Can you buy over the counter pain killers for dogs?

[beachyhead]

And if not, why not? My sensible dog, as opposed to my stupid dog, has strained or bruised her paw. I've had a good look, it's not 'hot', there are no puncture wounds or pus. She is just finding it hard to put weight on. BUT she has just been for a massive grassy walk where she whooped up various pheasants.....

So I don't think it's terminal, just sore and she should probably take it easy for a while, but ideally I'd give her painkillers (which is, I'm pretty sure, what the vet would prescribe and tell me to watch it for a few days).

Does anyone know of any that you can buy rather than visiting my hugely expensive vet? (which I obviously will, if it carries on).

[mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork]

Apparently paracetamol is not always safe (depending on dose). Likewise other medications. See:

www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/dangers-of-painkillers-to-pets/

[KinkyAfro]

I get it from pet prescription, don't think it's a dodgy website

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Pardale-V is and NFA-VPS and as such always needs a veterinary prescription. Any website selling it without a prescription should be regarded with suspicion.

[KinkyAfro]

My dog has pardale which is paracetamol and codeine...you can buy it online without a prescription. My dog was prescribed it after surgery but vet said it's cheaper to buy online

[WeAllHaveWings]

Most dog owners know an onion or grapes can kill a dog which makes it obvious they don't react to human food or medicines the same way we do, why on earth would any responsible owner take a risk by giving their dog human medication.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Reported please do not use any website that offered any of these drugs to pet without prescription. Stick to the main ones like Viovet and Animed.

[Wyldfyre]

NEVER give an animal human medication without consulting with a vet.
I also believe that under the Veterinary Surgeons Act is is illegal for a non-qualified person to give advice on the treatment of animals. Vets are trained but also insured against the advice they give. A random person on the internet isn't.

[Micah]

I'm not buying the 'drugs are toxic so you have to see a vet' argument. Paracetamol is lethal for humans too in overdose, but we happily dole it out to our children - in SAFE doses, based on their weight. We could do this for our dogs too.

Because it's not the same in dogs and cats.

Tiny tiny doses of paracetamol can kill a cat. Not because of liver failure (which is what you get in overdose), but because it stops the oxygen binding to cat haemoglobin, so they basically suffocate to death. They do that long before the dose that damages the liver. Paracetamol doesn't have the same effect on human haemoglobin, which is why it's "happily doled out" to children.

Relatively small doses of ibuprofen in dogs causes their kidneys to fail. It's not a case of overdose or scaling down, their kidneys are just sensitive.

Animals physiology is completely different to humans, and varies species to species. There's no way a lay person would have a clue on animal medication, and we would see even more animal deaths.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

This is a three year old thread!

[christopher70]

paracetamol is safe for dogs, ibrufen will kill them

[poachedeggs]

lI'm a vet

Lonecat has already made some good points.

I'd like to add that animals are very different to humans, they have different physiology and each species has its idiosyncrasies, as do breeds within a species. Ibuprofen is the second or third most common cause of poisoning I see in dogs, yet someone up thread has authoritatively recommended it as safe. You pay to see a vet but you also have an assurance of appropriate, safe and licensed treatment.

The reason veterinary prescribing and practice are reserved to vets is because it isn't "like dosing your child with Calpol". Even paracetamol, which we throw down our DC's necks if they sneeze, is a leading cause of liver damage. Pharmacology is not primary school cut and stick.

Having said this, I am happy to prescribe painkillers to known and trusted clients for use when required. In a rural area when it might be a long time before an animal can be brought in it makes sense. But I have to be careful. By law (note that this is a legality, nothing to do with vets, just a constraint within which we must work) I have to demonstrate that an animal I have prescribed drugs for is "under my care". Hard to do if I haven't examined it.

[pigsDOfly]

I don't really understand this whole 'vets are all trying to rip us off' thing. I've just had to buy two different eye drops from the vet for my dog and yes they were eye wateringly expensive. One is actually a human medicine and the other I suspect very much like the ones you can buy over the counter for common human eye infections. The problem with going to the chemist and buying it over the counter is that I don't know what is suitable for my dog or what might potentially cause further damage. I wouldn't be happy to self medicate my dog.

My dog is insured, and the cost of veterinary treatment is something I feel I just have to accept as part of having a dog.

[tabulahrasa]

You can give them human tramadol because that is in fact what they're prescribed as it isn't made for animals... Not exactly over the counter though, lol. Dosage might be an issue though.

[ItsSarah]

I work with dogs and it is now becoming recognised that the sweetener xylitol is very toxic to dogs. It is being more and more widely used in children's medicines and yogurts etc so be careful!

[purplepansy]

I agree - if we are able to understand that different sizes of child need different doses of medicine, surely we can understand that different sizes of dog need different doses? You can buy over the counter wormers etc, and work out the dose for your pet based on weight.

I'm not buying the 'drugs are toxic so you have to see a vet' argument. Paracetamol is lethal for humans too in overdose, but we happily dole it out to our children - in SAFE doses, based on their weight. We could do this for our dogs too.

[sunflowerseeds]

This is daft. None of us goes to the doctor with a pulled muscle or a stomach upset and the doctor wouldn't charge £88 if we did. No wonder animals are neglected. If we could buy safe simple pet remedies in Boots, owners wouldn't be dosing their pets with unsuitable human medicines. I am not talking about serious illness or injuries.

[theodorakis]

I strongly advise against giving human drugs to dogs. I have seen several dogs and cats die from liver failure from a very small amount of Paracetamol. I know what you mean though, where I live you can ask the vet for a basic first aid supply of anti inflammatory and anti biotics. They only give a one or two day dose though so if it doesn't clear up you still have to take them in. I think this is down to the fact that some people would have to drive for hours to get to a clinic.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The regulation of veterinary medicines is many more times stringent than that for human medicines. Each branch of my practice is visited at least every three years to check we are prescribing responsible (we pay for each visit no choice) doctors are never visited.
All of this regulation is that under EU all animals are equal so the control is to prevent medicines entering the food chain via food producing animals.
It is not the vets we would love to be able to prescribe generics and to not have to pay for all this regulation.
Personally although paracetamol is approved in a certain formulation I wouldn't use it on my own pets, I would only use aspirin for potential blood clots in cats and would never give ibuprofen which a single 400mg tablet can be toxic to a 10kg dog.
Having seen when working in the USA a pony given repeated doses of banamine an over the counter painkiller to treat colic due to gut stones (enteroliths) over 1 month before a vet was called. I know that whilst most owners are responsible there are some who are not and would put their pets welfare at risk.

[midori1999]

Tbh, I think if your dog is ill enough or in enough pain that you are considering pain killers, then you probably need to see a vet.

[beachyhead]

Thanks all for your comments. I must admit I wasn't planning on dosing her up with human medicine, I was just aware that the same products are not safely sold for animals as for children. Even having a pharmacist for animals would be a step in the right direction.

She's still a bit hobbly today although I am bathing in Epsom salts, which she enjoys. I'll probably take her in tomorrow.

Thanks for all your help.

[1MitchellMum]

Agree with Cuebill. DO NOT give your dog medication without authorisation from a trusted source. I've read horror stories about aspirin and paracetamol. There are also contra-indications even with painkillers given to dogs. For example dogs with bad tums shouldn't be given certain painkillers. I'm not a vet but know that if I had a problem with a dog I'd visit (or ring in certain circumstances). You're not just paying for the ten minutes of your vet's time but for his/her expertise, overheads etc. etc. In your situation I'd rest my dog at least overnight and then visit the vet if the dog is still poorly. I hope she's better soon.

[Cuebill]

I would strongly advise against self medicating dogs.

Aspirin can be very toxic to dogs if the incorrect dose is given.

Paracetamol is toxic to dogs. Different breeds can react differently to medication so always get veterinary advice before giving human medicine to dogs.

They are not there to rip you off but to give the safest and most effective treatment to your pet.

[silverangel]

You can also give iburpofen for dogs, not sure what the dosage would be officially though.