It is sad to see our furry friends limp or in pain when they get hurt. As loving pet owners, our instinct immediately teaches us to care for them and relieve them of their pains. And without really considering the safety of it, we go for baby aspirin to relieve them of their pains. However, can dogs have baby aspirin to kill their pain? Let’s find out.
No, dogs can’t take baby aspirin. Going against this can be fatal to them. They may experience severe gastrointestinal bleeding and even kidney problems. There are other NSAID drugs specifically made for them to take. However, on rare occasions, they may take it under a strict prescription by your veterinarian.
In this article, we shall see if it is safe for doggies to take baby aspirin and what happens when they take it. We shall also see some of the adverse effects that occur when doggies take baby aspirin. But before that, let us first find out if our doggies can take baby aspirin.
Can Dogs Take Baby Aspirin?
No, baby aspirin is not recommended for your furry companion. However, at times, your veterinarian may prescribe a baby aspirin for your doggie if it is the only available NSAIDs and after considering many factors.
The factors will include your doggie’s age, health history, and presence of certain diseases like blood clotting diseases.
With this being said, your doggie can only take baby aspirin after a vet’s prescription and under strict monitoring of their behavior and for any changes in the body. You should watch out for drowsiness, skin redness or scabs, eating less than usual, and diarrhea, in your dog.
Can I Give My Dog Baby Aspirin For A Limp?
If your dog is limping, you should not give it aspirin. Aspirin is a pain medication given only by a veterinarian’s prescription. You should talk to your vet about your dog limping and get the best advice.
Is Baby Aspirin Safe For Dogs?
No, baby aspirin is not safe for dogs, and under no circumstances should they use it. It is a drug made strictly for human consumption only. Being made for humans, it has a digestible coat that prevents aspirin from eroding the mucosa in the stomach.
However, our canine friends’ digestive systems can’t effectively break down this coat, and they end up as toxins. Furthermore, those that manage to break down are not metabolized the same way they are metabolized in the human body. This is common for doggies to suffer from drug poisoning and toxicity when they take it.
Will An 81mg Baby Aspirin Hurt A Dog?
Yes, an 81-mg aspirin will hurt a dog, depending on your dog’s age and its health status, for example, the presence or absence of liver, kidney, GIT, and blood clotting diseases.
Also, very young doggies will find it difficult to metabolize baby aspirin. We do not recommend it for doggies under three months of age and those weighing less than 10 lbs.
Your veterinarian will consider some of the factors above and can only approve it when there is little risk of your doggie developing complications. But when it is not done under strict guidance, baby aspirin could hurt and produce adverse reactions.
The adverse reactions to aspirin in canines are common. Only your veterinarian is best aware and can best manage these reactions, risks, and symptoms in your furry friend.
What Happens If You Give A Dog Baby Aspirin?
When given aspirin, your doggie may experience one or more side effects. Some common side effects are drowsiness, mild headache, or upset stomach. At times, there could be advanced reactions to aspirin, and it may cause stomach mucosal erosion, ulceration, nausea, diary, and black stools.
In a situation where there is an overdose of aspirin, it could result in seizure, loss of appetite, diarrhea, hemorrhage, acid-based, coma, abnormalities, vomiting, or death. When these adverse reactions occur, you should consult your veterinarian.
How Much Baby Aspirin Can A Dog Have?
Baby aspirin is a low-dose type of aspirin, and it commonly comes in 81 mg. It is the type of aspirin recommended for our furry friends because it is a low dose.
One baby aspirin is recommended per 10 lbs of body weight in a dog. This is to be given every 12 hours. It is essential not to exceed more than two tablets of aspirin for your furry friend daily.
Most importantly, baby aspirin, as with other types of aspirin, should only be given by prescription from your veterinarian.
Recommended Baby Aspirin Dosage For Dogs By Weight
The 5 lbs dog requires 25 to 50 mg of ½ baby aspirin tablets. Some common dog breeds requiring this amount are Chihuahua, Pomeranian, and Chinese Crested Dog.
A 10-Ib dog requires 50 to 100 mg of aspirin. This is equivalent to 1 tablet of aspirin.
Baby Aspirin Lethal Dosage For Dogs
Baby aspirin dosage above the recommended 81 mg per 10 lbs of weight in dogs can be fatal.
Aspirin toxicity can lead to breathing difficulties, bleeding disorders, gastrointestinal complications, and kidney failures in extreme cases.
How Long Does It Take For Baby Aspirin To Kick In For Dogs?
Within 1 to 2 hours, the effect of aspirin can take place, and your doggie’s pain will begin to subside. If your doggie still feels pain after the first day of administering baby aspirin to it, you should inform your veterinarian about it.
Recovery Of Baby Aspirin Toxicity In Dogs
After taking aspirin at a normal dosage, the aspirin will be eliminated from the dogs’ body systems within seven hours. However, aspirin toxicity can take two to several days to be cleared out of their body systems.
Alternatives To Baby Aspirin
The other alternatives to baby aspirin are carprofen, deracoxib, firocoxib, and meloxicam. These NSAIDs are specifically made for your pooch and are administered under the guidance of your veterinarian.
