Over-the-Counter People Ointments & Treatments You Can Use on Dogs

If your pet is sick in any way shape or form, it is crucial for them to be taken to the vet so a thorough examination can be carried out followed by the right sort of treatment to get them back on the road to recovery. However, there are certain instances when you might not be able to get them to the vet and yet you need to make your pet feel more comfortable which is when you might be tempted to use people"" ointments, lotions, potions and meds but you need to know whether it would be safe to do so or not.

There are certain people medicines you can buy at the chemist that can safely be given to pets but it is always worth giving your vet a ring first to make absolutely sure the one you want to use on your pet is on okay.

Dogs With Stomach Upsets

If you find that your dog has over indulged by getting into the food cupboard or if they are suffering from some sort of stomach upset, there are two things that can be given to them to ease their discomfort until you can get them to the vet which are as follows:

• Pepcid AC – famotidine
• Tagamet HB - cimetidine

However, if your dog is on any other sort of veterinary medication it is best to check with your vet first to make sure they don't interact badly with the tablets they've been prescribed. When it comes to dosage, this depends on the size of your dog and their overall condition but you can check this out with your vet so you get in right.

Dogs With Sore Eyes

If your dog is suffering with sore eyes or a very mild case of conjunctivitis and you cannot get them to the vet for a few days, you can use certain over the counter ophthalmic treatments for humans to make your pet's life more comfortable. The two treatments that can be used are

• Genteal
• Soothe XP

These eye drop will help soothe the irritation your dog may be feeling and will help clear up any redness around their eyes. However, if your dog has any sort of yellow, white or green coloured discharge coming out of their eyes or if there's any swelling or extreme redness around their eyes, you need to get them to the vet as soon as you can because something serious may be going on which would need some powerful medication which only a vet would be able to prescribe after having done a thorough examination of your dog's eyes.

Minor Scrapes & Cuts

If you don't have any veterinary ointments to hand and your find your dog has suffered an minor scrape or cut, you can use certain antibiotic gels on them which you can buy at the chemist to prevent an infection from taking hold and just a light coat of the ointment should do the trick. You can buy Neosporin and other antibiotic gels over the counter at most chemists.

You only need to use a very small amount of the gel on minor scrapes and cuts because dogs being dogs love to lick things off especially if they smell ""good"". The ointments or gels therefore, should not contain either of the following ingredients:

• Tetracaine
• Hydrocortisone

The reason being these ingredients might just hinder the healing process if licked off by your dog as soon as you have applied them – it might be worth investing in a Elizabethan collar to prevent them from doing this.

Has YourDog Developed a Hot Spot or Sore?

If you find that your dog has developed an itchy red patch on their skin where hot spots suddenly appear, you can use the following over the counter people treatments to make their lives more comfortable:

• Corticosteroid sprays
• Corticosteroid gels
• Corticosteroid creams

You can find corticosteroid creams, sprays and gels in chemists and they can be purchased over the counter. They are very useful to have in a medicine cabinet for emergencies both human and canine. They bring relief to itchiness but the sprays contain alcohol which means they can sting a bit which is something you need to be aware of as it will cause your pet to react. The gels and creams are great though but you do have to use them sparingly making sure your dog doesn't insist on licking them off as soon as you rub any of it onto their sore skin.

Has Your Dog Developed a Fungal Infection

If you notice your dog is developing a fungal infection and you can't get them to the vet, you should give them a ring and check out if you can use any anti-fungal sprays, creams or gels formulated for people that you can buy over the counter at your local chemist.

If you look for a cream, gel or spray that contains miconazole, this has proved to be very effective at treating the infection until you get the chance to take your dog to see the vet so they can carry out a thorough examination to find the root cause of the infection.

Conclusion

There are times when getting a dog to the vet is impossible but you can use certain creams, gels, sprays and other people treatments that can be bought at your local chemist to tide you over until you can get them to the surgery. You should always ask your vet about any people treatments before you use them on your pet but if you can then your dog's life will be made more comfortable.

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