Human aspirin for dogs?

[madmav]

I'm a bit confused as to whether it is safe to give human aspirin to a dog as temporary pain relief. Do any of you know? Thanks.

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

No, human painkillers are metabolised differenty, if your dog needs pain relief get it to the vets asap

 

[BigRed]

My vet told me it was ok to give dogs half an asprin... and this was on several occasions, so I didn't misunderstand him.

 

[huntley]

I know it is OK to give half a paracetamol, but don't know about aspirin as it is a blood thinner.
Gave paracetamol on advice of vet.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I HAVE given my dogs medication designed for humans (not saying which here) but ONLY on the advice of my vet - which was in an emergency situation.

I wouldn't do it in the normal course of events.

 

[Alec Swan]

Aspirin works just as well on dogs, as it does on humans, regardless of what you may be told!

Alec.

 

[madmav]

Thank you for your replies. Was getting a lot of contradictory opinions - as ever!

By the way, Alec Swan, your biography quote at the bottom of your profile is very funny. You must be almost as old as me to have become that cynical!

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Whats wrong with doggie?? Is it a one off dose you want.. is the dog healthy ? Can give you a paracetamol dose if you like?

 

[willhegofirst]

We gave a dog of ours half an aspirin a day for many years, vet said make sure you give it with food, this was about 20 years ago though, really helped her with mild arthritis. She lived to be 15.

 

[EAST KENT]

Aspirin is fine,and a very good anti inflamatory as well. Ibruprofan or Paracetemol are both no-no`s.Both can cause a stomach bleed.

 

[Britestar]

Aspirin will cause stomach bleeding too, in fact its the most irritant of them all. Don't give dogs any asp/ibu or paracetamol

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Aspirin is fine,and a very good anti inflamatory as well. Ibruprofan or Paracetemol are both no-no`s.Both can cause a stomach bleed.

Paracetamol is fine for dogs, we recommend it all the time in the surgery.. It's an absolute NO NO for cats! It's perfectly fine for emergency pain relief. Of course it wouldn't be recommended if a dog is already on other pain relief or has liver problems.... The dose for dogs is alot higher than for humans

 

[Aru]

I'd give your vet a ring before giving aspirin.Even if just to double check the dose.

While aspirin is occasionally given to dogs its not ideal as it can cause more severe gi signs-stomach bleeds, ulcers in the small intestine etc than most Nsaids in dogs.Also an overdose of aspirin or giving aspirin to a dog with kidney issues can cause acute kidney failure Like humans its an anticoagulant so not one to give if your dog may be facing surgery in the near future.

Paracetamol in dogs would be the safer often in a temporary desperate case.
The approved drugs like Metacam,Rimadyl are much safer drugs to use compared to both of the above.

Like previous posters have stated over the counter Nsaids in cats are a big nono.Cats have a much lower tolerance and ability to process drugs compared to dogs and humans.

 

[MiCsarah]

What about bute?

 

[Aru]

Bute isn't used in dogs anymore.
It used to be used for dogs with chronic pain like arthritis.However its got a low safety margin in dogs compared to horses so the more modern drugs are used instead.
The low safety margin means that small changes in dosages can cause serious side effects or in some cases kill dogs.Using bute for horses on a dog would be the perfect example of how to overdose.

 

[madmav]

Whats wrong with doggie?? Is it a one off dose you want.. is the dog healthy ? Can give you a paracetamol dose if you like?

Thank you DD. Healthy dog except for hip displaysia, operated on six years ago. All fine til now, but limping two days ago. Better now, not perfect. Gets totally traumatised by going to vets (he's a stress head) and had no Rimadyl in 'best before' date. So as a quick fix, and to avoid the utter stress of a trip to vet, thought it was OK to give aspirin. But was given very conflicting advice, so, in the end, didn't. He's little, weighs about 16lb, so yes, I would appreciate a paracetamol dose for him, even if just for emergencies.

 

[SusieT]

If he's been diagnosed with arthritis ur vet should have no problem prescribing rimadyl or similar and. Should keep some at home. Don't take drug doses off the Internet no matter how sensiblebth seem, it is utterly moronic to do so and could end your dog up in serious trouble

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

I went for a walk with both my vet friends a few weeks back and my old boy fell in the river and I had no Metacam in ( which I keep in as an emergency for twists etc) anyway they gave him acupuncture and said they would rather I gave paracetamol than nothing at all!..... The dose is 400mg per 12 kg as a maximum daily dose.... so I gave him half a tablet (250mg) and was very good... my dog is about 10kg....

So your dog is 7kg so its about 33mg per kg... so your dog could have a maximum daily dose of 231mg... so quarter of a tablet twice a day? check my maths! Also just ring your vets first and say you are going to do it, they will be fine with it, but best to check first incase there is anything in your notes that will go against giving paracetamol xx

NEVER GIVE PARACETAMOL TO CATS EVEN THE DUST FROM THE TABLET CAN KILL A CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!