Can Dogs Eat Ibuprofen? Absolutely Not
Ibuprofen, along with other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), is highly toxic to dogs. Even a small dose can have devastating consequences:
- Kidney Damage: Ibuprofen disrupts blood flow to the kidneys, potentially causing irreversible damage or failure.
- Stomach Ulcers: Ibuprofen irritates the stomach lining, leading to painful ulcers and bleeding.
- Potential Death: In severe cases, ibuprofen poisoning can be fatal.
Symptoms of Ibuprofen Poisoning
- Vomiting (possibly with blood)
- Dark, tarry stools
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Increased thirst and urination
- Seizures
What if My Dog Ate Ibuprofen?
Act immediately! Contact your vet or an emergency animal hospital. DO NOT attempt home remedies as these could worsen the situation.
Key Takeaways
- Ibuprofen is extremely dangerous for dogs, even in small amounts.
- Never give your dog human medication without consulting your veterinarian.
- Store medications safely out of your dog’s reach.
- If you suspect your dog has ingested ibuprofen, seek immediate veterinary care.
- There are safe, effective pain medications formulated specifically for dogs. Always use those under your vet’s guidance.
Can Dogs Eat Ibuprofen?
Most of the time, the dog owners who don’t know how to treat the pain in the case of dogs used to give the human medication they used to eat for pain relief.
The consumption of human medication such as ibuprofen for curing the severe pain of dogs may lead to dangerous issues in the canine-like damage of the organs and organ failure.
This all happens because the ibuprofen that gets into the stomach of the canine blocks the activity of the cyclooxygenase enzyme, which reduces inflammation and stimulates the blood flow to the stomach and kidneys. Thus its blockage leads to damage to the organs.
So depending on the factors mentioned above, we can say that the consumption of ibuprofen in the case of canines is prohibited, and dogs should never eat ibuprofen.
What are the Factors Responsible for Ibuprofen Poisoning in Dogs?
The reason why the beneficial medication of humans turns toxic in the case of dogs is a must for all dog owners to determine why most human medications are harmful to the health of the canines. Below mentioned are the factors which are responsible for ibuprofen poisoning in dogs.
Longer Presence in the Digestive System
Due to the lack of sufficient enzymes for proper digestion of the minerals and protein present in ibuprofen, it stays in the digestive system of the canine for a longer period, leading to improper enzymatic activities and thus causing issues to the organs.
Rapid Absorption
In humans, ibuprofen takes almost thirty minutes to get properly absorbed in the small intestine and stomach of the canine.
Still, in the case of dogs, it gets absorbed rapidly after consumption in the small intestine, which is the main reason behind its toxicity.
Higher Ibuprofen in the Blood
It has been obtained as a result of an experiment done by veterinarians that the level of ibuprofen in dogs is comparatively very much higher than the level of ibuprofen in the case of humans. For this reason, it turns toxic after getting into the canine’s stomach.
Do Dogs Like the Consumption of Ibuprofen?
No, most of the dog owners who have mistakenly given ibuprofen to their canines to treat the severe pain in dogs have made the comments that dogs of different breeds always use to refuse the consumption of human medication.
The reason behind the refusal of dogs towards the consumption of this human medication is because of the protein and mineral extracts used in it, which gives it an unpleasant taste along with an unpleasant smell.
So based on the information discussed above, it can be said that dogs never used to like the consumption of ibuprofen due to its unpleasant smell.
What are the Symptoms of Ibuprofen Poisoning in Dogs?
Suppose the dog accidentally consumes some amount of ibuprofen. In that case, the canine will require proper treatment, for which the owners have first to discover if the canine has got the poisoning due to ibuprofen or not. The symptoms to discover ibuprofen poisoning in dogs are mentioned below.
- Vomiting
- Dark stools
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargy
- Increased urination
- Increased drinking
- Seizures
It is suggested to the dog owners that if they notice such behavioral changes in the health of dogs, they should go for a rapid vet visit instead of trying several home medications because treating these kinds of severe issues at home is almost impossible.
Can Dogs Have Children’s Ibuprofen?
No, ibuprofen for children can also harm the canines’ health. In such cases, the level of poisoning might be a bit lower than the consumption of ibuprofen for human adults, but still, it will be dangerous for the health of the canine.
The consumption of children’s ibuprofen will harm the canine similarly. It will also lead to organ damage and failure if consumed in a large amount, but the only difference here is the speed of the canine getting infected through its consumption will be slower.
Can Dogs Survive Ibuprofen Poisoning?
Although the level of poisoning can be very dangerous, if the dog owner gives proper treatment to the canine rapidly after its consumption by taking the pet to a vet, then the canine will recover from the poisoning of ibuprofen within one to two days.
In some severe cases, if the dogs get excessive organ damage, the vet will also prefer to go for surgery to remove the affected part of the organ to prevent the rest of the organs from getting damaged.
Will One Ibuprofen Hurt a Dog?
Yes, feeding one ibuprofen can also be fatal for the canine’s health. The minerals present in it are so toxic for the canine’s health that even a bit of its consumption can lead to various discomforts for the canine.
Thus it is suggested to the dog owners that they should always keep such kind of human medication away from the canine.
What are the Harmful Components of Ibuprofen?
We all know that the harmful nature of ibuprofen is all because of the types of essential nutrients used during its manufacturing.
So it becomes very important for dog owners to know about the harmful components present in this medicine to check how it can harm the canine’s health. Here is the name of the compounds harmful to dogs :
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Microcrystalline cellulose, a beneficial compound for animals, is present in a larger amount of ibuprofen which, after getting into the stomach of the canine in a larger amount, reacts excessively with the enzymatic activities and thus makes the dog ill.
Lactose
Most dogs are found to be lactose intolerant as the enzymes necessary for the digestion of this compound named lactase are not released by the body of the canine. Thus, it is harmful to dogs.
Hypromellose
This compound is in no way harmful to the health of the canine, but as this does not contain any calories, it is not at all digestible for the canine. Thus it is considered a harmful compound for the canine’s health.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
The consumption of this compound by the canine can cause severe issues to the canine, as it can strip away the protecting oils of the dog’s skin and leave the coat unhealthy, dry and itchy thus, it is considered harmful.
Magnesium Stearate
Magnesium stearate is a compound that is safe for daily consumption in moderation. Still, as it is present in a larger amount of ibuprofen, its consumption can lead to irritation in the mucus lining of the bowels. Thus, it is harmful.
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is considered one of the harmful compounds for a pet’s health as its consumption can even lead to damage to the chromosomes or a severe effect on the DNA of the pet.
French Chalk
The consumption of this compound can be harmful to the health of the canines as the essential nutrients present in it may cause talc pneumoconiosis, which can affect the health of the lungs. Thus it is harmful.
Colloidal Silicon Dioxide
There’s no scientific evidence that can prove that this compound is harmful to the health of the canine, but its consumption can cause a small risk of injury or obstruction; thus, it is harmful.
Can Dogs Have Gel Ibuprofen?
Most of the time, dog owners used to have a misconception that the toxicity of ibuprofen is just because of its ingestion. If the ibuprofen ingestion gets skipped, it will be no more toxic to the canine, but it’s not true.
The gel ibuprofen can also be harmful to the health of the canine. Applying the gel over the affected area can cause damage to the cells at the site and may lead to infection in some cases. If the dog smells it, the particles will go into the stomach through the nasal cavity and become toxic, the same as in consumption.
So, depending on the factors mentioned above, it can be said that keeping gel ibuprofen away from the canine is more preferred.
It is suggested to the dog owners that they should always keep the factors mentioned above in mind while searching for can dogs eat ibuprofen to give a proper pain relief treatment to the canine.
