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Drugs To Avoid In Pregnant Or Nursing Dogs

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With a few exceptions as noted below, one should avoid using all medications in pregnant and lactating (nursing) dogs. There may be instances in which a medication not recommended for use during pregnancy may need to be used to save the life of the bitch, even though it may potentially harm the fetuses.
NOTE: According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, this is only a partial listing of drugs that should be avoided in pregnant or nursing dogs. A listing of all such drugs is beyond the scope of this article. If you have concerns regarding a specific drug, make sure you do an internet search for that particular drug or purchase a copy of the Merck Vet Manual to have on-hand.

 

Drug May Be Used Do Not Use Safety Studies in Dogs Not Available; Consult Your Veterinarian
Acemannan   x  
Acepromazine   x  
Acetylcysteine Use as an antidote, only    
Activated Charcoal x    
Albuterol   x  
Allopurinol   x  
Amikacin   x  
Aminopenicillins (Amoxicillin, Ampicillin)     x
Aminopentamide (Centrine)     x
Amitraz (Mitaban, Preventic Collars, Paramite, Prolate) x    
Amitriptyline (Elavil)      
Antacids (Maalox, Milk of Magnesia)   x  
Artificial Tears      
Aspirin x    
Atropine Eye Medication   x  
Azathioprine (Imuran)      
Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol)   x  
Buspirone (Buspar)   x  
Butorphanol (Torbutrol, Torbugesic)   x  
Carprofen (Rimadyl)   x  
Cephalosporins (Keflex, Cefa-drops)     x
Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)   x  
Cimetidine (Tagamet)   x  
Cisapride (Propulsid)   x  
Clemastine (Tavist 1)   x  
Clindamycin (Antirobe)   x Use with caution
Clomipramine (Clomicalm, Anafranil)   x  
Cyclosporin (Optimmune)     x
Cyproheptadine   x  
Dextromethorphan   x  
Diazepam (Valium)   x  
Digoxin (Cardoxin)     Give only if clearly needed
Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)   x  
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)   x  
DMSO (Synotic)   x  
DOCP   x  
Enalapril (Enacard, Vasotec)   x  
Enrofloxacin (Baytril)   x  
Epsiprantel (Cestex)   x  
Erythromycin   x  
Erythropoietin (EPO, Epogen)   x  
Estrogens (ECP, DES)   x  
Etodolac (EtoGesic)   x  
Extended Spectrum Penicillins (Carbenicillin)   x  
Famotidine (Pepcid)   x  
Fatty acids     Not recommended for pregnant humans
Fenbendazole (Safe-Guard, Panacur) x    
Fentanyl   x  
Fipronil (Frontline)
  Frontline Plus
  Frontline Top Spot
  Frontline Spray		 x
x

 

x

  
Fludrocortisone (Florinef)   x  
Fluoxetine (Prozac)   x  
Furosemide (Lasix)   x  
Gentamicin (Gentocin)   x  
Glucocorticosteroids (Prednisone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone)   x  
Glycosaminoglycans (Glucosamine, Chondroitin)   x  
Griseofulvin (Fulvicin)   x  
Hydroxyzine (Atarax)   x  
Imidacloprid (Advantage) x    
Insulin   x Note: Diabetic dogs should not be bred.
Itraconazole (Sporanox)   x  
Ivermectin (Heartgard) x    
Kanamycin (Amforal, Kantrim)   x  
Kaolin (Kaopectate, Canine Pectate)
**See Note Below		 x    
Loperamide (Immodium)   x  
Lufenuron (Program) x    
Mannitol   x  
Marbofloxacin (Zeniquin)   x  
Mebendazole (Telmintic)   x  
Meclofenamic Acid (Arquel)   x  
Melarsomine (Immiticide)   x  
Methimazole (Tapazole)   x  
Methionine (Methigel, Methio-Form)   x  
Metoclopramide (Reglan)     x
Metronidazole (Flagyl)   x  
Mibolerone (Cheque Drops)   x  
Milbemycin (Interceptor, Sentinel) x    
Misoprostol (Cytotec)   x  
Mitotane (o,p-DDD, Lysodren)   x  
Natural Penicillins (Penicillin G, Crystiben, Penicillin V)   x  
Neomycin   x  
Novobiocin (Albaplex)   x  
Omeprazole (Prilosec)   x  
Orbifloxacin (Orbax)   x  
Oxytocin (Pitocin) At delivery.    
Pancreatic Enzymes (Pancrezyme, Viokase-K) x    
Penicillinase Resistant Penicillins (Cloxacillin)   x  
Pentobarbital   x  
Permethrin (Bio Spot-Spot On for Dogs, K9 Advantix)     x
Phenobarbital   x  
Phenylbutazone   x  
Phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim)   x  
Phenytoin (Dilantin)   x  
Phytonadione (Vitamin K)   x  
Piperazine (Happy Jack Kennel Wormer, Purina Liquid Wormer, Sergeants Worm Away, Pipa Tabs, Piper Worm Wormer) Other wormers are preferred.    
Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (Adequan)   x  
Potassium Depends on type & reason for use.    
Potassium Bromide   x  
Potentiated Penicillins (Clavamox, Augmentin)   x  
Praziquantel (Droncit, Drontal, Tradewinds Tapeworm Tabs)   x  
Primidone   x  
Progestins (Megestrol acetate, Ovaban)   x  
Psyllium (Metamucil, Vetasyl) x    
Pyrantel Pamoate (ProWormer-2, Nemex) Depends on type & reason for use.    
Ranitidine (Zantac)   x  
Rotenone (Goodwinol Ointment) x   Caution: Do not use on puppies, or expose puppies to this medication.
Selamectin (Revolution) x    
Selegiline (Anipryl)   x  
Sucralfate     x
Sulfadimethoxine (Albon, Bactrovet)   x  
Sulfadimethoxine & Ormetroprim (Primor)   x  
Terbutaline   x  
Tetracyclines (Doxycycline, Oxytetracycline)   x  
Theophylline (Theo-Dur)   x  
Thiacetarsamide (Caparsolate)     Use with caution.
Thyroxine (Synthroid, Soloxine) x   Note: Hypothyroid dogs should not be bred.
Trimeprazine (Temaril-P)   x  
Trimethoprim & Sulfadiazine (Tribrissen)   x  

 

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Should you have a concern regarding the health of your Beagle(s), you should contact your veterinarian. All information on this site is presented solely for educational and informational purposes and should not, at any time, be considered a substitute for seeking or receiving veterinary care for your Beagle(s).