The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning pet owners, veterinarians, healthcare providers, and pharmacists about the dangers certain topical pain medications may pose to pets. Products that contain the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) flurbiprofen can cause serious illness, or even death, if animals are exposed to them. Even very small amounts of the medication can be harmful.
Topical medications are products that are applied to the skin or mucous membranes to treat conditions such as muscle pain, joint pain, or rashes. They are commonly available as creams, gels, lotions, foams, or ointments. People who use these medications should be especially careful if they have pets at home, since accidental exposure, even from residue left on skin or surfaces, may be dangerous to animals.
The FDA issued its warning after receiving reports involving cats in two households that became seriously ill after their owners used topical pain creams containing flurbiprofen. The owners had applied the medication to their own bodies, such as the neck or feet, not directly to the animals. Exactly how the cats were exposed remains unknown. These products also contained other ingredients such as the muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine and additional medications like baclofen, gabapentin, lidocaine, or prilocaine.
In one household, two cats developed kidney failure but recovered after receiving veterinary care. In another home, two cats showed symptoms including loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, anemia, and black, tarry stools. Both died despite treatment. A third cat in the same household later died as well. Veterinary examinations found damage to the kidneys and intestines that was consistent with NSAID toxicity.
Because of these risks, the FDA recommends that people using topical medications containing flurbiprofen take precautions to keep pets from coming into contact with them. Healthcare providers who prescribe these medications and pharmacists who dispense them should also warn patients with pets about the potential danger.
Keeping medications securely stored, cleaning applicators and surfaces thoroughly, and preventing pets from contacting treated skin can help reduce the risk of accidental exposure. By taking these precautions, pet owners can help protect their animals from potentially life-threatening toxicity.
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