NSAIDs (e.g. Nurofen, Voltaren, Naprosyn) Dogs, cats, and birds, can develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers, and suffer kidney failure.
Voltaren comes in a gel/jelly, cream, spray and extended-release patch. If you pet your animal after applying Voltaren without washing your hands with soap and water, or if pets lick your skin where the medication has been applied or chew on the patch, they can develop gastrointestinal ulcers and kidney damage.
At toxic doses, these drugs can cause gastrointestinal ulcers and kidney injury. Dogs (and cats) can be mischievous. A tube of Voltaren lying around can appear to be a toy, or better yet, food! Your average 30 g tube of Voltaren contains 10 mg of diclofenac per gram of gel, which is 300 mg of diclofenac per 30 g tube!
It is very important to never give your pets Ibuprofen or any other human medications. If you think your pet may have accidentally swallowed or been given ibuprofen, please seek veterinary attention immediately.
Even as little as one dose of an acetaminophen (Tylenol®) pain reliever can cause severe organ damage in a medium-size dog. Because animals do not have the natural enzymes necessary for detoxifying and eliminating drugs made for humans, medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are a major cause of dog poisoning.
Once in the hospital, your veterinarian may give your dog intravenous fluid, flush your dog's stomach, give your dog activated charcoal to absorb the toxin, or perform surgery. Supportive medications may help your dog's kidneys and liver process the poison and heal.
Affected dogs show signs 30 minutes to 4 hours after ingesting the poison. Initially affected dogs become anxious and have an elevated body temperature. Panting is usually seen. Progressively they become worse and staggery.
If you are worried that your dog ate ibuprofen, you should take them to a veterinarian immediately. Ibuprofen toxicity in dogs can cause serious damage to the kidneys, so time is of the essence if you think your dog has gotten ahold of the medication.
Toxic consumption:
Ibuprofen: Signs of toxicity may be seen at doses of 50 mg/kg (22 mg/lb) in dogs and 25 mg/kg (11 mg/lb) in cats. With long-term administration, toxicity has been seen in dogs with doses as low as 5-6 mg/kg (2-3 mg/lb).
Ibuprofen has a narrow margin of safety in dogs. Signs of toxicosis can occur when as little as half a 200 mg pill is given to a 25 pound dog.
This medicine may be harmful if swallowed. If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
NSAID toxicity can cause ulcers and holes (perforations) in the lining and lead to kidney damage or even failure. Ingesting very large amounts of NSAID can also damage the brain. Toxicity occurs when a dog swallows a large amount all at once (acute toxicity) or smaller amounts over a longer period (chronic toxicity).
People who use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (other than aspirin) such as topical diclofenac (Pennsaid, Voltaren) may have a higher risk of having a heart attack or a stroke than people who do not use these medications. These events may happen without warning and may cause death.
The reported oral LD 50 of diclofenac sodium in dogs is 500 mg/kg.
Ibuprofen is toxic to dogs because it blocks an enzyme called cyclooxygenase that, in addition to reducing inflammation, also has roles in promoting blood flow through the kidneys and producing protective prostaglandins for the mucosal lining of the stomach. Dogs are much more sensitive to the effects of ibuprofen.
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.
If your dog ate ibuprofen, the severe symptoms of ibuprofen or naproxen toxicity are: Disorientation, loss of motor coordination. Stomach damage, ulcers and perforations in the stomach wall. Kidney damage.
Examples of human NSAIDs include Advil®, Aleve®, certain types of Motrin®, etc. NOTE: You should never give any of these human NSAIDs to your dog (or cat), as it is very poisonous!
Ibuprofen is not safe for dogs and can lead to stomach or kidney damage, or even death in some cases.
Recovery of Ibuprofen Poisoning in Dogs
The prognosis for dogs diagnosed and treated quickly is good. However, if you wait too long to take your pet to the veterinarian, or if they consumed more than their system can handle, it's possible treatment will fail.
Massive doses at or around 400 mg/kg can cause seizures and coma. Some of the most common dangers and toxicities associated with ibuprofen ingestion in dogs include: Gastrointestinal ulceration (stomach ulcers) Kidney damage and kidney failure (renal failure)
Ibuprofen is an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic medication, and is usually administered orally. If given to dogs, it can be absorbed into their system in as little as 30 minutes, depending on how recently they've eaten.
Don't give your dog any milk, food, salt, oil, or any other home remedies. Doing so will likely complicate the poisoning. , to induce vomiting in dogs, it may be recommended to give hydrogen peroxide.
Ingestion of poison is trickier to recover from as two vital organs, the liver and kidneys, are most affected by poisonous substances. In this case, your dog may need to be on a very bland, easily digestible diet for some time to give the liver and kidneys a chance to rest and recuperate.
If your pet got into something non-edible or something very toxic (like dark chocolate), induce vomiting by giving 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide. This will result in a foamy vomit (so do this outdoors, or have some newspaper handy for cleanup).