PSA: Vets Warn That Minoxidil May Be Deadly to Pets

Cats are particularly sensitive to this medication, and any exposure can result in severe poisoning and potentially death.

Products like Rogaine, which contain minoxidil, can be very dangerous to animals, warn toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline.

“Cats are particularly sensitive to this medication, and any exposure can result in severe poisoning and potentially death,” says Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline, in a news letter. “Dogs can develop clinical signs after being exposed to very small amounts of the medication as well, and often, the signs are not easily seen by owners."

Signs of poisoning in cats include anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, dyspnea, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, hypothermia, and cyanosis. For dogs, signs include lethargy, vomiting, bounding pulses, increased heart rate and low blood pressure.  Signs usually occur within 45 minutes to a few hours.

Of note, minoxidil is not only used for hair loss. It can also be used for the treatment of hypotension and comes in pill form. Pet poisoning signs are the same for the pill form as they are for the topical treatment. 

"Pets are pros at swooping in and snatching something off a counter and ideally, pets should be kept out of the area while you are taking or preparing medication. If a pet does ingest medication that is not intended for them, make note of what medication was ingested, how much was consumed, including the strength and quantity, and when the exposure occurred. Then call us or your veterinarian," Schmid says.

PHOTO CAPTION: Kratos was poisoned when he licked Rogaine off his owner's recently treated head.