The listed dose in most vet formularies is 10mg/kg twice to three times daily," Nick explains. "For a 10kg French Bulldog, for example, this would be 330mg three times daily at the top end of the dose range, down to 100mg two or three times a day."
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.
Paracetamol is a very popular painkiller in humans, however it can be toxic or fatal in small animals. Dogs are less sensitive to paracetamol than cats. A 20kg dog would need to ingest over seven 500mg tablets in order to suffer toxic effects.
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.
Paracetamol is not registered for use for dogs in Australia, meaning that it can only be administered to the strictest of guidelines. You should never give your dog paracetamol unless under strict instructions by your veterinarian to do so.
Generally speaking, the recommended dose is 10mg to every kilo of body weight. So, a 40kg dog could take a whole 400mg tablet. Smaller dogs will require a smaller dose. As always, make sure that you check in with your vet before giving paracetamol to your pooch.
If your pet has ingested paracetamol, contact your veterinarian immediately and take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Do not induce vomiting unless your vet instructs you to.
Signs of toxicity from acetaminophen may develop within 1-4 hours of ingestion. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage or decrease the red blood cell's ability to carry oxygen (methemoglobinemia). Dogs may become depressed or weak, with rapid breathing, a high heart rate, panting, abdominal pain, vomiting or drooling.
They come in different strengths: tablet – 500mg or 1g. capsule – 500mg. syrup you swallow (oral solution) – 120mg, 250mg or 500mg in 5ml.
Dogs: 0.2 mL of Paracetamol (equivalent to 10mg) per kg BW orally twice a day.
No, you can't give dogs paracetamol and it is considered toxic to both dogs and cats. As mentioned above, paracetamol can make your pooch seriously sick and in severe cases it can cause organ failure and could even be fatal.
How much water should my dog or cat drink? Textbooks define normal water intake as 1-2ml per kilogram of bodyweight per hour (equivalent to approximately 25-50ml/kg/24hrs). For example, a 10kg dog, like a Westie, would be expected to drink approximately 480ml (just under a pint) in 24 hours.
Paracetamol is useful as an alternative to NSAIDs in dogs that will not tolerate an NSAID or as an adjunct to NSAIDs in chronic pain.
Dogs and cats can't metabolise paracetamol like we can. Their livers don't have enough of the enzymes that break down paracetamol down into forms the body can get rid of. Instead, the paracetamol tends to build up in their bodies and cause damage.
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.
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.
Adults can usually take 1 or 2 tablets (500mg) every 4-6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 4g (8 x 500mg tablets) in the space of 24 hours. Children under 16 need to take a lower dose, depending on their age or weight – check the packet or leaflet, or ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice.
You can take normal doses of paracetamol (1 or 2 500mg tablets, every 4 hours up to 4 times in 24 hours with a maximum of 8 tablets in 24 hours) if you are breastfeeding.
Panadol – The GlaxoSmithKline brand name for 500g of Paracetamol . This 500g of Paracetamol is common among all of the panadol range and acts as an analgesic (pain relief) and anti-pyretic (decreases temperature). It contains no anti-inflammatory substances.
Melatonin is commonly used as a sleep aid, and is sometimes used to treat certain hair disorders, cognitive dysfunction and separation anxiety in dogs, as well as sleep cycle disorders in dogs and cats. Generally, it is very safe, with lethargy and stomach upset being a potential issue in cases of overdose.
Recommended paracetamol dose in adults = 4g or 75mg/kg in 24h. Overdose = ingestion >75mg/kg. > 150mg/kg = Lethal.