How to Give Dogs Over the Counter Analgesics
For minor aches and pains, humans have multiple over-the-counter analgesics at our disposal. For our canine friends, analgesics available without prescription from a veterinarian are generally limited to only plain aspirin. While aspirin is relatively safe for dogs, it should be used cautiously because of the damage it can do to the dog's stomach---just as in humans.
Instructions
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Purchase aspirin for your dog. Ensure that the product you are buying is plain aspirin. Ingredients in other over-the-counter analgesics can be toxic to your dog.
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Weigh your dog. If your dog is large and you don't have scales large enough for this purpose at home, ask your veterinarian if you can bring your pet in and use the clinic's scales.
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Measure out 5 to 15 mg of aspirin for every pound your dog weighs. For example, if your dog weighs 50 pounds, you could give the pet as much as 750 mg of aspirin. But it would be best to start with lower dosages to see if they are effective.
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Roll the pills in peanut butter and most dogs will take them as a treat. The peanut butter will also provide a bit of a buffer for your dog's stomach.
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Repeat the medication in 12 hours if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Aspirin may be especially effective for dogs with mild arthritis. This is because the medication has anti-inflammatory properties. It will also reduce pain and fever.
Giving aspirin to your dog at mealtimes will help to reduce the possibility of stomach irritation.
Use caution in giving aspirin to small dogs. A baby aspirin could be toxic to dogs that weigh less than two pounds. The toxicity level of aspirin in canines is about 30 mg per pound of body weight.
Do not give aspirin to young puppies and never give aspirin to cats.
Do not use aspirin with enteric coating for dogs. It's highly likely that the coating will not be digested and the aspirin will be excreted from the dog's body.
If your dog exhibits any symptoms of stomach upset, stop giving aspirin and consult with your veterinarian.
References
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Comments
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This is exactly the person from whom I want good medical information for my pet - an English and Journalism major with years of experience in journalism and fund raising.... Please, people - think twice. It's the Internet, not a vet.
