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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.
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. In cats, one 250mg paracetamol tablet could be fatal.
A 15 mg/kg therapeutic dose of paracetamol has been established for dogs. By contrast, a dose of 150 mg/kg is lethal for dogs. High quantities of paracetamol damage the liver (hepatic cytolysis, i.e., destruction of liver cells) and red blood cells (haemolysis, destruction of the body's oxygen-carrying cells).
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.
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.
"Paracetamol is licensed in dogs as Pardale V for 5 days. The dose in Pardale V works out at 33mg of paracetamol for every kg of body weight, three times daily. The listed dose in most vet formularies is 10mg/kg twice to three times daily," Nick explains.
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.
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.
Efficacy declines after this point. The threshold for potential paracetamol-induced hepatic injury in adults is >10g or >200 mg/kg (whichever is less) within 24 hours. So, 10g is the toxic dose for all those heavier than 50kg.
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.
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.
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.
If your dog ever does happen to ingest human medication, bring the original container to the veterinarian. The original bottle or package can tell you which drug is involved, what strength, how many pills or tablets were in the container, and possibly the manufacturer's recommendations concerning poisoning.
Drugs can be fatal or cause long-term damage in pets. Some of the symptoms that pets experience after ingesting medication can include stomach upset, elevated heart rate, lethargy, and loss of coordination.
In the same way that acetaminophen can wreak havoc on your dog's system, human NSAIDs such as Advil®, Aleve® and Motrin can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers, as well as potential kidney failure. Even veterinary NSAIDs, when ingested in large amounts, can cause similar problems.
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.
Adult dosing of paracetamol
The recommended paracetamol dosing for adults and children 12 years and over is 500 to 1000mg every four to six hours as necessary, with a maximum of 4000mg in any 24 hour period.
Acetylcysteine IV (N-acetylcysteine, Parvolex®, NAC) is the treatment of choice. It has near 100% efficacy in preventing paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity if given within the first 8 hours from ingestion of overdose.
Believe it or not, dogs feel pain to a similar extent that humans do. In fact, dogs can handle similar intensities of all types of pain to humans. For example, stomach-related pain and tooth-related pain in a dog are perceived much the same way that we would perceive this type of 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.
For oral use as an antipyretic and control of mild to moderate pain in dogs, rabbits and rodents. Dogs: 0.2 mL of Paracetamol (equivalent to 10mg) per kg BW orally twice a day. Rabbits: 0.4 mL to 10 mL Paracetamol (equivalent to 200mg to 500mg) per kg BW orally.
A recent study compared oral paracetamol/codeine (Pardale-V – the licensed UK product) with meloxicam given orally prior to surgery. Paracetamol was dosed at 33mg/kg PO TID (the licensed dose) and meloxicam at 0.2mg/kg PO initially followed by 0.1 mg/kg.
A diagnosis of acetaminophen toxicity is usually confirmed through diagnostic tests, including an acetaminophen level, electrolytes, kidney function tests, amylase, lipase, liver function tests, complete blood count, and coagulation factors.
Benadryl Dose for Dogs
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook recommends giving a standard dosage of 25 milligrams for a 25-pound dog two to three times per day. As a general rule of thumb, use 1 milligram per pound of your dog's body weight. For example, a 50-pound dog would be given two 25 milligram tablets.