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My dog has arthritis. Can I give him human aspirin for his pain?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | 14 years old | 60 lbs

Can I give my dog pain killers like aspirin for his arthritis

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 1st, 2017

Aspirin can be used in dogs but it can have some serious side effects, like vomiting, diarrhea, and gastric ulcers. There are pain relievers that are specifically made for dogs that would be a better choice. Talk to your vet about trying him on a medication, like Previcox, Deramaxx, or Rimadyl. You could also try a joint supplement, like Dasuquin and see if that helps. Do not give Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or Aleve as they are toxic to dogs.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

    Published on June 6th, 2018

    There are a number of pain medications that we use for arthritis pain in dogs. I am attaching a handout with more information about that below. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951528 The problem with aspirin is that we can see a number of side effects when a high enough dose is given for pain control. Here is more detailed information on aspirin and why we do not recommend giving it long term. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/aspirin I would recommend asking your veterinarian for a recommendation for a medication for Nido that will be safe for him long term. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on December 21st, 2016

    I'm sorry that Baby has arthritis! No, I would not recommend giving her aspirin - although some owners do this, it's not recommended by most vets since it can cause stomach ulcers and internal bleeding, as well as kidney problems in some older dogs. There are no over-the-counter human pain medications that are safe for dogs, unfortunately, but you could certainly try a daily glucosamine/chondroitin supplement such as Cosequin or Dasuquin - these are very safe, and often help some with arthritis pain in older dogs. For anything stronger than that, you will need to take her to see a vet to get prescription medication that will be safe and effective for her.

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