Dogs are very lovable creatures, and we want to protect them from all the dangers in this world. You often come across certain situations when your loyal buddy feels under the weather, and you find yourself in a dilemma of providing the right type of medicine. Also, one might consider giving their canines normal medication that any household member would take in a circumstance of great distress. However, you should always consult with your vet before giving your dog any kind of medicine. Be it any medicine, including aspirin, when given to a dog without any vet’s consultation, there may be chances of overdosage. And such an instance will lead to some unfavorable situations. Thus, here, in this guide, let’s understand the aspirin dosage for dogs.
Before we get into the details of what is the dosage of aspirin for dogs, it’s important to know the function and significance of aspirin.
What is Aspirin?
Aspirin Definition
When a person suffers from a headache or any kind of pain in their body, there comes aspirin into the picture. Thus, one can say that this drug is a painkiller, in simple words. It is also a very basic medication available in every household. But what exactly is aspirin? Well, aspirin is a drug that relieves pain and minor fever. It is easily available, and any individual can buy it without a prescription. Additionally, this one is also an anti-inflammatory drug that controls inflammation in the human body.
Side Effects of Aspirin in Humans
Aspirin can sound like a real lifesaver at times, but this amazing and very useful drug comes with side effects as well. A few common side effects of aspirin on humans are-
- Rash
- Upset Stomach
- Headache
- Cramps
- Drowsiness
How Much Aspirin Can I Give My Dog?
Ever wondered how much aspirin can I give my dog? Aspirin, despite being a pain relief drug, is not at all suitable for canines. Thus, one must remember to give this to their pet only when there is an absolute necessity. However, there is no correct or standard aspirin dosage for dogs. Its dosage will vary from small pups to large ones. Small doggies generally need a small dosage, and those large dogs will need a larger one. So wondering, ‘what dosage of aspirin for dogs?’. Well, read ahead, then.
Furthermore, there exist 2 types of aspirin dosage for dogs one is adult aspirin, and the second one is low-dose aspirin. The adult medication is 325mg, and its lower dose is 81mg. Regardless, the basic aspirin dose for dogs that a pet owner should follow is-
- Dogs with 10-pound weight require 1 low dose of aspirin every 12 hours.
- Canines weighing 40 pounds will need 1 adult aspirin dosage with an interval of 12 hours.
But this is not a standard dosage, and it will differ from dog to dog. So to be on the safer side, you should consult your vet about medicating your pet.
Why do Vets Prescribe Aspirin Dosage For Dogs?
One significant reason that a vet prescribes aspirin for dogs is its anti-inflammatory property. Vets suggest this drug for dogs that suffer from osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal inflammation as a form of treatment. The anti-inflammatory properties of this one provide great relief to your pet and will help reduce the pain. Besides, a canine can also take this medication if it suffers from severe fever or seeks pain relief from any injury.
Side Effects of Aspirin for Dogs
Although aspirin can ease the pain to a great extent, it does have certain side effects in dogs. The drug could counter-react to your dog’s immune system and cause great distress if the dosage is not monitored. So, have a glimpse at some aspirin side effects in dogs-
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Ulcer Formation
- Tarry Stool
You should always consult your vet before providing your dog with any kind of medication as there is a side effect of the particular drug for sure. Still, if overdosed, it could result in a fatal situation. If overdosed, the side effects will be slightly different than normal. For example, if your dog overdoses on aspirin, then the following side effects of aspirin in dogs would present themselves-
- Loss of Appetite
- Seizure
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hemorrhage
- Coma(Fatal)
Always monitor your furry friend’s behavior closely and keep a check on the dosage. That’s because it can lead to something as serious as death if an overdose takes place.
Alternatives to Aspirin for Dogs
Usually, aspirin is not best for pups, but if your vet prescribes one, it is safe to use. However, there are alternatives to aspirin dosage for dogs. For example, inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis could be treated with an alternate medicine, Carprofen. Moreover, this medicine proved to be more effective than aspirin. Apart from that, Meloxicam is also a prescription that could become an alternative to aspirin. There are not only synthetic drugs but also natural options that one can use as an alternative to aspirin, such as-
#1 Turmeric
Turmeric has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries. It has great healing properties and can provide great relief for conditions such as inflammation. This natural remedy works wonders not only on humans but also on various living beings. And canines are among them.
#2 Boswellia Serrata
The resin of this tree has been in use for a long time and is traditionally popular for providing relief in painful conditions. Most humans use this resin to reduce any inflammatory conditions in animals too.
#3 Cinnamon
Cinnamon provides relief in multiple matters, such as bowel diseases, crams in the stomach, diarrhea, pain, and inflammation in almost all living beings. Thus, the next time you see your pet suffering from any of those health conditions, do not think twice about giving it a bite of cinnamon.
#4 Hawthorn
This particular herb is very useful for pets that are suffering from arthritis. Also, if your pup experiences any heart disease, Hawthorn becomes a life-saver literally. So, people can go to this natural remedy.
Is Canine Aspirin Overdose Possible?
As already said above, aspirin is not at all suitable for dogs, and one must avoid using it on their pets at any cost. But if your dog is going through an extremely painful phase, then under consultation with your vet, a small dosage of aspirin can be suitable. Moreover, when you give your loyal buddy this medicine, you should monitor the dosage and any side effects very carefully. That’s because this particular prescription could lead to serious and permanent damage to a dog’s system. So, it is important to look out for symptoms of this drug’s toxicity to take precautionary steps before it’s too late. Some symptoms of aspirin toxicity can be as-
- Loss of Appetite – This is a very obvious symptom, as pups are always excited to eat and play. So if you notice your pet is not eating properly and showing almost zero interest in his food habits, then you should straight away visit your vet.
- Fever – One of the common symptoms of aspirin overdose toxicity is fever, and it is very noticeable. In such a case, one can observe their pet a little tired and not as active as it is during those normal days.
- Seizure – Aspirin overdose often leads to frequent seizures. At times of seizures, one must take their pup to a veterinarian as soon as possible in order to lower the chances of further episodes.
- Coma – The toxicity could lead to coma as well. Although in most situations, a coma can be fatal, there might be some lucky cases of survival too.
- Gastric Irritation – Stomach issues like gastric are common symptoms of aspirin overdose. If an individual witnesses their pooch vomiting or gagging, a vet consultation is a must.
- Tarry Stool – Dogs would have stools that will look in abnormal colors and shapes. And that’s when you can observe the effects of toxicity. So without any delay, go visit the vet.
One major and most serious consequence of aspirin overdose is death. Yes, an overdose of aspirin could lead to your dog’s demise, as the toxicity is very high in these animals if the dosage is unmonitored.
Tips for Giving Aspirin to Dogs
It is often very difficult to feed medicine to your dog, especially aspirin for dogs dosage. They do not really like to consume meds, so they find all kinds of ways to avoid them. And it is a very sure thing that you will face a lot of difficulties feeding them drugs. However, it might not be the case for everyone, but for most, it is. So to avoid such hardship, you can do the following while giving your dog the drug–
- Hide the pill in between its food, particularly its favorite one.
- Distract your dog with toys or other stuff.
- Pamper it and feed the drug slyly and later reward it with treats.
Conclusion
A dog will always be mischievous and will consume a lot of different substances that might or might not affect its health. If one of the substances happens to be aspirin, you should be a little concerned as you do not want your dog to suffer from any chronic condition. Also, most people question ‘Can I give my dog aspirin for pain?’. Well, if that pain is unbearable and a vet prescribes it then yes you can give. But always remember to monitor your dog’s behavior and look out for the effects if you give your dog aspirin. Besides, know the precise aspirin dosage for dogs here before you give it to your dear pet.