Some prescription medicines that people put on their own skin can harm pets. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned about two kinds: a cream or solution used on certain skin cancers and other skin conditions in people [1], and prescription pain creams or lotions that people rub on sore muscles and joints [2]. This page explains how pets get exposed, which signs to watch for and what to do.
If your pet licks or chews a prescription skin medicine for people, or licks skin where you put it, call your vet right away.
How pets get exposed
A pet does not need to be treated with the medicine to be exposed. The FDA describes these ways:
- licking your skin where you put the medicine [1];
- chewing or licking the tube or bottle [1];
- getting medicine on its fur when it touches you, then swallowing it while grooming, which the FDA describes for cats [1];
- touching a cloth or applicator with medicine left on it [2].
In the FDA’s reports about pain creams, the owners had put the cream on their own neck or feet, not on the cat, and it is not known how the cats were exposed [2].
Why a small amount matters
The FDA says that even a small amount of the skin cancer medicine can make a pet very sick and could kill it [1]. For the pain creams, it says “Even very small amounts” could be dangerous to pets, for example the little left on a cloth applicator [2].
Signs to watch for
The FDA lists these signs after a pet swallows the skin cancer medicine [1]:
- vomiting, sometimes with blood;
- seizures;
- tremors or shaking;
- difficulty breathing;
- lethargy (less active than usual);
- drooling;
- diarrhea, with or without blood;
- poor coordination (being off balance).
For the pain creams, the FDA names lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting or other illness [2].
What to do if your pet is exposed
- Call your vet right away if your pet has been exposed to the skin cancer medicine, or call an emergency animal hospital or an animal poison control center if your pet shows signs [1].
- Pain creams: the FDA advises bathing or cleaning your pet as well as you can and talking to your vet [2]. Seek vet care if your pet shows signs of illness [2].
- Tell the vet the details: what the medicine is and how your pet was exposed [1][2]. Take the tube or box with you if you can.
- Report it: you can report problems to the FDA [1][2].
How to keep your pet safe
- Store all medicines out of your pet’s reach, including empty tubes and containers [1]. The FDA notes that cats are good climbers and that dogs can reach the top of a nightstand, counter or table [1].
- Wash your hands well after putting on the medicine [1].
- Throw away or wash anything used to apply it, such as gloves, cloths or applicators [1][2].
- Do not leave medicine on your hands, clothes, carpets or furniture [1][2].
- Ask your doctor whether you should cover the treated skin [1][2].
- Throw empty tubes into a closed bin your pet cannot get into [1].
FAQ
My pet only licked a little. Is that a problem?
It can be. The FDA warns that even a small amount of these medicines can be dangerous to pets [1][2]. Call your vet.
Does this apply to cats as well as dogs?
Yes. The FDA’s reports about pain creams involved cats [2], and it warns that a cat can swallow the skin cancer medicine while grooming its fur [1].
What about creams my vet prescribes for my pet’s skin?
Use those only as your vet directs. See how vets use shampoos and topical care for skin problems.
The bottom line
Some prescription medicines for people’s skin can make pets very sick, even in small amounts. Keep tubes out of reach, wash your hands, and ask your doctor whether to cover the treated skin. If your pet licks the medicine or your treated skin, call your vet right away and tell them which medicine it was.
This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your pet may have swallowed a medicine for people, call your vet right away.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Don’t Expose Pets to Prescription Topical Fluorouracil Medicine for People. Animal Health Literacy. Content current as of 11/22/2024. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/dont-expose-pets-prescription-topical-fluorouracil-medicine-people
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Consumer Advice on Pet Exposure to Prescription Topical Pain Medications Containing Flurbiprofen. Animal Health Literacy. Content current as of 02/25/2025. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/fda-consumer-advice-pet-exposure-prescription-topical-pain-medications-containing-flurbiprofen