"It's important never to give paracetamol to your dog unless your vet tells you to - it can be very dangerous if it's given incorrectly." Claire explains that you should always head to your vet for advice, including if your pup accidentally digests a painkiller.
Paracetamol is a very popular painkiller in humans but it can be toxic or fatal in small animals. Dogs are less sensitive to paracetamol than cats. A 20 kilogram dog would need to ingest over seven 500mg tablets in order to suffer toxic effects.
Paracetamol poisoning in dogs can be very serious, potentially causing your dog to go into kidney or liver failure. If you think that your dog has ingested a large quantity of paracetamol, you will need to seek emergency veterinary care. Symptoms to watch for include: Labored breathing.
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.
While it may be tempting to give your pooch some paracetamol to save on vet fees, the truth is, it's potentially dangerous and could end up costing you more in the long run.
"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.
Tylenol can, in rare instances, be safely used in dogs; however, not only must the dose be carefully calculated by a veterinarian, but the dog's bloodwork requires frequent evaluation to ensure that no long term damage is occurring.
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.
Paracetamol is not registered for use for dogs in Australia, meaning that it can only be administered to the strictest of guidelines. You should never give your dog paracetamol unless under strict instructions by your veterinarian to do so.
Signs of toxicity from acetaminophen may develop within 1-4 hours of ingestion. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage or decrease the red blood cell's ability to carry oxygen (methemoglobinemia). Dogs may become depressed or weak, with rapid breathing, a high heart rate, panting, abdominal pain, vomiting or drooling.
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.
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.
They will appear tired, and when you don't consult your vet early, it may also produce signs of staggering, restlessness, and vomiting. There may even be blood in the urine and stool.
Q: What can I give my dog for pain? A: While human pain medications should be used for humans only, there are several pain medications that are formulated specifically to help manage your dog's pain. Dog painkillers include carprofen, deracoxib, firocoxib and meloxicam, each of which can be prescribed by your vet.
Our homes are filled with common substances and medications that are particularly dangerous to our pets. Ensure that the likes of chocolate, rat and snail bait, garlic, onion, coffee, tobacco, and painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol are always safely out of your pet's reach.
The main, or 'active', ingredient in Panadol is paracetamol, which is a simple pain reliever. It's used for treating mild to moderate aches and pains – such as headache, back ache, cold and flu symptoms, or toothache or muscle pain – as well as for helping to reduce fever.
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.
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.
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.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to control pain and inflammation in dogs.
However, it's very important to note that over-the-counter human NSAIDs, including baby aspirin, are not safe to give to your dog. NSAIDs have been prescribed for dogs for decades and remain generally well-tolerated and safe. However, they must always be used under veterinarian supervision.
It is important to consult with a vet before giving your dog any pain medication since many human NSAIDs are toxic to dogs, says rover.com. If you want to relieve your pet's pain naturally without NSAIDs, veterinarians.org suggests CBD oil, green-lipped mussels and turmeric.