Answers to Readers' Questions on Animal Health: Giving Your Dog Aspirin. Also refer to veterinarian, pain relief, inflammation, upset stomach, ulcer, dosage, toxic, Tylenol, weight, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Animal Health:
Giving Your Dog Aspirin
The following 170 questions have been answered. They are listed according to date.
List of next 10 items
- Dog cries when he moves around his head
- Dog broke his tail
- Are there benefits in giving dog Triple Flex?
- 14-year-old dog knocked down and injured
- 13 year old cockapoo having trouble jumping onto sofa
- Is 81mg aspiring ok to give my 15lb. dog?
- Can I give my dog Excedrin?
- My dog has an ear infection
- 12-year-old dog whines when having to go up the stairs
- How many aspirin for an 11-pound poodle?
Dog cries when he moves around his head
Question
June 14, 2009
My dog got hurt last night wrestling with his playmate in the yard. I heard him cry at the time and is currently crying whenever he picks up and moves around his head. His legs exhibit full range of motion and based on his gait and posture and have concluded it is something limited to his shoulders/neck area. I'm giving him asprin in the recommended dosage for his weight, but is this something that I should wait for recovery at home? He'd torn his ligaments when he was a puppy and never cried out, hearing him whimper when he starts to move has me concerned that it may be something more serious that could be exaserbated by my wait and see approach.
Any advice would be appreciated
Jenn - USA
17908
Answer
If he hasn't recovered in a few days, it may be a good idea to bring him to the vet for an exam. Although the aspirin can reduce inflammation, it may be better not to give him more aspirin, so that he will more aware of the injury and not aggravate it.
I hope it is not serious and everything is OK with your dog and that he will have a speedy recovery.
Dog broke his tail
Question
May 19, 2009
hello my name is alicia and my dogs name is chico i dont have the money to take my dog to the vet right now and i was wondering what you think i should do because i think chico has a dislocated tail or it may be broken...do you think it will heal at home and what can i do to help him be comfortable as possible at home i know i can give him buffered asprin which im going to get some shortly but i was wondering if i should splint it. thank you school for champions...chico will appreciate any answer you give me to help him..
thank you ,
alicia and chico
alicia - USA
17767
Answer
I'm sorry to hear that Chico hurt his tail. If he really yelps when you touch the tail, then it is probably broken or dislocated. But if it is just painful, it may be a minor injury. Can he wag his tail? That would be a good sign.
It is a good idea not to let him run around, because he could aggravate his injury. A splint might help, but also it might cause more problems.
The injured tail will probably heal itself, as long as he doesn't get excited and re-injure it. Even if it is broken and heals crooked, it doesn't affect Chico's life too much.
Only use aspirin if he is crying and in pain. And always give it with food.
I hope Chico's injury isn't serious and that his tail will heal soon. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Are there benefits in giving dog Triple Flex?
Question
April 1, 2009
My dog is a yellow lab. He's approx. 12yrs. old.He has noticable problems with his hips and legs; I assume it is arthritis or displacement due to age. He weighs approx.65-70lbs. Along with one aspirin every 12 hours is there any benefit to giving him Triple Flex? It contains Glucosamine 1500mg*; Methylsulfonylmethane(MSM)750mg*; Lubravite Proprietary blend 500mg containing Willow bark extract(Salix alba)* and Gingerroot extract(Zingiber officinale*
*Daily value not established.
Addult dose is 2 per day.
What would be the safest dose for him. I usually administer one tablet per day. I havent tried aspirin yet.
Melissa - USA
17540
Answer
You should only give your dog aspirin at times when he is in extra discomfort, like on a cold damp day. Aspirin shouldn't be given on a regular basis, since it can cause stomach problems. Rymadyl is better if your dog needs pain relief every day.
Glucosamine and chondroitin can help some dogs, while it does nothing for others. It might be worth a try. You can get it from a pet food store, with the proper amount for a dog.
For good information on the supplements see:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1448&aid=670
Syn-Flex is a popular product that can be bought online:
http://www.pestproducts.com/glucosamine_for_pets.htm
Best wishes on your dog's health and comfort.
14-year-old dog knocked down and injured
Question
March 30, 2009
Have a 14 year old Akita Shepard mix. Has had some arthritis in hips. Some difficulty standing or sitting. Was knocked down by other dogs on tile floor 2 days ago. Was whining in the middle of the night, does not want to move around today. Gave her a 320 mg aspirin this morning. Laying around this afternoon. Just gave her 2 320mg aspirins at 5pm. Should we continue with 2 aspirins? She weights about 75 lbs. She's pretty tough. No medical issues.
Thanks
Harold and Debi - USA
17531
Answer
A 14-year old Akita is like a human in her late 80s. Getting knocked down like that may have just bruised a muscle, but it also could have caused a more serious problem with her hip or other bone.
The aspirin should give her temporary relief. Be sure you give them with food. If she is still crying after a few days, it would be good to bring her to a vet and have an x-ray.
I hope it is something minor, and she will recover soon.
13 year old cockapoo having trouble jumping onto sofa
Question
February 17, 2009
I have a 13 year old cockapoo that is having trouble jumping onto the sofa or bed as he used to. He is also slow to get up after being down for a while; then walks stiffly. I have 81 mg and 325 mg aspirin. How much should I give him and how often?
Pat - USA
17288
Answer
A 13-year-old dog is like a human in his 70s. They both slow down and have aches and pains. (See: http://www.school-for-champions.com/animalhealth/animal_ages.htm)
Unless your dog has a sharp pain, such that he cries when he moves, it is best not to give him aspirin, which should only be used for temporary relief. If he is 16-20 pounds, you can give him the 81 mg aspirin with food. But it is better to give less with a smaller dog, just to make sure you don't give too much.
The best thing is to treat him like you would your grandfather. Help him get onto the sofa. Take him for slow walks to help him limber up. A couple of relaxing walks each day can do wonders for an older dog that is getting stiff joints.
Is 81mg aspiring ok to give my 15lb. dog?
Question
February 11, 2009
Is 81mg ok to give my 15lb. dog once every 12hrs., or should I get baby asprin?
Carolyn - USA
17252
Answer
81 mg would be safe for a 15 lb dog, given with food. But you would probably be better off starting with half of that to see if it is sufficient to give your dog relief. You have to be careful with smaller dogs.
Consider if it is really necessary to give your dog aspirin. It should only be given for temporary relief. For long-term pain control, it is good to see your vet.
Best wishes for the health of your dog.
Can I give my dog Excedrin?
Question
December 6, 2008
Can I give my 45 lb dog Extra Strenth Excedrin Migrain Formula for pain
Patty - USA
16912
Answer
You should not use such a pain relief medication on your dog. Excedrin contains acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine. We are not sure of the effect of acetaminophen on a dog. Caffeine can be poisonous to dogs.
If the dog has obvious pain, regular or baby aspirin can help. Vets often prescribe Rymidal.
My dog has an ear infection
Question
November 11, 2008
my dog is 7 yrs old and has an ear infection, she is about 20 pounds. Can I give her aspirin???
pina - USA
16767
Answer
An aspirin is mainly used to relieve pain. Instead, you should treat the infection. See: http://www.earinfectionindogs.com/ for good information on treating the infection.
12-year-old dog whines when having to go up the stairs
Question
November 9, 2008
Just wondering if the cold weather we are having is what is causing the sudden discomfort Buddy is having.We have gone from 75-80* days to lows in the night of the mid 30s.Buddy refuses to come up the steps of our porch to come in for the night.He is 12 years old and about 90lbs.Hes a Rottie-Lab mix.When we call him he takes the first step then whines and stops-my husband tries to pick him up and he whines harder-after much coaxing and bribery he slowly comes up whining the whole time.Thanks in advance for any advice!
Laure - USA
16756
Answer
At 12-years old, Buddy is a senior citizen and has many of the same aches and pains that old humans have. He probably has arthritis that is affecting him.
Dogs actually like the cooler weather better, but if it is damp, it can affect the joints of an older dog.
Although he is a big dog, you might consider cutting back on the food to lower his weight a little. Extra weight is especially hard on the hip joints. Another thing is to look into giving him glaucosomine. It seems to work in reducing arthritis in some dogs.
Daily slow walks help limber up the joints. You could try to walk him around a little before trying to get him up the stairs.
Finally, aspirin or rymidal can be used in cases of extreme pain, but you don't want to use pain-killers on a regular basis.
I hope this helps Buddy.
How many aspirin for an 11-pound poodle?
Question
August 9, 2008
I have a 13-yr old poodle that ways about 11 pounds. He suffers from arthritis and joints pain. what is the recommended dosage of aspirin for him.
thank you
Liane - Canada
16334
Answer
You can try 1/2 baby aspirin with food to see if it gives him relief. If that is not enough, you could use 1 baby aspirin. 3/4 would be safer, but it is pretty hard to cut that close.
It is best not to give aspirin all the time, since it can upset the dog's stomach. It is better just to use it on the "bad" days. At his age, it isn't unusual to have joint pain. But his joints are really sore, you can make him more comfortable with the aspirin.
Summary
Hopefully, this reader feedback has helped provide useful information to you.
Websites
Books
Top-rated
books on Animal Health
What do you think?
Do you have any questions, comments, or opinions on this subject? If so, send an email with your feedback. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Share link
Feel free to establish a link from your website to pages in this site.
Or use our form to send this link to yourself or a friend.
Students and researchers
The Web address of this page is
www.school-for-champions.com/animalhealth/aspirin_answers.CFM.
Please include it as a reference in your report, document, or thesis.
Where can you go from here?
Answers to Readers' Questions on Giving Your Dog Aspirin