Can I Give My Dog Aspirin?

When a dog is in pain, people are eager to give medication to ease that pain, but giving human medications such as aspirin and Tyelenol® to pets can cause more problems than it cures. Learn why in this article. Q: Can I give my dog aspirin?

A: It is important not to just give a drug because the animal is 'not himself' or is in pain where the cause is unknown. A trip to the vet is definitely in order to find out the root of the problem. It may be pain-related, it may not be.

With regard to arthritis, aspirin is sometimes used for dogs, but only with caution and under veterinary supervision. Drugs containing acetaminophen (e.g. Tyelenol®) are very toxic, potentially fatal to both dogs and cats. Aspirin is in a class of drugs called NSAIDs - Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, and dogs are particularly sensitive to the gastrointestinal effects of; pain, bleeding, and ulceration that can be a side effect of these drugs.

Coated aspirin helps with the gastrointestinal effects. Check with your veterinarian about what is going on with your pet and what would be the best drug for the problem. Newer and better drugs are now available for dogs and cats.

Glucosamine/chondroitin supplements, such as Cosequin, are another aid for arthritic pets and may be used alone or with NSAIDs or other therapies. As always, please see your veterinarian to have your pet evaluated for pain, overall health (and bloodwork to check liver and kidneys, if indicated) prior to using these medications.

A sock, light bandage, or cone is helpful to keep dogs from chewing the area. If the foot does not seem painful or involved, move up the leg to check for bumps, bruises, or swollen joints. If gently bending a joint causes discomfort, you may be dealing with a mild sprain or arthritis in the joint.

Arthritis is really common in older dogs and may cause a bit of limping off and on when they over do it. Coming up lame after playing could mean a pulled muscle. Arthritis in the neck, spine, or hips will also cause limping that looks like it is coming from the foot or one of the legs.

If your dog is putting some weight on the leg, but limping a bit, it could be any of the common problems above. If your dog can’t support any weight, is extremely painful, and you can’t determine the cause of the discomfort, get it checked out. If you want to try and relieve a bit of the pain try a dose or two of aspirin.

Sometimes poodles, yorkies, maltese, lhasas, and other toy breeds will hike up a back leg because their kneecap is going in and out of place. The kneecap can rub on the joint and make it painful. In some dogs it is just the pressure of the kneecap in the wrong place that makes things feel different.

Holding their leg up relieves the pressure. Some dogs grow out of it. Others can be exercised to tighten up the knee joint.

A few may need surgery to make things right. For any of the above problems you can aspirin to help with pain and discomfort. The dose for dogs is 1 adult aspirin for a medium to large dog (over 30 pounds) or 1/2 to one baby aspirin for a small(ten pound)dog.

I never use any anti-inflammatory on a constant basis if I am unsure of the problem. If the situation gets worse or doesn’t improve in a day or two, get it diagnosed and treated. Do not use Tylenol or ibuprofen in dogs.

Both can have side effects. Dr Greg loves to give people common sense medical advice. His book, Dog Dish Diet has nutritional tips that will help you pick the right food and treats to help with hotspots, ear infections, fat dogs, and even seizures!