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).

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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]

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

[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/