Many pain medications considered safe for people can be toxic or even fatal for dogs. Never give your dog aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or any other medication designed for humans without first consulting your vet.
The most common side effect of aspirin/salicylate exposure is gastrointestinal irritation and ulceration (bleeding into the stomach/intestines). Additional signs related to the gastrointestinal tract such as a decreased appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting (possibly with blood), diarrhea, and dark tarry stools can occur.
It is recommended to give buffered aspirin if possible. 1 baby aspiring/ 10 pounds body weight given every 12 hours. 1 adult aspirin/40 pounds body weight given every 12 hours. Do not exceed 2 tablets for any dog.
Vets usually prescribe aspirin for dogs with osteoarthritis or musculoskeletal inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin help reduce the pain and inflammation associated with these conditions and can offer your dog relief from symptoms.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be safe when carefully dosed and used short term. However, the risk of toxicity is high and most vets prefer safer, more effective drugs. Aspirin—specifically buffered baby aspirin—can be safe when dosed carefully but is not as safe or effective as prescription medications.
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.
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.
What NSAIDs are safe for dogs? NSAID options that are approved for use in dogs include carprofen (e.g. Rimadyl), deracoxib (e.g. Deramaxx), etodolac (e.g. Etogesic), firocoxib (e.g. Previcox), meloxicam (e.g. Metacam), robenacoxib (e.g. Onsior), and mavacoxib (e.g. Trocoxil).
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.
Aspirin is given by mouth in the form of a tablet, preferably an enteric-coated tablet. Give with food. This medication should take effect within 1 to 2 hours; however, effects may not be visibly obvious and therefore laboratory tests may need to be done to evaluate if this medication is working.
Elimination of the toxins is essential to the full recovery of your pet. With normal use, aspirin is eliminated from the body in approximately seven hours. With an acute toxicity, a hospital stay of two to several days may be required to monitor your pet's recovery.
Treatment may include blood transfusions, intravenous fluid therapy, medications to help protect or heal stomach damage, and other medications to help support and stabilize the patient. Aspirin toxicity can be fatal. However, pets can survive if the condition is recognized, diagnosed, and treated quickly.
Although relatively safe in humans, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can be extremely harmful to dogs. Poisoning may happen when pets get into the owner's medications. In some cases, owners may administer ibuprofen to treat their pet's pain prior to consulting a veterinarian.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to control pain and inflammation in dogs. NSAIDs help many dogs lead more comfortable lives, but these drugs should be used carefully because they all can cause side effects, some of which can be serious.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, help reduce swelling, stiffness, and joint pain in humans, and they can do the same for your dog. They can bring relief to a dog with arthritis or one who's just had surgery. But don't give your pooch something from your medicine cabinet.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) play a major role in controlling dog joint pain and inflammation. Prescription medications such Galliprant, Carprofen, and Meloxicam are the safest options for controlling pain and inflammation compared to over-the-counter, non-veterinary products.
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.
Voltaren: Helps Keep You Comfortable, but Toxic for Pets - Fairmont Animal Hospital.
Soak the foot in warm water with Epsom salts to relieve swelling. Then apply antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin. For cut or torn foot pads and broken nails, control the bleeding and treat as described in the handouts "First Aid for Torn or Injured Foot Pads in Dogs" and "First Aid for Broken Nails in Dogs".
You should never give your dog ibuprofen. The medicine can cause damage to your dog's stomach and kidneys, says Alison Meindl, DVM, a veterinarian, and professor at Colorado State University. This is because ibuprofen blocks the activity of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX).
Unfortunately, Aspirin is also not safe to use in dogs. It can cause gastrointestinal distress, liver damage, and a decrease in platelets which can lead to internal bleeding.
Aspirin is the most common drug used after people have a heart attack, stroke, or bypass surgery, but until now doctors have not had clear evidence whether it's best to give patients a low dose—the 81-mg “baby aspirin”—or a regular 325-mg dose.