Dog arthritis aspirin is the most widely used treatment for the pain caused by arthritis. Besides the beneficial effect of relieving your dog’s pain, aspirin has a series of unwanted side effects which could cause serious problems in your dog. It can cause stomach problems or be toxic. Therefore, it is highly recommended to consult a veterinarian regarding the administration of aspirin and go for a checkup as soon as you suspect that something might be wrong.
Use of Aspirin for Dog Arthritis
Aspirin is used in case of arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory effect which helps with the pain and reduces the swelling of the joints. Aspirin should not be administered to dogs without a veterinarian prescription. Unlike humans, dogs do not tolerate very well this drug and it should not be administered to them for other minor pains.
Dog Arthritis Aspirin Side Effects
Even if aspirin releases your dog from the pain produced by arthritis, keep in mind that the drug can also harm your dog causing problems such as:
- Stomach ulcers
- Gastrointestinal discomfort
- Toxicity
Aspirin can give your dog serious stomach problems, causing ulcers and other digestive disorders. Bleeding ulcers can be lethal to your dog. Therefore, it not recommended administering it on an empty stomach. It is probably best to grind up the pill and mix it in the dog’s food to make sure you protect the stomach.
Respect the dosage your veterinarian prescribed for your dog since aspirin can be really toxic to your pet. Given that the dosage is calculated in accordance with the dog’s weight, you should take good care at the dosage when you administer it to small breed. It is best to start with a smaller dosage and then increase it if necessary, but do this only under medical supervision.
Symptoms of Stomach Ulcers in Dogs
Stomach ulcers in dogs, caused usually by medication such as aspirin, display the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Presence of blood in vomit
- Dark stool due to the presence of blood
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Anemia due to loss of blood
Whenever you spot any of the signs mentioned above, stop administering aspirin and go see your veterinarian.
Symptoms of Aspirin Toxicity in Dogs
If your dog suffers from aspirin toxicity, he will manifest the following symptoms:
- Vomiting (sometimes with blood)
- Lack of appetite
- Increased thirst
- Dark black stool (melena)
- Light urine
- Paleness in gums
- Diarrhea
- Bleeding
- Depression and fatigue
If you see any of the above-listed signs, go see your veterinarian and stop administering aspirin immediately.
Additional Warnings Regarding Aspirin in Dogs
Aspirin should never be given to puppies since they do not have the enzymes necessary to digest it so it will most likely cause problems. The same goes for the enteric coated form of the drug: it should not be given to dogs because they cannot digest the coating, so that the pill passes unprocessed into the tool.