhy is it dangerous to share a prescription with my pet?<\/span><\/h2>\nLegality aside, what is the harm? Especially <\/span>if a pill is split<\/span> into halves or quarters, and your pet is getting the correct\u2014or what you <\/span>think<\/span><\/i> is the correct\u2014dosage?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Sharing medication with pets is illegal and dangerous, as dosages and inactive ingredients can differ significantly between humans and animals.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Pets often require medications based on their weight and species, making human prescriptions unsuitable for direct sharing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
All pet medications should only be given under a veterinarian\u2019s guidance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Pet medications can be acquired from veterinary offices, local or compounding pharmacies, and Vet-VIPPS certified online sites, with options available for cost savings through services like .<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Just like humans, pets sometimes need prescription medications. Many of the diagnoses that result in these prescriptions (such as heartworm disease and parvo) are pet-specific. But, pets can be diagnosed with conditions that humans experience, too\u2014like <\/span>anxiety<\/span>, heart disease, arthritis, and cancer. In many cases, the medications used to treat these conditions in humans work for pets, too. Meaning, every now and then, pets and their humans are prescribed the same medication at the same time for an identical (or similar) condition. <\/span><\/p>\n If both have high blood pressure, for example, both might receive a prescription for <\/span>atenolol<\/span> (<\/span>a beta blocker<\/span>). \u201cHow convenient!\u201d a pet owner may say. \u201cI can just give Bailey some of my medicine so I don\u2019t have to fill separate pet prescriptions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Not so fast! The practice of sharing medication with a pet is a bad idea\u2014and one that should be avoided at all costs, says Dr. Laurie S. Coger, DVM, founder of<\/span> The Healthy Dog Workshop<\/span><\/a> and a veterinarian in private practice in Albany, New York. For one thing, it is illegal (according to the<\/span> Title 21 United States Code Controlled Substances Act<\/span><\/a>) to share medications with anyone, including pets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond that, the practice is dangerous and can cause real harm to your beloved fur baby, Dr. Coger warns. \u201cDon\u2019t do it,\u201d she says. \u201cEven though they may be prescribed the same drug, it is not going to be used in the same way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Medications commonly prescribed to both humans and pets include antibiotics like <\/span>amoxicillin<\/span>, antidepressants such as <\/span>Prozac<\/span>, pain medication like <\/span>tramadol<\/span>, various chemotherapy drugs, certain thyroid-control medications, and <\/span>prednisone<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>What you need to know about putting your dog on Prozac<\/b><\/p>\n Legality aside, what is the harm? Especially <\/span>if a pill is split<\/span> into halves or quarters, and your pet is getting the correct\u2014or what you <\/span>think<\/span><\/i> is the correct\u2014dosage?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhy is it dangerous to share a prescription with my pet?<\/span><\/h2>\n