Hello,
I know that none of you are vets, but could you tell me if you know of any human painkillers that are safe for a doggie to take? I have done a google and come up with asprin, at 10mg per kg of dog! But didn't want to just go ahead without some opinions first!
Thanks for any advice in advance
Emz

asprin is ok but use a soluble one (don't dissolve it tho, it is just easier on the dogs stomach). I  am really not sure of the dose but i think it is fine to give a child's dose. but please don't quote me on that. much better to ring a vet. most emergancy vets are willing to answer questions

There's no such thing as a child's dose of aspirin - aspirin should never be given to children under 12 years old.

The vet is the best person for advice on medications - what's safe for one species can be toxic to another.

oops my mistake. as i said best to contact the vet

I used to give my Boxer (who was approx 30kg) one co-codomal tablet when he had a bout of colitis and that never seemed to do any harm.
Becky

I once took my older dog to the Vet because she had had a knock and was very lame.  He said it was arthritis and the knock had shown it up. It was an older Vet and he recommended soluble aspirin. One twice a day for max three days.  Aspirin is an anti inflammatory as well as a pain killer.

Just to add, it's VITAL to check the dosage, because aspirin comes in 75 mg tablets (the ones previousy referred to as "baby aspirin", before it was discovered it must never be given to children) as well as the more normal tablet of 300 mg. So 2 tablets of the same size may LOOK the same, but one can be 4 times as strong. The 75 mg ONLY come as soluble.

Also aspirin thins the blood which is why people often take one 75 mg tablet a day to prevent blood clotting, strokes, heart attacks etc. This naturally means that a too big dose for anyone, human or animal, can cause internal bleeding.

Seems a VERY high dose -I'm very big (size 24) and I get totally knocked out when I take 2 co-codamols..makes me sleep for hours. I don't think co-codamol is safe for dogs as it is paracetamol and codein. Yep, just did a Google and Paracetamol is VERY dangerous for dogs! http://www.provet.co.uk/health/diseases/paracetamol.htm

Thanks all, will double check with vet tomorrow am. He isn't really badly in pain, but just has a stiff neck and is struggling to get up when he has laid down for a while. Poor boy, he had alot of jabs whilst in the vets the other day and his neck is swollen (happened the last time he had antibiotic jabs!) just don't want him to be suffering unecessarily if there is something he could take for a couple of days. I will wait to check first before I go ahead.
Emz

to ease him- make him warm and let him drink.

Hi Emz,
Would recomend you contact your vet. Nowadays Rimadyl is prescribed for dogs suffering from pain, no need to give human stuff anymore. If you consider giving anything, stick to Aspirin. Paracetamol can be deadly for a dog, as Goldmali pointed out.
Karen

Rimadyl Side Affects

"IS IT SAFE TO GIVE HUMAN MEDICINES AND DRUGS TO PETS ?

First broadcast on Provet 

Species differences are important

The straightforward answer to this question is NO. You should NEVER give a human drug to your pet animal unless your veterinarian advises you to do so !  Of course most drugs that are prescribed for animals by veterinarians are the same (or similar) drugs that physicians prescribe for human ailments - but there are huge differences in the way that different species species of animal deal with a drug once it is their system. So, some drugs that are safe to use in humans are positively dangerous to give to pets and other animals.

A well known example of this is aspirin, which if given at human dose rates, can easily cause toxicity in both dogs and cats because they cannot detoxify and eliminate it from their bodies as quickly as humans can. The result is a severe gastroenteritis - which may cause them to vomit blood.

There are literally hundreds of examples of human prescription drugs which can cause toxicity to dogs, cats or other pets. Other common medicines and so called social "drugs" which definitely should not be given by owners to their pets are :

    * Paracetamol
    * Ibuprofen
    * The laxative phenolphthalein
    * Iron supplements
    * Vitamin D supplements
    * Nebuliser medications prescribed for asthma
    * Drugs used to control "fits" e.g. phenytoin (toxic in cats)
    * Coffee and tea (due to the caffeine content)
    * Cannabis or any other illegal drug.

All of the above have been documented to cause serious illness - and are potentially fatal . The message is - NEVER assume what is safe for you and your children is safe for your pet - the chances are it isn't. "

I give my 55 lb Lab one/half of a 325 mg aspirin occasionally and once in a blue moon I will give her a whole one.  My Vet is OK with this though they would be concerned if it was a regular thing as there are doggy meds, such as Metacalm and Cartrophen Vet, that are easier on the liver.  But I'm only doing it maybe once a month, after a particularly energetic outing, to combat arthritis pain. 

If your boy is reacting to shots I wonder if an antihistamine would be better?  After consultation with your Vet of course.  My Vet has also OK'd full adult strength Benedril for our girl after a suspected reaction to a bee or wasp sting.  We carry it with us on canoe trips where access to the Vet is impossible.

Can I really, really stress that you should consult your Vet?  Some breeds can react to stuff that others don't.  I give my Lab things that my sister's BC cannot tolerate and I understand from her (and her Vet) that the collie breeds are sensitive to lots of medications.

oops, not sure if this landed in the right place.  Meant for original poster.

hi i have just been looking through the health topics and i noticed your question about painkillers..
I have a 8 years old staffy who has arthristis and she was given rimadyl and she has been given norocarp
both of which are painkillers. i was told by a friend that i could give her a asprin but when i asked my vet
he said no because if you get the dose wrong you can make your pet ill.
He said if she is in pain i will give you some painkillersfor her she was put on rimadyl for a while
and they worked really well but now she is on norocarp which is a painkiller and a  anti inflammatory combined
and they work really well. So it might worth you asking your vet about rimadyl or norocarp.
I know i have replied a bit late but i have not been on here for a while but i hope this is of help to you
hope your dog is better now..
ALL THE BEST FRAN