Can I give my dog human paracetamol? In short, Nick tells us: "Yes, but it's always best to consult a vet. Never dose for more than five days without vet supervision."
No dog should be given paracetamol without being prescribed it by a vet. But if your dog does accidentally ingest paracetamol, the effects can vary depending on the size of the dog. For instance, a dog that weighs 20kg would only suffer toxic effects after eating seven 500mg tablets.
The short answer is NO. You should never attempt to treat your pets with human medication, precautions should be taken to keep household medications out reach of your pet to avoid a potentially harmful or fatal reaction.
Is paracetamol toxic to dogs? Paracetamol can be toxic to dogs in high doses. Dogs can safely consume 15mg of paracetamol per kilogram of their bodyweight, however any dose greater than this can make them sick. A single tablet of human paracetamol contains 500mg, so it certainly isn't safe for your dog to eat.
"Many vets do prescribe paracetamol for dogs, as it can be an effective pain relief in some circumstances. However, before doing so, they will carefully calculate a safe dose, taking into account any health issues your dog has, and any other medications they are taking," PDSA Vet, Claire Roberts, tells Country Living.
In particular, an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and a small (~4 mmHg) increase in systolic blood pressure are adverse effects for which the evidence is particularly strong, and which show a degree of dose dependence.
Dogs are also sensitive to the effects of paracetamol where it can cause extensive liver damage leading to failure of the liver; a life-threatening complication. Early signs can include vomiting and reluctance to eat, which progress to diarrhoea, abdominal pain, jaundice, bleeding and collapse.
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 most commonly used dose rate in dogs is 10 mg/kg orally every 12 hours. NEVER go above this does rate without first checking with your veterinarian.
Contact your GP or phone NHS 24 111 service if your symptoms get worse or last more than 3 days despite taking paracetamol.
Long-term use of paracetamol may also cause heart problems. The systematic review of eight observational studies showed that four found a heightened risk, ranging from 19 to 68 percent, of cardiovascular problems. Higher doses of paracetamol was also associated with heart attack and stroke, according to another study.
Paracetamol toxicity, albeit accidental or intentional overdose, is an ongoing global problem that continues to result in cases of hepatotoxicity, acute liver failure, and even irreversible liver injury necessitating liver transplantation.
However, dogs require different doses than humans. Paracetamol can be highly toxic to dogs if they are given too high a dose. Some human paracetamol formulations also contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs.
Paracetamol has been formulated for use in humans, but there is a formulation for dogs, and your veterinary surgeon may decide to prescribe it under some circumstances. Your veterinary surgeon may prescribe a specific dosage of paracetamol for your dog.
The most available painkillers for dogs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including carprofen (Rimadyl or Novox), deracoxib (Deramaxx), firocoxib (Previcox), meloxicam (Metacam), and grapipant (Galliprant).
Adults, the elderly and children 16 years and over (above 55 kg body weight): Take 500 mg to 1000 mg at a time, up to 3000 mg per 24 hours. The maximum daily dose of Paracetamol must not exceed 3000 mg.
Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. Taking too much paracetamol can be dangerous and you may need treatment. Too much paracetamol can cause liver damage.
You may need to take paracetamol for longer if you have a long-term health problem that causes pain. It's safe to take paracetamol regularly for many years, as long as you do not take more than the recommended dose.
Paracetamol in high single doses (typically 15 g or more) causes liver injury through a toxic metabolite, NAPQI (N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine).
Untreated paracetamol poisoning may cause varying degrees of liver injury over the 2 to 4 days following ingestion, including fulminant hepatic failure. Rarely, massive overdose may initially present with coma and severe metabolic acidosis.
If death does not occur, people tend to recover fully over a couple of weeks. Without treatment, death from toxicity occurs 4 to 18 days later.
Paracetamol overdose is one of the leading causes of liver failure. Scientists have known for decades that paracetamol in large amounts is toxic the liver, but until now its mechanism of poisoning has eluded them.