Lots of pets love to lick their people, but that can be hazardous if tongues come in contact with medicated creams.
The Food & Drug Administration has received reports of dogs dying after accidentally ingesting creams containing a chemotherapy drug called fluorouracil. The drug is commonly used to treat many cancers in humans, including some types of skin cancers or a precancerous condition called solar or actinic keratosis.
Signs of poisoning can start within 30 minutes and include vomiting, shaking, seizures, difficulty breathing and diarrhea. Prevent your pet from licking any topical cream or other solution on your skin or from gnawing on tubes containing them.
Keep tubes well out of reach, and dispose of them in a place where your pet can’t get to them. Ask your doctor if it’s OK to cover the treated area with clothing or gauze to prevent licking.
There’s more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.
