Do you have a dog that is experiencing joint or muscle pain? Did your dog play, exercise, or work to hard? Aspirin is probably one of the safest, and cheapest drugs that you can give your dog. Giving a dog aspirin should be done on an as needed, or short term basis, as this acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) will cause problems over time. Some problems associated with giving your dog aspirin over long periods of time are, bleeding ulcers, stomach upset, and possible kidney damage.
Some dogs may have an allergic reaction to aspirin, it is advised, you start your dog on the lowest recommended dose of aspirin for canines. The low end of recommended aspirin dosage in dogs is 5 milligrams per ten pounds of body weight. For example, a 60 pound dog would take 300 milligrams of aspirin two times a day. Aspirin should always be offered to your dog along with food, and plenty of fresh water. Some signs that your canine may be having an allergic reaction to aspirin are, anemia and blood loss.
Should your dog get an overdose of aspirin, you may see symptoms such as vomiting, panting, fever, depression, and even seizures. If you suspect your pet has received unsafe levels of aspirin, you need to contact your vet immediately. Do not give aspirin to dogs, that are pregnant, puppies, or dogs with any form of kidney disease. If your dog is taking any other medications even vitamins it is suggested you contact your veterinarian prior to administering this acetylsalicylic acid.
What type of aspirin should I give my dog? Give your dog regular aspirin, with no enteric coating. Enteric coated aspirin made for human consumption, will not dissolve properly in your dogs short digestive tract. You may purchase specially formulated aspirin, this includes an enteric coating made to work with your dogs system, this aspirin may be preferred for animals that seem to get stomach upset from aspirin.
Read the back of the pain relief bottle. You may not give dogs many other types of pain relievers made for humans. For example, Ibuprofen is poison to your dog. Make sure, that what your giving your dog includes only aspirin. Many pain relievers contain caffeine, acetaminophen, and even codeine; these must be avoided!
Aspirin is not recommended for long term use in canines. If you have a dog with persistent pain issues, such as arthritis, aspirin is not the answer to your problems. Using the recommended aspirin dosage for dogs is a relatively safe short term solution.
My 17 year old lab Mary has persistent pain issues, these have been effectively treated using natural alternatives however, should her pain become untreatable with natural remedies, I may consider prescription dog pain relief.
