#United States #Omaha #Pet Poison Helpline #Doodle Puppy #Ambien

Medication Mix-Up Grounds a Doodle Puppy in Fear

What happens when a simple mistake turns into a crisis? This is the story of Beckey Carstens and her beloved Doodle puppy, Nellie. When Beckey returned home one day, she was shocked to learn that her boyfriend had mistakenly given Nellie the wrong medication—Ambien, the human sleep aid, instead of the urinary tract infection (UTI) prescription she was supposed to take. Although it was accidental, the consequences were potentially dire.

“I take a man's amount of Ambien,” Beckey recounted with a nervous laugh. “I had a refill sitting on the counter next to the dog's prescription. My boyfriend was supposed to give her medication while I was out, and when I got back, he said he’d meditated both dogs. However, I knew that couldn't be true because we had run out of Nellie's UTI medication.” The realization hit hard when Beckey discovered the mix-up.

After quickly contacting her veterinarian, Beckey was advised to reach out to the Pet Poison Helpline for further assistance. It’s crucial to educate pet owners about the dangers of mixing up medications, not just because of toxicity but also due to the potential for serious health issues. Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist, has been vocal about this very issue, stating, “Never keep your pet's medication together with human medications. It can lead to fatal consequences.” This incident serves as a painful reminder of this valuable advice.

Beckey learned that her dog's medicine came in distinct bottles: one brown bottle for the Ambien and different colored bottles for her dogs' medications. Ignoring the fact that human and pet medications were stored together, her boyfriend mistakenly thought he was treating Nellie correctly. Beckey emphasized, “It’s essential to keep all medications clearly separated and to double-check before administering anything.”

Once at the emergency pet clinic in Omaha, Nebraska, the medical team required Nellie’s case number from the Pet Poison Helpline. This allowed them to develop an effective treatment plan while emphasizing the importance of specialized help in such emergencies. “I was initially frustrated about the extra fee to call the helpline,” Beckey mentioned, “but they explained that their veterinarians are trained toxicology specialists and that it was necessary for her treatment.” This served as a valuable lesson about the differences in expertise among veterinary professionals.

The team closely monitored Nellie for any alarming symptoms, including changes in blood pressure, heart rate issues, and neurological responses. They proceeded with treatment that involved inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal to mitigate the effects of the Ambien. Thankfully, Nellie was able to recover and came out of the ordeal with only a hefty bill to show for it.

Reflecting on this harrowing experience, Beckey noted, “Nellie’s doing great now, but it scared me terribly. The visit cost us over $1,200! Luckily, we had Embrace Pet Insurance, which covered 90% of our expenses after the deductible.” This serves to reinforce the importance of pet insurance—ensuring that you can focus on your pet's health without becoming overwhelmed by costs.

“Pet Poison Helpline and good pet insurance work hand in hand,