The most common drugs we see being given incorrectly to our pets are over the counter pain relief, like paracetamol and ibuprofen. Both of these medications can be exceptionally toxic to our pets, causing liver and kidney failure, and potentially even leading to death.
You should never give your dog any Calpol because even a small amount can make them sick. This is because paracetamol is poisonous to dogs, and even the low amounts in Calpol are too high for dogs to have. Usually, the bigger you are, the more medicine you can tolerate safely.
You should never give your dog paracetamol unless under strict instructions by your veterinarian to do so.
Never give your dog aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or any other medication designed for humans without first consulting your vet.
Ibuprofen (Nurofen) and naproxen are common and effective medications used to treat inflammation and pain in humans, but they should not be given to pets. These drugs can be toxic (poisonous) to dogs and cats, although cats are much more susceptible to this toxicity than dogs.
The short answer is NO. You should never attempt to treat your pets with human medication, precautions should be taken to keep household medications out reach of your pet to avoid a potentially harmful or fatal reaction.
Pain Relief for Dogs
The best of a bad lot is paracetamol, sold as Panadol, Calpol or Tylenol (called acetaminophen in the US). It is sometimes used by vets at a dose of 10 mg/kg twice daily.
Over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for humans, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can be toxic to dogs. Giving your dog these medicines can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers, severe bleeding, and even kidney or liver failure.
Paracetamol can be given to dogs, however it requires a different dose. It can be toxic to your dog if you give them too much. This must always be approved by a vet. "Many vets do prescribe paracetamol for dogs, as it can be an effective pain relief in some circumstances.
The most common drugs we see being given incorrectly to our pets are over the counter pain relief, like paracetamol and ibuprofen. Both of these medications can be exceptionally toxic to our pets, causing liver and kidney failure, and potentially even leading to death.
Whilst paracetamol, when administered in the correct dose, is not harmful to dogs one should always seek veterinary advise before giving any medication to a dog. Calpol is formulated for humans and as we all know humans, even the small ones, are generally larger than dogs.
While it may be tempting to give your pooch some paracetamol to save on vet fees, the truth is, it's potentially dangerous and could end up costing you more in the long run.
The most commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) for dogs are carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl), deracoxib (Deramaxx), meloxicam (Metacam ), deracoxib (Deramaxx), firocoxib (Previcox). Some vets will okay the use of aspirin for your pup for a short term injury.
Should your vet prescribe paracetamol for your dog, it's likely that it will be a dosage of 10mg per kilogram, and should only be given once a day for one or two days.
While you can use human baby aspirin as recommended by your vet, aspirin made for dogs is typically a better option. Human aspirin has a coating on it that helps to protect the human stomach from irritation. Your dog cannot digest this coating, so the medication may not provide the desired effects.
Never attempt to relieve your dog's pain by administering over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, naproxen (e.g., Aleve), acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), or aspirin. Human anti-inflammatories can cause life-threatening toxicities in pets, and you should give your dog only veterinarian-prescribed medications.
Ibuprofen is toxic to dogs and you should never give it to your pup. Just three to six ibuprofen capsules can be deadly for dogs, so keep the medicine in a safe place. There are canine-specific pain relievers that you can get from your vet or try natural options.
Paracetamol can kill dogs even in a small overdose.
Side effects or symptoms of overdose of paracetamol in dogs can include liver damage, ulceration of the digestive tract, pale gums, vomiting, drooling, abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, or seizures.
In certain circumstances, it can be used in dogs. However, dogs require different doses than humans. Paracetamol can be highly toxic to dogs if they are given too high a dose.
When prescribed to dogs, codeine is usually mixed with acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce its strength. The International Veterinary Council of Pain Management states that in a standard 30 mg of codeine/150 mg of acetaminophen dosage, a dog should be given roughly 1 to 2 mg per kilogram of weight every 8 to 12 hours.
Some people ask if Metacam is the same as Calpol, these are not the same. Calpol as already mentioned is paracetamol based, Metacam is Meloxicam based.
No, you can't give dogs Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) created for human consumption and it's not safe for dogs in any dose.