Why did the vet prescribe vicodin for my dog?

Question

I was at work yesterday so my daughter had to take our dog to the vet. When I got home, the place was closed so I couldn't call to discuss the drug prescribed. My dog needed an allergy shot (she's allergic to saliva from flea bites). Prior to the injection yesterday, she had been licking her fur alot. For three days, periodically she'd make this sound that resembles a high pitched snore, as if she were clearing her throat (from the hair, I think).
The vet checks her lungs and they sound clear. She then prescribes 1/4 of a hydrocodone (vicodin without the acetaminophen)tablet to be taken daily. Why would she prescribe hydrocodone when her lungs are clear and the coughing is not from congestion after a cold or asthma. With the lungs being clear and healthy, I would think the medication would be rendered useless. It won't stop the coughing due to hair licking. My daughter didn't get an explaination from the vet. Should I give my dog the pills? Has anybody else had this problem? Thanks.

Answer 1

Speaking form experience, what the vet told your daughter and what your daughter heard, or understood, in many cases are 2 totally different things. Hydrocodone is used to treat excessive coughing related to excessive mucous, collapsing trachea, heart enlargement, or respiratory illness. Your vet either thought one of theses problems existed, or maybe your daughter made the coughing sound much worse than it was. Either way, if YOU are uncomfortable with the drug prescribes call your vet before giving it. Have her explain why the drug was prescribed to you. Hydrocodone does have side effects, including drowsiness, upset stomach, and constipation, so you definately should check before giving it.

Answer 2

Hydrocodone is used as a cough suppressant. Vicodin is not used in dogs due to the acetomenophin not being a very good choice (borders on toxic).

If your dog is allergic to saliva from flea bites... are you using Frontline or Advantage or Revolution??? What kind of allergy shot are you giving her - steroids??? I'd avoid that, my friend's dog became diabetic from her vet giving steriod shots for allergies. If nothing else, you can get allergy shots made of low doses of flea saliva (hyposensitization therapy, like they do in humans) from either your vet (through an allergy company) or through a veterinary dermatologist that will be safer and more effective in the long run.

If you have a problem with the medication your vet prescribed, by all means call and calmly discuss it with your vet. When you as the adult in the house can not take the pet to the vet, you should have a number where the vet can call you to involve you in the decision making process. My vets do that all the time, and it usually creates less frustration on your part and their part. Many times the kids that bring pets into our clinic don't have any idea why they are coming in (or are afraid to talk to the ver) so the vet treats what he/she sees.

Answer 3

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/7MlnW

Then find a new vet. I had a vet that wanted to give my dog Frontline, even though he's dangeriously allergic to it. I gave it to him once and it almost killed him. So no, I'm not going to give it to him again, no matter how great the vet thinks it is. Vets dont know just a whole lot about food. I have had many ask me why I am wasting my money feeding my dog Wellness... and not science diet... since they have a huge stack of it out front. Yes, vets get paid to push a certain food. I've had to walk out of a vet's office in the middle of an exam once. The vet picked up my two year old male dog and looked him over, then asked me if he was fixed... if HE was FIXED! Isnt that fairly obvious?? So I told the head vet why I was leaving and not paying for the exam (no meds had been given yet). He agreed with me and let me leave. No one says you have to stay with one vet, find someone else.

Answer 4

The hydrocodone is for the coughing. It does not have the tylenol in it, which is poison for dogs. It was probably prescribed for the excessive coughing, which can cause an irritated throat, and possible spasms,which can and often do lead to choking in dogs. I have an older mastiff who has taken Codeine Cough syrup as well as hydrocodone for his cough/choke/gag issues. It really works well, however, it may make the dog a little "mellow", if you will. Good Luck

Answer 5

If your that concerned then check with the vet to ease your mind.
That's the only way you'll know for sure!
I just looked up vicodin and it's a pain killer, I dont know why your vet would perscribe this for allergies. Only her or she can tell you why.

Answer 6

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tinyurl.im/up1tI

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.

Answer 7

You might want to wait until you can contact the vet. I thought vicodin was for pain.

Answer 8

Dogs are naturally sociable animals, and to keep one confined one at home is both cruel and unnecessary. All mutts yearn for the freedom to run around and play in the sun, meet other people and other dogs. Many owners are understandably wary of granting their pets such freedom for fear that the dog would simply run away or even attack another animal or person.

Owners of badly behaved pets are in a constant state of worry about their pets. They live in fear of the day when their bad-tempered, poorly trained canine will snap. In such situations dog training is the only solution. While it may seem like a tough task at first, all the hard work you do training your pet will be more than worth it in the end.

What to Expect from Dog Training?

Obedience training, generally speaking, is comprised of several different stages. Dog trainers start with the basics, and build on that. There are no shortcuts when it comes to training your dog. If your dog doesn't understand the basic commands like 'sit', 'stand', 'come' and 'stay' then there's no point in teaching it more advanced commands. Advanced commands can range in anything from asking your dog to fetch to making it roll over or sit up and beg.

Training your dog can take many forms; some of the more popular dog training methods include reward training, clicker training, obedience-training games, and collar or leash training. Whichever method you use, your dog training efforts should, in the end, change that ill-tempered and unmanageable mutt into a quiet, well-behaved dog.

Is Dog Training Really Worth it?

The answer would be a resounding YES! As a pet owner you are responsible for the well-being and maintenance of your dog. While this includes the basics such as food, shelter and love, it also includes the time and effort you put into making your dog safer around your family and community.

The newspapers are full of stories of irresponsible pet owners whose pets run wild, cause damage, and hurt other people. It is not enough to simply look after the basic needs of your dog; you are also responsible for its general behavior and the way it interacts with the world at large.

Can I Train my Dog by Myself?

While it is always easier to get a professional dog trainer to handle your mutt's training, most dog owner's prefer to handle the training themselves. You can do it on your own, provided you come prepared. A little knowledge can go a long way, and this is especially true in dog training. Attend a dog training class with your pet to pick up pointers from an expert; read dog training books and guides; take part in online discussion forums with other dog owners. You will find that your dog training sessions will go a lot easier if you have some prior knowledge of what to expect and some pointers on how to best control the animal.

There is no quick fix for a pet with behavioral problems and no easy way to train it. There will be times during your pet training sessions that you will lose your temper or your dog may snap at you out of frustration. Don't be disheartened! Keep at it, and by the end of your dog training session you will find that you and your dog have bonded like never before.

Training a dog is one of those rites of passage every pet owner has to go through. Ultimately it can be a highly rewarding and supremely gratifying experience for both you and your four-legged pet.

Before You Spend MORE Money On Expensive Dog Trainers or Products,
Watch This Video First!

https://bitly.im/eAznE

Discover the powerful dog training secrets to eliminate over 30+ common behavioral dog and puppy issues with step-by-step instructions from one of the world's most skilled dog trainers!