The Do’s And Don’ts of Low Dose Baby Aspirin For Dogs!

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Lots of people take baby aspirin as part of a preventative health regimen.

Does such a strategy make sense for dogs too?

That’s a great question! Here’s what you should know:

Can I Give My Dog Baby Aspirin?Low-dose baby aspirin can help your dog with short-term pain, but it is not a safe heart health supplement.

Dogs Can Take Baby Aspirin For Temporary Pain

There are good reasons to avoid using it on a routine basis.

Despite being low-dose, baby aspirin sometimes causes complications including gastrointestinal tract bleeding — this can also occur in the brain.

Besides, dogs do not typically suffer from coronary artery diseases.

Baby Aspirin For Pain

You can give low-dose aspirin to reduce pain. This means baby aspirin is useful for when your buddy has bruises and/or swelling.

Do you have an older dog with pain as a result of arthritis?

OTC baby aspirin can help them through the day!

However, it’s a bad idea to provide this medication frequently. Other drugs should be considered when a dog has chronic or lingering pain (keep reading for a few recommendations).


Warning: For puppies, be super careful with baby aspirin. Their kidneys and livers are not fully matured, nor do they have the required enzymes to properly process the drug. Aspirin is also not safe for pregnant pups.


Regular vs Low Dose

These popular enteric pills (made by Bayer) are only 81 milligrams. This compares to what is normally a 325mg dose.

So you can see why baby aspirin is more conservative and relatively safer.

With that being said, this type of aspirin is not a statin for dogs.

Lifespan is a Factor

Again, canines don’t live nearly as long as people which means the heart typically isn’t a factor as they get older.

In other words, at least for dogs, baby aspirin is not needed to prolong life.

On the contrary, there are real risks associated with regular use!

Too much could eventually harm your pet’s cartilage. And there is also the previously mentioned bleeding concern.

3 Aspirin Alternatives

For a more sustainable treatment, instead of baby aspirin, it is worth looking into Carprofen as well as Tramadol.

There are also quality chewable pain tablets (designed specifically for dogs).

Whatever you decide, make it a priority to avoid potentially harmful medications.


Be sure to read up on NSAIDs in general.


Safe Dosing For Dogs

Still set on baby aspirin for pet pain?

Acceptable dosing is 1 baby aspirin (taken twice daily) for each 10 pounds of your dog’s body weight.

Break pills in half if necessary. For example, a 25 pound dog could be given 2.5 (or 2 ½) two times per day.

Speak with a professional before you do anything!

Other Relevant Drugs

It’s often the case that a pet dog will need to take a steroid for stubborn pain.

With that in mind, we asked Sara Redding Ochoa (DVM) her opinion regarding this topic. She told us the following:

“If your dog is taking a steroid do not give them aspirin as this can cause an ulceration and perforation of the GI tract.

Alternatively, you can give Pepcid if you are worried about GI side effects linked to baby aspirin. Pepcid AC will help protect the lining of the intestines.”

The Bottom Line

Dogs can take baby aspirin for short-term pain.

It’s true that the drug has a decent track record (though is not recommended for daily use).

Do not overly depend on baby aspirin. Get your dog a proper diagnosis, and perhaps an appropriate prescription, from a trusted veterinarian.

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5 thoughts on “The Do’s And Don’ts of Low Dose Baby Aspirin For Dogs!”

  1. Grover is 11 years old and he’s in pain. We are in Vermont and the winter is still here. He hates to go out so we only head out if he has to pee and poo. His nose is dry and cracked. He cries for baby aspirin because it stops his pain.

    I also give him a dog version of turmeric daily. First, I give him one slice of bread with honey. About half hour later, he wants his aspirin. Then turmeric, then he can finally rest. Before I adopted him he was cured from kennel cough.

    We have a small home with trees and forest around us. There is plenty room for him. I remember how he loved running around. There used to be many wild animals here. My neighbor uses an ultrasound plug-in device to repel pests. The device is bothering my ears. Could it be also bothering Grover’s? And the reason for his suffering?

  2. My vet told me I could give my Chihuahua one, 81mg of baby aspirin, cutting in four which would be four doses.

  3. I have a 110 pound Pit bull. He’s playing hard now, limping a bit. I have him on Cosequin. Can he take St. Joseph Baby aspirin? How much? I can’t get him to a vet until Tuesday.

  4. My dog weighs 8 pounds. She has congestive heart failure and takes meds for it. She cries a lot at times and I think she’s in pain. Is it safe to give her a half of a low dose aspirin?

  5. Another important thing to keep in mind is that sometimes dogs are taking other meds, like corticosteroids. In such cases, they should never be combined with aspirin.

    Those of us with older dogs on various medicines should always check with a vet first for possible drug interactions. Our dog has serious pain issues and takes Tramadol which a vet prescription.

    The combination is not considered fatal, but it can be very dangerous, leading to gastric bleeds. Like the article says, it’s so wise to always consult a veterinarian!

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