In almost every household, you can find ibuprofen, a very common drug that can be purchased without a prescription and often used in human medicine. This can make caregivers think it is a suitable drug to offer dogs without any veterinary control, but the truth is that ibuprofen is able to cause poisoning and even death in dogs. To let you know, once and for all, the answer to the question “Can I give ibuprofen to a dog?” Pertable in this article by Animal Expert.
Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory with analgesic and antipyretic properties commonly used in humans. It can be purchased without a prescription, and conveys the idea that it is harmless and, as it is effective, it is not uncommon for guardians to administer this drug to their dogs, believing that it has the same effects as on human medicine. Unfortunately, ibuprofen can have disastrous consequences in dogs, as such medicines, administered without dose control, can cause fatal poisoning.
- The specific problem with ibuprofen is that dogs lack the enzymes needed to metabolize and eliminate it.
- Which can cause it to accumulate in the body as well as the products resulting from its breakdown.
- In addition.
- Dogs are very sensitive to the ulcerative effect of these drugs.
- Which can also cause kidney damage.
Given these effects, if you think your dog might need to take ibuprofen, what you should do is contact the veterinarian so that you can approve a diagnosis and then prescribe some of the dog medications on the market. , if necessary.
Ibuprofen is a medicine used to relieve discomfort and pain that can result from several causes. Therefore, before administering a medicine, it is essential that you have a diagnosis and only the veterinarian can reach one.
Therefore, this medicine acts as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, but it is not recommended to administer ibuprofen to dogs for long periods, as it usually causes side effects at the digestive level. This fact, coupled with the difficulties that the dog body has in metabolizing this drug, makes ibuprofen not recommended for these animals.
There are other prohibited human remedies for dogs, you can see what they are in this article of Animal Expert.
For all that we have already explained, it is rare for a veterinarian to currently prescribe an ibuprofen treatment for dogs. In this case, the dose and the dosing schedule should be strictly controlled by this professional to avoid the risks, because the safety margin in the dog is very small, meaning that a single dose slightly higher than recommended could have as a result of poisoning.
Remember that a toxic dose of ibuprofen for dogs will produce symptoms such as abdominal pain, hypersalivation, vomiting and weakness. Ulcers may develop as vomiting and black stools, corresponding to digested blood. If the amount of ibuprofen ingested is too high, you may face a lethal dose of ibuprofen for dogs. Because of this risk, we insist that no one, except a veterinarian, can decide what dose a dog can tolerate and remember that there are several drugs available that are much safer, more effective and, above all, dog-friendly.
If you think your dog’s symptoms are due to an overdose of ibuprofen, you should consult your veterinarian. To avoid fear, the best recommendation is to never give medicines to dogs without the permission of the veterinarian and always respect the prescribed dose. All medicines should be kept out of the dog’s reach. Never assume that a medicine for human consumption can be given to animals.
To learn how to identify symptoms of possible poisoning, see our article on canine poisoning: symptoms and first aid.
It is very common for people to have a first aid kit at home with prescription or over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. For this reason, antibiotics, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs can be found in any home and represent a great temptation for caregivers who, by linking the symptoms of the dog with humans, can administer inappropriate medications without seeking professional advice.
It is necessary to administer anti-inflammatory drugs to dogs, designed exclusively to be assimilated by the digestive system of these animals. However, we have an article, which can help as a complementary treatment to the one prescribed by the veterinarian, in natural anti-inflammatory dogs.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read similar articles about Can you give ibuprofen to dogs?, we recommend that you visit our Medicines section.