What human pain reliever is safe for dogs?
By semicolonp
@semicolonp (518)
Philippines
March 16, 2013 9:37am CST
My dog just saved me from a rather rabid street cat earlier today and now she's limping. I am unable to send her to a vet by myself (they're pretty far away and rare where I live) and I can only have help Tuesday at the latest. She's such an active dog but she's been so subdued since her injury. I'm also a little worried because I think the pain is affecting her much more than I can understand as she's still restless at the time of this writing, when she would normally be resting or asleep about 2 hours earlier. From what I can tell, the injuries are from scratches and when I cleaned and wrapped it up earlier, it seems to have discharged some clear liquid... stuff.
Looking at my medicine cabinet, I only have 2 mefenamic acid tablets and an aspirin for pain relief. I don't know if those are applicable for dogs. If there are other ways to relieve pain (like how I use hot water for sore muscles), I would also be open to suggestions. I just want her pain to lessen to the point that she could sleep. I can't think of anything else I can help her with.
Any help will be appreciated! And thanks in advance for any idea you might have.
2 people like this
3 responses
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
16 Mar 13
The short answer is "None" but, in fact, you can use certain analgesics if you feel it is really necessary.
This page gives the most apposite advice I could find: http://www.vetinfo.com/choosing-a-safe-pain-reliever-for-dogs.html Please notice that the article repeatedly stresses the need to consult a veterinarian before giving any painkiller. Dogs (and cats) have a very different metabolism to humans and are much more sensitive to things which can cause liver or kidney damage.
You should really speak to a vet - even over the phone, however, because the actual dosage depends on the bodyweight of the dog and this is never stated on the pack (because it is not sold as a veterinary medicine).
A hot compress can help with muscle soreness and with drawing out poisons in the case of a bite. A cold compress can relieve pain from a sting or a bite. A hot compress should be just bearable when applied to the back of your hand. A cold compress may be ice or frozen peas wrapped in flannel or a towel.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
16 Mar 13
I don't know what mefenamic is but aspirin is okay for dogs. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is poisonous to them and I would not give them Motrin (ibuprophen). Remember that aspirin thins the blood and too much can hurt him. I would give only half an aspirin to any dog under 40 pounds and if he's under 10 pounds only 1/4 of one.
What I'm concerned about is whether the cat bit or scratched her. Was the cat truly rabid? You will need to get the dog shots ASAP. And where is the cat? Will it hurt someone else or their pet? What a great dog to protect you! I hope your dog will be okay.
1 person likes this
@semicolonp (518)
• Philippines
16 Mar 13
Thanks for this! And sorry, I used the wrong word. The cat was feral, not rabid, and was actually fighting with other cats from the neighborhood when I had the misfortune of disrupting them. The other cats moved to different directions, but this one went straight for me so I panicked and started making noises and hand gestures. My dog moved in front of me and started fighting with the cat instead. She "won" in the sense that she managed to drive the cat away so we can leave (she's not really a fighter, but she's bigger at least), but when I got home, I realized she's hurt. I tried cleaning as much as I could and even bandaged her left front leg (the limping leg) and now I'm just worried because she's really very different from her usual self and I couldn't actually see if the injury is from a bite or a scratch. It's so frustrating because she's such a sweet dog and there isn't even a way for her to tell me what really hurts.
Anyway, knowing aspirin is okay really helps! I just need her to sleep today so I don't think I need a pain reliever for long. And, hopefully, I might get a friend or two to help me transport her tomorrow at the earliest.
Again, thanks! I really can't thank you enough for letting me know a way to lessen her pain.
1 person likes this
@dmckenzie (80)
•
17 Mar 13
Aspirin is safe for dogs. If you give your dog aspirin only give one tablet though. The low dose aspirin is better for dogs than regular aspirin but a regular is alright. I have given them to my own dog. Hope your dog gets to feeling better soon.
