Acetaminophen, or better known as Tylenol, is used to treat a variety of ailments. This medication can cause toxicity to your pets as many pets are unable to metabolize acetaminophen, therefore, this medicine should always be kept out of your animals’ reach. It is important to note that acetaminophen may be present in multi-symptom cold and allergy products. All accidental ingestions of these medications should be reported immediately.
Signs and symptoms of toxicity: Clinical signs of toxicity include weakness, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, blue/purple discoloration of skin or mucous membranes, jaundice, vomiting, significant decrease in body temperature, and facial or paw swelling.
If you have any reason to suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please contact your veterinarian or one of the other resources* listed:
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline® 24-hour animal poison control service at (855) 764-7661