Aspirin and Your Dog: Proceed With Caution?

Is aspirin safe for dogs?

Champ, an 11 year old pup, lay in the corner of the living room. John had noticed he was whining earlier while trying to get up and now he seemed restless. After watching Champ for a few minutes, John went over, petted his old friend, and asked, “What’s wrong boy?”.

The day before John and Champ had played at the dog park. Champ had run around like he did when he was a pup, but now John could tell he wasn’t feeling like a puppy anymore.

The next morning John called the veterinarian and scheduled an appointment.

Is Your Dog in Pain?

There are many signs that your dog is in pain. Dogs may demonstrate pain by licking or biting an area that hurts or vocalize their pain by whining or whimpering. In the case dogs with arthritis, it may be a matter of watching them get up and down as they go about their daily activities. They may guard against a certain part of their body and not want anyone to touch it. Your always good natured friend may even act aggressive when you try to inspect the area. It is important to carefully examine your dog and try to find the source of discomfort.

The American Animal Hospital Association has an excellent article with more details called How to Tell If Your Dog is in Pain.

Aspirin for dogs?

Aspirin may be an option to help your dog with pain. However, as with any medicine, it should only be administered with approval from your veterinarian. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory and helps provide temporary relief of joint pain.

There are, however, some things to keep in mind when giving your dog aspirin. Aspirin has many of the same risks with dogs as it does with humans. It should be given with food to prevent stomach upset. Some vets recommend crushing the aspirin into the dog’s food to minimize the risk of stomach upset. If given on an empty stomach over a prolonged period of time, it can cause ulcers. Aspirin is not good for puppies or cats as they lack the enzymes to digest it. Enteric coated aspirin is not a good form of aspirin for dogs because they may not be able to digest it.

Dosage

Too much aspirin for dogs can be toxic. Some vets recommend 5-15 mg per pound every 12 hours. This means that a standard baby aspirin (80 mg) should not be taken by a dog less than 5 pounds as it would exceed this level. Please consult your veterinarian to decide the best dosage. Tylenol and Advil, while they may be fine for humans, should not be given to dogs as it can be toxic.

Your veterinarian may also prescribe other drugs for dog pain relief. One example may be Rimadyl, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which is stronger than aspirin.

Summary

If you believe your dog is in pain, please seek the help of a veterinarian as soon as possible. Talk with your vet about different options and find out if aspirin is the right for your dog.