Long term Paracetamol for dogs?

[conniegirl]

Oh wise people in my phone.

Over the christmas period Jezza has had us all very worried.
On the 18th we came down in the morning to find him with a hind leg 3 times the size it should be, non weight baring on it and completely off his food.
He was promptly whisked off to emergency vet who diagnosed cellulitis. He has had all manner of antibiotics, steroids, painkillers etc.
For the first few days he was pretty spaced out but now we are coming to the end of his course he is fit and happy. Infact he appears to feel better than he has for a long time.

He has been on gabapentin for quite a while but the vet swapped him to paracetamol with the cellulitis.

It seems to be working so much better for him.
I will ask the vet anyway but as yoh lot are so knowledgeable i thought i’d ask you too.

Is there any reason a dog can’t be on paracetamol long term?

He has been on gabapentin for over a year for his dodgy back legs, he is otherwise fit and well.

 

[COldNag]

One of ours was on it fairly long term (can't cope with metacam, developed reaction to previciox, gabapebtin had no effect) until her arthritis got worse. We didn't see any side effects and I guess it was a goid few months she was on it.

She now has librela jabs so doesn't need the paracetamol any more.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

As I understand it, it's the same as most other painkillers, the most likely organ to be affected is the liver. Some months ago when my old cat Cilla needed to be put on painkillers long term, my veterinarian took a blood test to check her liver values, and gave me a prescription to cover a little more than a month. After that first month, I took her back, they checked her liver values again, and only then did I get a long term prescription on the painkillers.

ETA: My cat isn't on paracetamol, without Onsior, but if you worry about the long term effect, I just thought that doing a check-up to see how his liver copes after some time, seems like a good idea to me.

 

[Clodagh]

Brandy has been on it for about 18 months now. She has one tablet split over 2 meals (Labrador). She’s much better on it.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I know of many on it, i have sent you a pm

 

[Clodagh]

As I understand it, it's the same as most other painkillers, the most likely organ to be affected is the liver. Some months ago when my old cat Cilla needed to be put on painkillers long term, my veterinarian took a blood test to check her liver values, and gave me a prescription to cover a little more than a month. After that first month, I took her back, they checked her liver values again, and only then did I get a long term prescription on the painkillers.

ETA: My cat isn't on paracetamol, without Onsior, but if you worry about the long term effect, I just thought that doing a check-up to see how his liver copes after some time, seems like a good idea to me.

I do t think I’d want a young dog on it long term but with Brandy it was decided that she was better on a than off and at her age (14) it was a fair risk.

 

[conniegirl]

I do t think I’d want a young dog on it long term but with Brandy it was decided that she was better on a than off and at her age (14) it was a fair risk.

Jezza is at least 12, possibly older (ive packed his papers) so not a young dog.

 

[Jenko109]

My late collie/lab mix was on paracetamol and tramadol twice a day for about a year or so with no side affects.

 

[SadKen]

My 11yr old GSD is on pardale (codeine and paracetamol) and metacam, he’ll be on it til he goes. No side effects, my previous old boy was on it long term too. As above, it’s got potential
Impact to the liver, and that needs to be balanced against the benefits, but for my older dogs it has been worth it.

 

[Xmasha]

Our old Wallace was on paracetamol for a few years . He had 1 tablet a day, it really did help him. He did have his bloods checked every year to make sure no issues with his liver . There never was . Hope it helps your lad

 

[Landcruiser]

Our oldest was on it for about a year (Pardale) but then we tried him on Librella which has been brilliant - taken years off him.

 

[wren123]

My 14 year old lab has elbow arthritis, she has been treated successfully with yumove adVance and now librella successfully.
Sadly she went lame on that leg, the vet (after blood tests) said to try 3 paracetamol a day, they have worked well, thank goodness.

I am all too aware she is a very good age, all I want is for her is to live her remaining time without pain. I have moved her librella to 4 weekly and will discuss at the next appointment if there is a less potentially harmful painkiller longterm.

Any other suggestions I can discuss with the vet welcome.

 

[maya2008]

My older dog is arthritic - after some discussion we decided as a family to do what we do with the horses - so she is on a joint supplement and Boswellia until such time as she needs more. It’s actually working really well. Once they need more, they need more. Paracetamol is safe so long as you stay within the dosage guidelines.

 

[Red-1]

Our vet nurse did say that Cracker-dog could go onto Calpol (not sugar free as it has Zylatol (sp?)) as a long term thing.

They said Calpol as the dog is too small for any normal Paracetamol to have a small enough tablet!

I would ask your vet.

 

[MurphysMinder]

My little dog had infant calpol after surgery. It doesn't contain xylitol.