How To Give Aspirin To Dogs And Cats

Aspirin is a commonly used drug and is obtainable without prescription. We regard it as a perfectly safe drug to use, but this is not necessarily the case for dogs and cats, and care is essential in self-prescribing aspirin to your pets.

Dogs and cats can suffer from painful conditions such as arthritis, especially as they get older, and even young animals may suffer from pain from injuries or other conditions. In our desire to help the pet, it is tempting to reach for the pack of aspirins, but there are important differences in the ways in which these drugs are metabolized in humans, dogs and cats, and care is essential. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) having anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling, antipyretic effects that reduce fever, and some analgesic effects that relieve pain. It is metabolized in the body, processed in the liver, and then excreted by the kidneys.

Aspirin can kill puppies and cats. Even aspirin especially manufactured for dogs must never be given to puppies or cats because they do not have the enzyme (glucuronyl transferase) that processes aspirin in the liver. They therefore metabolize aspirin very slowly and even a single dose can be fatal. Never give aspirin to a young dog or a cat except under strict veterinary supervision.

Aspirin can be given to adult dogs – with caution – for short term pain relief, and meat-flavored aspirins manufactured specifically for dogs are available. Aspirin was at one time the recommended treatment for long-term use for canine arthritis, but it is no longer recommended for this purpose because it has potentially serious side effects, and because the newer drugs now available are far more effective and have fewer side effects.

The dosage given must be correct, and it is important to realize that even a baby aspirin is powerful enough to kill a very small dog. The recommended dosage is 5-10 mg per lb (10-20 mg per kg). An adult aspirin contains 320 or 325 mg, and so the dosage for a 32 lb dog is 160 mg, or half an adult aspirin (or two 80 mg baby aspirins). This must be given no more than 12-hourly, and it must be given with food. Watch the dog carefully for any side effects, and stop treatment if any symptoms are noticed. Do not give aspirin more than two or three times in a single week without consulting your vet first.

The side effects of aspirin in dogs can include poor appetite, stomach upsets, depression, muscle weakness, ulcers, diarrhea, vomiting (with or without blood), and breathing difficulties. Aspirin can also cause internal bleeding (evident through bloody or black stools), kidney failure, seizures, coma, and even death. If there are any symptoms, stop using aspirin, and contact your veterinarian immediately. Note that enteric-coated aspirins intended for humans should not be given in the hope of avoiding side effects because the coating is not usually digested and the aspirin passes through without being processed. Buffered, non-enteric coated tablets, or aspirin specifically made for dogs should be used instead.

Aspirin has blood-thinning properties, and must not be given to dogs for a week or more before any operation, or it may cause excessive bleeding. Do not give aspirin tablets that contain other ingredients such as codeine, because these can kill dogs and cats. Do not give aspirin to dogs with breathing problems, ulcers, kidney disease, or bleeding conditions such as Willebrand’s disease (a type of hemophilia), and do not give it in combination with other drugs, except in consultation with your vet. Do not give alternative pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol, Paracetamol) to dogs or cats except under strict veterinary supervision, as they can be fatal.

Back To Savingdoggies Home Page