Aspirin could help relieve pains and inflammation in humans, but could it also be helpful for your dog? This is one question you might be asking if you are a pet mum and dad. Cats and dogs occasionally have to deal with injuries from time to time, and in such situations, finding the right meds to use can be a problem.
Most vets will prescribe aspirins for helping canines deal with certain conditions, but it is essential to know that meds for humans don’t always work for animals. You can find in this page https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/aspirin/ useful suggestions on dog pain medications. So before administering any pills from your medicine cabinet to your pet, you should get clarification from your vet.
Aspirin for Dogs
Aspirin belongs to a category of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Some others that belong to this category include Ibuprofen, Metacam, Carprofen, and many more. They aim to provide relief from pain and inflammation. It could also be administered in treating mild to severe fever in animals.
Like humans, an overdose of aspirin could lead to side effects in dogs, which could either be mild or severe. As a result, special care is needed when using painkillers for treating pet ailment. Some of the common aspirins available for use in dogs and cats include.
NSAIDs
Meds such as Metacam, Ibuprofen, Carprofen, Naprofen, Rimadyl all belong to this category. They each could be used administered in controlled doses for treating conditions in canines. You should seek medical counsel on the best option to use as they each have a different effect on the body.
For example, Rimadyl is best suited for long-term use, while Ibuprofen could be used as a quick resort for dealing with temporary pain and inflammation. In controlled doses, pets could suffer from mild conditions such as diarrhea, seizures, and weight loss. In cases of overdose, there could be issues arising from toxicity.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen available as a brand name Tylenol is another common aspirin administered for dog pain and inflammation. It is used in treating canine cold and flu and could also offer relief from related digestive ailments. Meds are available in pill form and could be easily bought without a prescription, unlike NSAIDs.
Tylenol may not be quite useful for inflammations compared to Ibuprofen and Rimadyl, but it does offer relief for mild to severe pain. When looking for a pain killer for treating arthritis in canines, it may be best to use NSAIDs than acetaminophen.
How to Use Aspirin for Dogs?
Your best bet is to go with the doctor’s advice. They are better equipped to decide how much drug to administer to a dog. Some factors play an essential role in concluding how many doses to use for your pet. A large canine will require more treatments than you would use for a small-sized pooch. The same goes for older animals, as they would need more than a few months old pups.
Dosage
The recommended dosage to use depends on the type of meds and the condition you are treating. Some meds are best for a one-off treatment, while others may be used for an extended period. You must note there is no recommended dosage for dog aspirin. According to experts, you can start with a treatment of up to 40mg/kg, depending on the ailment your pooch is suffering from.
Your dog’s health history and toxicity levels are some of the things your vet will use in arriving at the best form of treatment. If your pet suffers from allergies to pills and other meds, your vet should be privy to such information. This is why you should always consult with one before self-administering any meds to animals.
Side Effects of Dog Aspirin
You can expect there to be specific side effects from the use of both NSAIDs and Tylenol. It is best to keep your pet under close observation to determine when there is a need to discontinue treatment. The common side effects usually distort the digestive system leading to changes in appetite or frequent stooling.
While there are many other ways aspirin could put your pet in harms ways, some of the common problems associated with the use of painkillers in dogs include
- Vomiting
- Ulcer
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
- Skin infection
- Behavioral changes
When choosing aspirins, you should avoid extended-release pills and go for coated or buffered tablets. You can find medicines available in 81mg per tablet. These are often referred to as baby aspirin. Others come in 165mg, 325mg, and 500mg tablets, which are best suited for adult dogs. Still, a vet should be in a better position to tell you how much to use for your pet to avoid any risk. You can check this website for more on the side effects for canines.
Alternatives to Aspirin
It is common to find pet owners who are against using painkillers on their animal companions. If this is the case, there are other options available for treating pain, inflammation, and fever in animals. There is the option of trying alternative medicine, and you can equally try a simple combination of rest and exercise. Still, the nature of the treatment to use depends on the ailment you are treating. Some other alternatives available at your disposal are
- CBD
- Acupuncture
- Supplements
- Cold-laser therapy
- Regular exercise
- Physical exercise
Final Note
Aspirin may be useful in relieving pain and inflammation in animals. This makes it safe for use in treating arthritis and is a post-surgical treatment for animals. It would help if you spoke with your vet before using any form of medication for animals on your dog.
Leave a Reply