What can you give a dog for pain relief?
Paracetamol is a very popular painkiller for humans, but what pain relief can you give to dogs who are unwell?
“Many vets do prescribe paracetamol for dogs, as it can be an effective pain relief in some circumstances. However, before doing so, they will carefully calculate a safe dose, taking into account any health issues your dog has, and any other medications they are taking,” Vet, Claire Roberts, tells Country Living.
“Its important never to give paracetamol to your dog unless your vet tells you to – it can be very dangerous if its given incorrectly.”
Claire explains that you should always head to your vet for advice, including if your pup accidentally digests a painkiller. She tells us: “If you feel that your pet is in need of pain relief, you must seek advice from your vet – never give them human pain relief unless your vet has asked you to, some forms can be highly toxic. If your pet accidentally eats a human painkiller you should contact your vet immediately.”
Vet Nick from ProDog Raw explains that paracetamol should not be given to cats under any circumstances, as they are very sensitive to the drug. “Dogs are less sensitive to paracetamol than cats. A 20kg dog would need to ingest over seven 500mg tablets to suffer toxicity. For cats, one 250mg paracetamol tablet could be fatal. Paracetamol causes severe damage to the liver and red blood cells,” he says.
“Aspirin can be used in dogs, but paracetamol is safer. Aspirin is toxic to cats, even at relatively low doses, so can only be used under veterinary supervision,” Nick adds. “Herbal pain relief tablets can be effective in dogs. Boswellia, White Willow and Devils Claw are routinely used in dogs. Talk to a herb vet to get dosing right.”
What happens if my dog has too much Calpol?
Paracetamol poisoning can cause abnormalities in the red blood cells as well as kidney and/or liver damage. In most cases, kidney and liver damage is not reversible. Ingestion of large doses of paracetamol can also cause coma or death. Early symptoms to look our for are laboured breathing, swollen face or neck, swelling of the limbs, brownish-grey gums, hypothermia, jaundice and vomiting. If in doubt talk to your vet!
How Much Calpol Can a 12Kg Dog Have?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it will depend on the individual dog’s weight, health, and age. However, a good rule of thumb is to give 1ml of Calpol per kilogram of body weight. Therefore, a 12kg dog could have up to 12ml of Calpol. It is always best to check with your vet before giving any medication to your pet.
What Can I Give My Dog For Pain – Ask the Expert | Dr David Randall
Calpol is a medication that is used to relieve pain and fever in humans. It can also be used for dogs, but only under the guidance of a veterinarian. The correct dosage of Calpol for dogs depends on the weight of the dog, as well as the severity of the pain or fever.
For example, a ten-pound dog would need a much smaller dose than a one-hundred-pound dog. It is important to never give your dog Calpol without first consulting with a vet.