Can my dog take paracetamol for pain, or are there better options?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Can I give my dog paracetamol
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on April 3rd, 2015
Paracetamol is not the best pain killer for your dog. You can use it at a dose of about 10-20mg per kg of body weight but there are better options for pain relief that you can get from your local vets.
42Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on July 18th, 2018
You can give paracetamol it just isn't the safest. I has a narrow safety margin, meaning you can easily overdose them on it. The common dose is 5 to 8 mg/kg twice a day. Even at the high end of 8mg/kg, 500mg twice a day is an overdose for a 49kg dog. 49kg x 8mg/kg = 392mg and you are giving 500mg. In my opinion it is too much. I personally would not use it because we have so many other better options available. I suggest you talk to your vet about using a drug like carprofen or meloxicam which are MUCH safer. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has had mast cell tumors removed in 2017 and 2018. He is 12 years old and ways 49kgs. I know there is no cure but I was surprised yesterday when my vet prescribed 500mgs ofParacetamol twice dail as he also has arthritis in one of his feet.
You can give paracetamol it just isn't the safest. I has a narrow safety margin, meaning you can easily overdose them on it. The common dose is 5 to 8 mg/kg twice a day. Even at the high end of 8mg/kg, 500mg twice a day is an overdose for a 49kg dog. 49kg x 8mg/kg = 392mg and you are giving 500mg. In my opinion it is too much. I personally would not use it because we have so many other better options available. I suggest you talk to your vet about using a drug like carprofen or meloxicam which are MUCH safer. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is suffering from a sore shoulder, he seems in pain, he weighs 22kg, can I give him calpol or paracetamol until I get to the vets on Monday thanks
No, I would not give these pain medications to Dexter. Many human pain medications are toxic to dogs, and can be fatal if given. Paracetamol is toxic to dogs in large enough doses. I recommend resting Dexter until he sees the vet on Monday. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was neutered today and was sent home with carafate (surcarfate). I never known that to be used for “pain”, I was told by one doctor I could give him Tylenol 8mg per pound but I’ve also always been told to never give a dog Tylenol so is it safe
You are correct - sucralfate is not a pain medication, it is a medication that coats the esophagus and stomach when there is concern for stomach ulceration, irritation or reflux. The published dose for Tylenol is 10 mg/kg or about 4.5 mg per pound, but it can affect the liver or cause problems if used with other drugs so I would recommend contacting your vet before giving this medication. There is nothing over the counter that I'd recommend - unfortunately if Miko wasn't prescribed any pain medication it might be safest to see an emergency vet for a safe pain medication if Miko is in significant pain.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
IS IT OK TO GIVE YOUR DOG A HUMAN PARACETAMOL TABLET IF SUFFERING WITH SORE JOINTS OR ANY DISCOMFORT?
I would not recommend giving this medication to Blackie. I would recommend having him checked by your vet and letting your vet make a recommendation for the appropriate pain medication. If Blackie has other issues going on certain pain medications can be contraindicated. The acetaminophen in this drug you were asking about could be potentially harmful to his liver and may not work as effectively as other drugs that are labeled for dogs. I hope you can get him feeling better soon. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Can i give Paracetamol to Candy? She is having high fever.
I would recommend against using this as a pain medication. Please read the following article ( https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/tylenol/ ). I would consult with your veterinarian for recommendations on what to use. You can get a prescription medication from your veterinarian that is much safer. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
can my dog have paracetamol with gabapentin? He;s 40kg, has bone cancer, spondilitis and arthritis, on 600 mg gabapentin once a day, can he have paracetamol with this
Hello and thank you for contacting Boop by Petco. Paracetamol can be given at the same time as gabapentin. However, as online advisors we are not allowed to provide information about dosage or recommend any treatment. Please, give your vet a call to discuss using paracetamol for Yoschi. I am convinced that your vet will say OK to that as there are not very many contraindications to use this drug in dogs and it does provide extra pain relief.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
my dog is bit unwell, he is bit warm and lazy. Can i give him paracetamol?
Thank you for submitting your question. I would not recommend giving paracetamol. While it can be given in some instances, it has a narrow margin of safety. Your dog appears to be a puppy from your pictures and would not be a good candidate for it. I would recommend he sees his veterinarian. It is best to diagnose the problem so he can receive proper treatment if necessary. In the meantime, encourage him to eat and drink as much as possible. Puppies can easily become dehydrated. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Are there any medications for pain or inflammation for humans that can be used for dogs? Such as: aspirin, Tylenol. Advil, Aleive, etc or scripts such as Celebrex etc. This would be for a 90 pound dog.
No, I am afraid all of these have severe risks of toxicity for dogs and cats which is why we have specifically developed medications for dogs, such as carprofen or meloxicam, or deracoxib or similar. NSAIDs for humans can cause liver and kidney damage in dogs. Please consult your veterinarian for antiinflammatories for your dog.. There are also cheaper generic formulations than then usual name brand.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my dog has a broken toe as it healed she accidentally re broke it. The vet prescribed one paracetamol a day. She has been having this for about a week now. She is now acting strange when you go to touch her especially her back. She is on bed rest
I personally don't recommend paracetamol for dogs due to the fact it has a narrow margin of safety and can be toxic to dogs if given a large enough amount. There are better and safer pain medications for Savannah that you get as a prescription from the vet. Given that this isn't working for her pain, I would take her back into the vet to discuss using prescription pain medications. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
How many mg of hydrocodone can my dog take ? I have pure hydrocodone and I also have norco which is hydrocode with Tylenol or do you suggest another medication for pain so I was just wondering how many milligrams of hydrocodone is safe for her weigh
You should not give your dog hydrocodone unless it was prescribed by your vet, it is a very strong and dangerous medication and it can only be given under very specific circumstances. Tylenol should never be given to a dog. in most cases for severe pain your vet will prescribe a combination of Rymadil or Metacam with Tramadol, these are all prescription meds as well which you can only get through your vet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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