EMERGENCY DRUG DOSES

USING OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS and SUPPLIES

Name of Drug or
Health Supply Strength Form Use Dog Dose Cat Dose
Emetic to cause vomiting (do not 1 tsp/5# of Body Weight. Repeat
use if your pet swallowed caustic in 5-10 minutes if not succesful 1 tsp/5# of Body Weight. Repeat
Hydrogen Peroxide 2% - 3% Liquid substance or sharp objects) (do not exceed 1.5 tbsp) in 5-10 minutes if not succesful
Isopropyl Alcohol 50% Liquid Antiseptic Do not use near eyes Do not use near eyes
Alcohol Swabs 50% Swabs Antiseptic Do not use near eyes Do not use near eyes
Start with 1/8 tsp (puppy) up to
1/2 tsp+ twice a day in meal. 1/4 tsp of powder mixed in
MiraLAX Powder To help relieve constipation Adjust as necessary canned food twice a day
Use to flush eyes vigorously Use to flush eyes vigorously
Saline Wound Wash 0.90% Liquid Flush wounds and eyes when chemicals get in eye when chemicals get in eye

Artificial Tears 15ml Liquid For dry eye Every 4 hours in affected eye(s) Every 4 hours in affected eye(s)
Use only after cleaning and Use only after cleaning and
drying wound. Allow several drying wound. Allow several
minutes to dry..not for puncture minutes to dry..not for puncture
New Skin Liquid Bandage 10 ml Liquid Liquid bandaid wounds wounds
Apply to wound every 12 hours. Apply to wound every 12 hours.
Antibiotic ointment to apply to Do not use in eyes unless Do not use in eyes unless
Neosporin Ointment Ointment wounds indicated you can indicated you can
Apply to affected areas where
Lotrimin AF (Jock itch cream and yeast infection suspected every 6 Does not work well for Ringworm
also in lotion form) 1% Clotrimazole Cream/Lotion Anti-fungal -12 hours in cats

Anti-inflammatory/Pain 1 tablet per 60# of dog's body

Reliever/Decrease Clot weight every 12 hours with meal. Do not use in cats due to lack
Regular Strength Aspirin 325 mg/5 grain Tablet formation DO NOT GIVE WITH NSAID accuracy in dosing!

Anti-inflammatory/Pain 1 tablet per 15# of dog's body 1 tablet per 15# of cat's body
Low Dose Adult Aspirin or Baby Reliever/Decrease Clot weight every 12 hours with meal. weight every 48 - 72 hours with
Aspirin 81 mg Tablet formation DO NOT GIVE WITH NSAID veterinary instruction
30mg 1 tsp/30# of body weight every 8
Dextromethorphan - 12 hours (based on
Robitussen DM HBr/5ml Liquid Cough Suppressant Dextromethorphan strength) Do Not Use
1/4 to 1/2 tablet per cat by
4 Hour Allergy Medication / 1 - 2 tablets per dog every 8 - 12 mouth every 12 hours depending
Chlorpheniramine 4mg Tablet Antihistamine / Decongestant hours depending on size of dog on size of cat

Use of items on this list should be done with caution, and if at all possible with veterinary health professional instruction and advice
 EMERGENCY DRUG DOSES
USING OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS and SUPPLIES
Name of Drug or
Health Supply Strength Form Use Dog Dose Cat Dose
Upset Stomach Reliever / Anti- 1 caplet per 15 - 25# Body Do not use in cats due to to
Pepto-Bismol 262 mg Caplet diarrheal Weight every 8 hours Salicylates
Kaopectate Liquid w/ Bismuth Anti-diarrheal / Relieve Upset 1/2 to 1 tsp/5# of Body weight Do not use in cats due to to
Subsalicylate 50% by volume Liquid Stomach every 4-6 hours Salicylates
1 tablet/40# of body weight
every 8 - 12 hours. Do not give Do Not Use….Use in cats is
more than 5 days. Caution in controversial due to potential
Immodium A-D 2mg Loperamide Tablet Anti-Diarrheal Collie & Like breeds reactions
1/2 to 1 mg/lb of body weight
1/2 - 1 mg/lb of body weight every 8 - 12 hours (use 12.5mg
Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) 25mg and 12.5mg Tablet Antihistamine every 8 - 12 hours tablet)
Dramamine (Dimenhydrate) 50mg Tablet Motion sickness 2-4mg/lb of BW every 8 hrs 2-4mg/lb of BW every 8 hrs
Bonine (Meclizine HCl) 25 mg Tablet Motion sickness 2mg/lb of body weight 1x/day 1/4 to 1/2 tablet/cat/day
1/4 to 1/2 tablet orally/20# of
Prilosec (Omeprazole) 20mg Tablet Stomach Acid Reducer dog body weight daily 1/8 to 1/4 tablet/10# cat per day
1/4 to 1/2 tablet orally/20# body 1/4 to 1/2 tablet orally/cat every
Pepcid AC (Famotidine) 10mg Tablet Stomach Acid Reducer weight every 12 - 24 hrs 12 - 24 hours
Apply 2x/day to affected area. Apply 2x/day to affected area.
Hydrocortisone Crème 1% Cream Topical Anti-inflammatory Can be mixed with Neosporin Can be mixed with Neosporin
Wound protectant / lube / For DO NOT USE ON CHEMICAL 1/2 to 1 tsp by mouth/day as
Petroleum Jelly Jelly constipation BURNS as wound dressing! laxative (can apply to paws)
Wear gloves when using. Will Wear gloves when using. Will
Betadine Solution 10% Liquid Antiseptic stain. Do not get near eyes! stain. Do not get near eyes!
Apply antibiotic ointment on pad Apply antibiotic ointment on pad
Non-stick Pads Pads Dressing for wound before applying before applying
Careful on applying. Can become Careful on applying. Can become
Tender Tape/Vetrap 2" Roll Tape Tape for dressing wounds a tourniquet. a tourniquet.
Careful on applying. Can become Careful on applying. Can become
First Aid Cloth Tape 1" Roll Tape Tape for dressing wounds a tourniquet. a tourniquet.
Lube 1st with Vaseline. Normal Lube 1st with Vaseline. Normal
Rectal thermometer to measure rectal body temp range is 101 - rectal body temp range is 101 -
Digital Thermometer body temperature 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit
1/2 tsp up to 2 tbsp in mouth 1/2 to 1 tsp/cat in mouth
For low blood sugar episodes / depending on size of dog. Seek depending on size of cat. Seek
Honey or Karo Syrup Viscous Liquid hypoglycemia veterinary care immediately. veterinary care immediately.
ASPCA POISON CONTROL CENTER 1-888-426-4435 or PET POISON HELPLINE 1-800-213-6680 (Consultation fee may be applied to a credit card)

Use of items on this list should be done with caution, and if at all possible with veterinary health professional instruction and advice
 COMMON SENSE NUMBERS & ITEMS THAT YOU CAN USE
1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds
…..if you want to rough it, make a kilogram equal to 2 pounds, i.e. a 20 pound dog = 10 kg. (rather than 9.09 kg.)…it will
do in a pinch.

1 Milliliter (ml) approx = 1 cubic centimeter (cc).  1 cup = 8 ounces

These terms are used interchangeably.  240 ml = 8 oz.
 5 ml = 1 teaspoon  2 cups = 1 pint (pt)
 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon  2 pints = 1 quart (qt)
 15 ml = 1 tablespoon  1 quart is approximately = to 1 liter or 1000
 2 tablespoons = 1 ounce (oz.) ml.
 30 ml = 1 oz.
 Therefore, 1 oz. = 6 teaspoons

1 grain = 65 mg., therefore a normal 5 grain aspirin tablet is equal to 325 mg.
A baby aspirin or low-dose adult aspirin is 1 ¼ grain or approx. 81mg; it takes 4 baby aspirins to equal 1 adult
aspirin.

A dog and cat’s normal rectal body temperature ranges from 101.0 degrees Fahrenheit – 102.5 degrees
Fahrenheit. This normal range may vary depending on the dog or cat’s activities and the environmental
temperature (there are many ‘normal and healthy’ dogs that have a 103.0 +/- degree Fahrenheit temperature due
to excitement and hot days). ALL DOGS HAVE A TEMPERATURE, NOT ALL DOGS HAVE A FEVER! A low rectal body
temperature ( < 100 degrees Fahrenheit) means several things: 1) the thermometer was either not in long enough,
2) not far enough in the rectum, or 3) your dog or cat is sick. With either very high body temperature or low body
temperature, be sure to recheck in a few minutes. Use lubrication on your thermometer prior to inserting,
adequate help in restraint, and gentle, persistent pressure when inserting the thermometer.

Respiratory rate of healthy, resting dog: (young) 20 – 22 breaths/minute and for old dogs 14 –16 breaths/minute.

Heart rate of healthy, resting dog: Young dog: 110-120 beats/minute; Dog of large breed, adult: 60 – 80
beats/minute; Dog of small breed, adult: 80 – 120 beats/minute.

HELPFUL ITEMS TO HAVE AROUND

o Gauze sponges to clean wounds and make bandage dressings

o Rubber bulb ear syringes to flush out debris from wounds and collect samples when needed
o Blankets can be used for restraint, warmth to avoid shock, and as a stretcher
o Tweezers are helpful to pull debris out of wounds and getting things out of the mouth
o Ziplock bags are great for collecting samples, keeping feet dry for wounds on the foot, and they can also
be used to make an ice compress by mixing approximately 1 to 1 mix of water and Isopropyl alcohol,
place in Ziplock bag, seal and then freeze overnight. Will create an icy slush that will conform to body
parts that need treatment. To avoid ice burn, place thin cloth between compress and part.
o Muzzle for use when confronted with an injured and painful dog.
o Heavy bath towel are great for restraining angry cats and small dogs
o Softer bar of soap to help stop bleeding when cutting toe nails of your pet and getting into the quick of the
nail
o Splints can be created with a rolled up newspaper, branches, boards, Popsicle sticks, and any other
straight and hard object. Use Ace bandage along with these for temporary splint