Pet drugs are one of the most important and helpful components of veterinary medicine. Drugs can be useful at eliminating diseases from your dog's body, at easing symptoms of diseases that cannot be treated easily, of relieving pain and many other benefits as well. One of the things that manufacturers and testers of canine veterinary drugs must always be aware of, however, is the potential for side effects of these medicines. Side effects include negative responses to the drug that may cause other problems in your pet's body. Generally speaking, few if any drugs are without any risk of side effect. However, most drugs on the market have been found to have benefits which far outweigh the potential side effects.
Gastric Upset
One of the most common side effects associated with common pet drugs is gastric upset. This can manifest itself in the form of vomiting, diarrhea or other related problems. This generally has to do with a negative reaction in your pet's stomach to ingesting medicine. However, even medicines that must be injected into your pet's skin directly can occasionally bring about this side effect as well. In more extreme cases, gastric upset may be accompanied by internal bleeding, which may result in black colored stools or blood in the vomit.
Drug Effects of Sedation or Lethargy
Many drugs have a side effect of making your pet sleepy or lethargic. In many cases, this is a mild side effect that will not affect your pet greatly. However, for some drugs it can be very dangerous to have your pet become sedated. There are drugs in which there exists the potential for coma and even death as a result of this sedation, so it's important to report it to your vet as soon as possible.
Organ Damage from Drugs
One of the more severe and dangerous risks associated with many pet drugs is damage to various organs. In many cases, the kidneys or liver will suffer damage. This has to do with the fact that these organs are responsible for processing the various nutrients that your pet ingests, and the medicine may affect them more directly than it would other parts of your dog's body.
Reactions with Other Medicines
Many drugs will bring about an unexpected reaction when they come into contact with other medicines in your pet's system. It's for this reason that you must tell your veterinarian about any other drugs in your dog's body before you begin a medical treatment program. The same is true for preexisting health conditions, as some drugs may negatively affect pregnancies and other health issues.
Allergic Reactions to Pet Drugs
One of the least common but potentially most serious side effects of any drug is an allergic reaction. You may not be able to predict whether your pet will experience a negative reaction, and the symptoms of such a reaction vary greatly. If you notice any other unusual side effects immediately after giving your pet a new medicine, inform your vet as quickly as possible.