Side Effects and Safety
Specific effects depend on the medication. Use its information page alongside your treatment plan.
Common or mild effects
- Mild sleepiness.
- Temporary digestive upset.
- Mild appetite or activity changes.
Mild effects may settle, but persistent effects need advice.
Changes that need advice
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea.
- Marked loss of appetite.
- Unusual agitation.
- Paradoxical excitation: becoming more restless or agitated instead of calmer.
- Pronounced sedation.
- Persistent stumbling or weakness.
- Significant behavioural change or worsening.
Do not wait for a reply
- Collapse or seizures.
- Severe difficulty breathing.
- Extreme weakness or profound unresponsiveness.
- Rapid deterioration.
- Suspected overdose.
Contact the nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately. This list is not exhaustive.
Medication combinations
Tell the clinic before adding another medicine, supplement, herbal product, CBD or calming product. Some combinations are intentionally prescribed; they still require monitoring.
Serotonin syndrome
Some medicines affect serotonin, a brain messenger. Excessive serotonin activity can become an emergency. Severe agitation with vomiting, diarrhea, muscle twitching, loss of balance or rapidly worsening signs warrants urgent veterinary advice. Do not use this list to diagnose the cause at home.
Give the medication exactly as prescribed. Do not increase, decrease, repeat, combine, or discontinue medication unless instructed by your veterinarian.