What Is the Recommended Ibuprofen Dosage for Dogs?
A typical dose of ibuprofen for dogs is 2.5 to 4 milligrams per pound of body weight, every 12 hours. Dog owners should only administer ibuprofen under a veterinarian’s guidance, according to PetPlace. Ibuprofen is not approved for use in animals by the Food and Drug Administration.
Ibuprofen is a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, which is effective for reducing pain, fever and inflammation, as stated by PetPlace. Veterinarians commonly prescribe ibuprofen to treat dogs suffering from arthritis or musculoskeletal pain.
Although sold as an over-the-counter pain reliever, ibuprofen has a highly toxic effect if used improperly or with minimal changes to a prescribed dosage, as noted by PetPlace. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, weakness and blackened stool. Ibuprofen use in dogs may cause anemia due to blood loss caused by gastric ulcers. Additionally, dogs using ibuprofen are at risk of gastric ulcer perforation, hepatopathy and renal failure.
NSAIDs specifically for dogs include Novox, Deramaxx, Previcox, Etogesic and Zubrin, according to WebMD. These medications generally have few, if any side effects, but they may cause digestive, liver or kidney problems in some cases. Veterinarians sometimes recommend aspirin for short-term use, but long-term use is not advised, as side effects include increased bleeding.
