It’s true that Tylenol can be downright deadly for your dog.
No doubt about it: This popular over-the-counter pain killer is easily poisonous.
When it comes to Acetaminophen, the active ingredient, your buddy’s liver is particularly vulnerable.
Keep reading for more specifics on how Tylenol can harm your dog. Our goal is to prevent at least one death by making the facts abundantly clear.
Tylenol Could Kill Your Dog
While the drug eases pain, it’s not safe enough for your animal — at least without your vet’s help.
Tylenol is easily toxic to dogs due to a small margin of safety. This is why veterinarians typically only use Acetaminophen in special situations.
Pain Killers, Dog Killers
There are so many branded OTC pain killers and their use is a real risk for dogs. Yup! Most of these drugs are too dangerous for animals.
You must keep certain pills, including Tylenol, well out of Fido’s reach.
The term Acetaminophen should be a red flag for dog owners. This goes for Tylenol as well as many other over-the-counter names.
Fact: Acetaminophen kills hundreds of pets each year.
Terrible Tylenol Toxicity
Be very familiar with signs that indicate Tylenol poisoning.
A dog could have:
- Difficulty breathing
- Gum discoloration
- Jaundice (indicator of liver damage)
- Vomiting
- A change in body temperature
A single Tylenol tablet may contain over 300mg of Acetaminophen.
Consider that even the human liver can be damaged by this pain killer, so you can image what it can do to your dog.
And such harm would be irreversible!
The dangers are not limited to Tylenol. The same goes for Motrin, Excedrin, Panadol and Midol. All of them are risky.
A Pet Poisoning Plan
You need to act fast if you mistakenly gave your dog Tylenol (or they somehow ate some).
Head to a vet ASAP!
The thing is much depends on the dose taken in relation to your dog’s body weight.
Blood work or a urinalysis may be necessary. And intravenous treatment, in combination with vitamin C, is often used to help recover from acetaminophen poisoning. Those are the lucky ones.
Pain Meds For Dogs
Not long ago there were few safe options for helping a furry friend to cope with pain.
Dogs would just deal with it (which is actually better than being harmed by poisonous Tylenol).
Today there are much improved non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Meloxicam and Rimadyl (Carprofen).
Be sure to ask your vet about those prescription drugs.
As far as OTC meds for alleviating pain in dogs, here is what Veterinarian Sara Redding Ochoa has to say:
“There are not a lot of good over-the-counter pain medications that can be given to dogs. Instead, I recommend glucosamine and chondroitin supplements or CBD oils. These have shown to help decrease pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.”
NSAIDs in General
The truth is all NSAIDs come with the possibility of side effects.
Another one that we get asked about a lot, besides Tylenol, is aspirin. Unfortunately, acetylsalicylic acid AKA aspirin is also unsafe for dogs.
For further confirmation about popular and readily available drugs, take it from this vet…
The Bottom Line
Without your vet’s guidance, Tylenol is not safe enough for your dog. Never provide Acetaminophen on your own.
Fairly safe NSAIDs exist, but they also require a prescription.
Tylenol is perilous. Keep your supply well out of your dog’s reach!
My vet suggested Extra Strength Tylenol two years ago for my Alaskan Malamute, one pill twice a day. It’s for arthritis and has done wonders for him.