Can i give my dog ibuprofen
Don't look any further, ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory drug that is not recommended for your dog's health, and is even dangerous. Ideal for humans in case of pain, it does not have the same properties in dogs or smaller animals.
We explain why you should not give it to your canine, especially because of the risks it may pose.
Detecting pain symptoms in dogs
The main reason we sometimes think of using ibuprofen, or any other painkiller in a dog, is that we think they can follow the same treatments as we humans do...
A few weeks ago, a reader even wrote to us to ask about the use of ibuprofen as a solution to an eye infection in his dog, characterized by apparent pain that he wanted to alleviate. Let's be clear, and we'll explain in more detail below: whether it's for eye pain or any other area, ibuprofen should NOT be used to treat/soothe your dog.
By the way, if your dog has an eye problem, check out our article on the subject, or this one dedicated to how to clean a dog's eyes.
The potential risks of ibuprofen for my dog
Be aware that ibuprofen is toxic to dogs. If you take a closer look at the composition of the various dog-friendly medications, you'll find that none of them contain ibuprofen, and for good reason!
The effects of this anti-inflammatory drug on the body can be devastating and can cause various bodily functions to stop working properly.
At this precise moment, the dog feels undesirable effects, which can go as far as intoxication. Very often, this intoxication manifests itself in the digestive system. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your pet, you must act quickly:
- nausea, vomiting and vomiting with blood.
- normal or bloody diarrhea.
- abdominal pain leading to severe loss of appetite.
- convulsions.
- acute renal failure.
This list, which is not exhaustive, will help you know that it is urgent to contact an animal health professional.
What should I do if my dog has ingested ibuprofen?
Calling a veterinarian or a poison control center immediately is the best decision. These professionals will be able to tell you what to do before taking your dog to the nearest center.
The veterinarian is the only one who can make a diagnosis and act accordingly, given the dog's symptoms. He will be able to make the dog vomit if the ingestion is recent or to protect his body with medication designed for canines. He will have the task of minimizing the damage of such an administration.
In some cases, the dog will need to be hospitalized, especially if the damage caused by the ibuprofen is severe. The veterinarian will also monitor the animal for days and weeks following the symptoms to ensure that the digestive tract is not damaged.
What should I use instead of ibuprofen if I want to give my dog medication?
If you are afraid to give your dog ibuprofen, don't turn to aspirin, acetaminophen or even joints. There are specialized anti-inflammatory treatments for dogs.
Your veterinarian will be able to advise you in these moments, by prescribing you a medication adapted to your dog's pain. You should know that he is the only one who can prescribe medication for dogs.
Before getting the advice of a professional, you can turn to natural solutions to ease the pain. These can relieve your dog until the appointment with the veterinarian. For example, essential oils are made from plants and have interesting properties.
By diluting them with a vegetable oil, you can delicately apply them to the painful area. You can also use an ice pack, especially in case of insect bite or trauma.
Loving and educating your pet also means protecting it against the hazards of life. This is why we strongly recommend that you take out health insurance as soon as possible. This will save you astronomical veterinary fees in case of accident or illness.
