Aspirin For Dogs - Tread Carefully

Whenever you see your dog in pain it is tempting to give them something to help them act like themselves. You may sense they are in pain due to limping, whimpering or just the way they are carrying themselves. And, you may be tempted to give them something that you would take yourself. You may use the logic that if it helps you with pain then it will also help your beloved pet with their pain. Many wonder if aspirin for dogs is a safe way to treat pain in their pet.

The best thing to do if contemplating giving aspirin to your dog is to first find the root cause of the problem. That is going to be best solved by having a visit with your family veterinarian. In some cases they may decide that aspirin is the best course of action for your pet. But, they will give strict dosages for you to follow and will want to monitor any side effects it may be having.

Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. You may have heard the term NSAID, and that is where it comes from. These are a class of drugs that can cause some pretty serious gastrointestinal issues with dogs. This is because dogs do not metabolize aspirin the same way that humans do. As a result, they can suffer from pain, bleeding and ulcers when taking aspirin or any other kind of NSAID. There are some coated aspirins available for purchase that can help minimize some of these side effects. But, it should still be administered under the supervision of a vet.

Another warning about giving aspirin for dogs is that it has been known to have negative interactions with other medications your pet may be taking. This is most prevalent in cortisones, digoxin and antibiotics. If your vet is not aware of your dog taking these then remind them before they recommend aspirin for your dog.

There are some alternative NSAID drugs and supplements that are available for dogs. They have the same pain killing properties of aspirin, but have been formulated specifically for dogs. These include Rimadyl, Previcox and Deramaxx.

Another alternative to try is the supplements previously mentioned. These may help with joint pain or joint degeneration. They are used quite a bit in dogs with arthritis. Many times they can be used on their own, but other times they may be used with some of the previously mentioned NSAID drugs. Examples of these supplements include Glucosamine and Chondroitin. These can be found in powder supplements sprinkled on food or actually put in food. It can also be purchased in supplements such as Cosequin.

Aspirin for dogs does have its place with helping your pet feel better. But, it should be carefully administered and monitored. It should not be something you decide to do on your own because of the consequences it could have. It is better to get the opinion of a vet to decide if it is the best course of action for you and your pet.

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