I have been asked this question every single day of my practice career.
Aspirin for Dogs: Effective, Cheap, and Readily Available
Aspirin is an NSAID and has been used for years to alleviate simple aches and pains in dogs.
Everybody has it in their at-home medicine cabinet.
Is Aspirin Safe For My Dog?
Yes, it is safe, especially in small doses and for a short period of time.
Now, I don’t advocate using aspirin to control arthritis because arthritis by nature is a chronic disease.
But, for bumps and bruises, it is fine.
Be Very Careful If Giving Your Dog Aspirin!
Several things to be aware of:
- The most serious side effect is gastric ulceration and subsequent perforation. Gastric ulceration can resolve with the discontinuation of the aspirin. Perforation is much more serious and can result in death. If you use aspirin to control pain and gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, diarrhea, and inappetence) develop, stop the medicine immediately.
- You should NOT, under any circumstances, use aspirin with other drugs unless recommended by your veterinarian. Never use aspirin with any NSAID or prednisone. The side effects of combining these medicines can be disastrous.
- Enteric-coated and buffered pills lessen stomach discomfort in dogs. This fact is debatable but is my recommendation. Remember, NSAIDs are not labeled for use in dogs but have been used for years. Most of the information regarding aspirin use in dogs has been gleaned from human literature and anecdotal evidence.
- Start at the lowest dose and only use for a few days. NSAID dose in dogs is debatable but a good starting point is 10 mg/lb given twice daily with food.
- If you are using low-dose aspirin for dogs and decide to go to the veterinarian, make sure you inform your veterinarian. The reason why is because your veterinarian may recommend a different NSAID. Giving a different NSAID such as Rimadyl without an adequate washout period can exacerbate and perpetuate disastrous adverse events. The washout period following NSAIDs should be 10-14 days.
- Never use Tylenol or Advil in dogs. These are brand names. The drug names are acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Both of these drugs are potentially toxic and not recommended.
- Cat lovers, do not use any NSAIDs in cats unless recommended by your veterinarian. NSAIDs and cats don’t mix well and the side effects can be deadly.
- A variety of over-the-counter medicines contains aspirin including Kaopectate, Maalox, and Pepto-Bismol. Use these products sparingly for digestive issues.
NSAIDs have their place in veterinary medicine.
However, you should be very careful using aspirin, considering all of the potential side effects and risk factors associated with its use.
Proactive Ways to Help Your Dog’s Arthritis
- Learn more about dog arthritis.
- Try cooking for your dog or feeding high-quality dog food. Home-cooked diets and wet food help keep your pet from gaining too much weight. In turn, less weight means less stress on your dog’s bones and joints. PET | TAO Chill and Blaze are top choices for arthritic dogs.
- Ease your dog’s discomfort naturally. PET | TAO Comfort is a blend of Eastern herbs and Western supplements to soothe your dog’s arthritic challenges to make him/her more comfortable.
- Provide joint support. PET | TAO Harmonize Joint is a blend of Eastern herbs and Western supplements working together to lubricate and restore your dog’s joints.
- Try Freeze-Dried Kidney Treats. According to TCVM, the Kidney controls the bones and joints and supports arthritic challenges in a “like treats like” manner.
- Learn more about TCVM Herbal Remedies. Chinese medicine offers many amazing natural solutions for dog arthritis. Some good examples are:
