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.
The listed dose in most vet formularies is 10mg/kg twice to three times daily," Nick explains.
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.
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.
However, dogs require different doses than humans. Paracetamol can be highly toxic to dogs if they are given too high a dose. Some human paracetamol formulations also contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs.
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.
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.
A mild case of paracetamol poisoning can give your dog an upset stomach, and they may appear to be tired. Other symptoms can include laboured breathing, swelling on the face, neck or limbs, gums turning brownish-grey and jaundice. More serious cases can include signs of staggering, vomiting and restlessness.
It's therefore always best to avoid giving any human painkillers – including paracetamol – to your dog.
They will appear tired, and when you don't consult your vet early, it may also produce signs of staggering, restlessness, and vomiting. There may even be blood in the urine and stool.
It tends to get to work quickly and wear off within a couple of hours and only rarely cause side effects in Humans. Paracetamol is sometimes prescribed for your dog however the dosages will reflect the weight of your best friend. Giving a 500mg tablet to a Miniature Poodle for example, could cause ill effects.
OTC Pain Medications for People Should Never Be Given to a Dog. There are no readily available OTC pain meds for dogs. Most OTC (over-the-counter) pain medications that are made for people, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, should never be given to dogs.
These products should not be given to animals due to the risk of toxicity. Always consult your veterinarian before giving your pet any medication. As little as one 200 mg ibuprofen tablet can toxic to cats and smaller dogs. NSAIDs are also considered a potential toxin for horses that are not eating.
Paracetamol comes as tablets, capsules, a syrup you swallow, a powder you add to water and a suppository. They come in different strengths: tablet – 500mg or 1g. capsule – 500mg.
Paracetamol is a very popular painkiller in humans but it can be toxic or fatal in small animals. Dogs are less sensitive to paracetamol than cats. A 20 kilogram dog would need to ingest over seven 500mg tablets in order to suffer toxic effects.
Ibuprofen is not safe for dogs and can lead to stomach or kidney damage, or even death in some cases.
The lowest amount of Paracetamol to cause death was found by one study to be 10g. As for Paracetamol of 500mg per tablet, it is generally recommended to take no more than 8 tablets (500mg) within 24 hours, and 24 to 30 tablets taken at one time can lead to overdose or even death.
How much you can take depends on your age, your weight, the type of paracetamol you're taking and how strong it is. For example: 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.
Early signs can include vomiting and reluctance to eat, which progress to diarrhoea, abdominal pain, jaundice, bleeding and collapse. To avoid paracetamol poisoning of your pet, keep all medications for people out of reach of pets and preferably locked away in cabinets.
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.
Symptoms of drug toxicity in dogs include GI upset (diarrhea, vomiting), fever, dehydration, lethargy, pale or dark gums, seizures, rapid heartbeat or signs of pain.
No. Sadly, the toxic dose for cats of paracetamol is very low. This means there is absolutely no safe dose of paracetamol for cats. Paracetamol should never begiven, and should be kept out of reach of cats to prevent accidental ingestion.