14 year old Border Terrier given paracetamol by the vet

[Justfivemoreminutesplease]

For arthritis in her back legs and to be fair, she seems to be much more active 3 weeks in. She’s on liquid paracetamol twice a day. The vet said it was “just like what we give children”. The medicine looks and smells just like Calpol - but really, is it?!?

[Scattyhattie]

My dog gets has paracetamol, luckily for her weight dose is half a tablet, she also has gabapentin for pain relief.

[Christmadtree]

My vet didn't have any liquid paracetamol in when my dog was originally recommended to go on it, so she said just buy 6+ Calpol with sugar as it's the same, or half a paracetamol tablet in pate. Just need to be careful with the type of Calpol so it's the right dose and not with sweeteners. If you ask the vet I'm sure they'll let you know.

[bluebluezoo]

Whatever! It was on the vets advice and the cat survived and I’m sure the vet wouldn’t recommend it if it wasn’t safe. Jeez.

Your first post stated your vet recommended paracetamol for your cat. Inferring it was safe for cats.

Your second said you couldn’t remember if it was paracetamol or aspirin. That’s a massive difference -one will kill your cat. As you say the vet wouldn’t recommend it- but you stated it was paracetamol at first, when it was aspirin.

The point was made after your first post that paracetamol is not to be given to cats. Which needed making in case someone reads this thread and makes the assumption that pets are fine being given paracetamol.

You misremembered the medication. That’s all. No need to get offended. Better that than someone giving their cat paracetamol.

[tabulahrasa]

“However it's not as safe to give as the likes of metacam so its not a first choce long term medication”

It’s a handy second choice one though, I’ve had a dog on it longterm because he couldn’t have NSAIDs at all.

Which is why I know their tolerance isn’t as good as humans and dosage needs to be different than human stuff.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

Whatever! It was on the vets advice and the cat survived and I’m sure the vet wouldn’t recommend it if it wasn’t safe. Jeez.

[missmouse101]

I just see clear factual advice. No unfriendliness from anyone. Just concern about keeping pets safe.

[bluebluezoo]

It's likely was aspirin not paracetamol for a cat. It's pretty reliably fatal to give paracetamol to cats as it kills their liver function pretty reliably sad

Actually in cats the liver toxicity isn’t much different to other species.

It’s the methaemoglobinaemia that kills cats at even tiny doses. Cat haem is just very susceptible.

[missmouse101]

@DobbyTheHouseElk, I posted to be very clear in case other people thought they'd give it to their cats! It wasn't about being unfriendly. No need to be so affronted. It's essential that people DO NOT give paracetomol to cats.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

Goodness, posters on the little tray are much friendlier bunch than the dog house that’s for sure.

[Savidog]

It's likely was aspirin not paracetamol for a cat. It's pretty reliably fatal to give paracetamol to cats as it kills their liver function pretty reliably :(

Dogs are different. In end stage disease or painful conditions paracetamol has a place. However it's not as safe to give as the likes of metacam so its not a first choce long term medication.It has a higher risk of side effects as risk especially for liver failure and as a much lower safety range for use. Its generally used orally in a combo with other meds in an older dog to provide a good qualoty of life towards the end of life.
The IV versions a bit different but it's given with fluids etc so a different scenario risk wise.
Vets are only allowed to prescribe human meds if the animal version is unavailable due to the cascade drug prescribing laws.

[bluebluezoo]

I’m sure it was paracetamol or it could have been aspirin. I don’t remember which

Aspirin. You’d have known if it was paracetamol (your cat would have gone blue-grey and probably died or needed emergency treatment). Unless you were very, very, one-for-the-medical-books lucky.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

This was about 14 years ago @missmouse101 the cat survived and loved til he was a grand age. I’m sure it was paracetamol or it could have been aspirin. I don’t remember which.

[SoCrimeaRiver]

guinea pigs can have the purple calpol as well.

[missmouse101]

It's toxic and can easily be fatal in cats! Do not give it. The vet should have given your cat an injection or species appropriate pain medication.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

My vet recommended me to give paracetamol to my cat when it was ooh and he was in pain. He told me how much to give, think it was half or quarter, I remember cutting one up.

[missmouse101]

Just to say, paracetamol is toxic to cats. NEVER give it to them!

[Medievalist]

My 10 year old lab cross has been on loxicom for arthritis for years. We moved recently and registered with a new vet. She said that if he seems particularly stiff to give him up to 500mg of paracetamol every 6 hours.

[Darklane]

Mine is newly diagnosed with arthritis. My vet said we can give her Calpol, she’ll work out the dose as she’s tiny & the dose is important, or a new course of four, weekly jabS that then lasts a year., we decided on the jab as she already takes drugs for IBD & a heart problem now she’s getting older.

[Justfivemoreminutesplease]

No - I was just pondering, given the previous comment from the vet and actually looking and smelling the stuff! I’m not going to give her anything until I’ve spoken with the vet.... and I might just chicken out and keep on paying them £14

[tabulahrasa]

Has the vet told you to use human stuff and the dosage?

Because dogs have a lower tolerance and it’s really important that the dosage is right.

[Frouby]

My cousins little dog is on calpol because she can't tolerate metacam. It's fine to give and fine to buy otc stuff instead of expensive vet prescribed stuff. Just work out his dose and give the equivalent calpol.

All sorts of human meds can be used on animals. Friends horse has a daily dose of asprin, have used human eye drops on ddog, old pony was on prascend which was a drug originally developed for humans. Interestingly the prascend used to be called something else for humans and wasn't licensed for animals and it was fairly cheap. Something like 6p per day. Then they licensed it for horses and the brand name changed and it jumped to 35p per day 😏.

But you should always check with your vet before you give human meds to an animal.

[crankyhousewife]

Our dog has been on paracetamol for a couple of months but following the vets advice we just give him cheap, bog standard human paracetamol wrapped in a piece of ham or soft cheese. Much cheaper than the metacam he's also on.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Yep, my vet suggested half a 'normal' paracetamol twice daily for DDog's stiff joint pain.

[Toddlerteaplease]

I use over the counter chloramphenicol for my cat when she gets conjunctivitis. When the vet gave me the exact same stuff we use on. Humans at work. And Charged £7 for it

[Toddlerteaplease]

My vet has bottles of calpol
on the shelves In their dispensary.