My dog is hurting and whimpering. Can I give him baby aspirin?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Annabel. Being a small breed dog and the signs you have described, I worry that she is experiencing back or neck pain. This is a common source of pain. The muscles lining the spine can spasm I response to inflammation within an intervertebral disk. In this case, she should see her veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis as well as prescription medications. While dogs can take aspirin, it is not as effective as other medications. It is hard on the gastrointestinal tract and can interfere with prescription drugs necessary for back pain. For these reasons, I would not give it. It is best for her to see her veterinarian today. In the meantime, keep her very quiet. I hope this information helps!

No, that isn't correct. It isn't safe to give dogs aspirin, even baby aspirin. It cause GI ulcers ad bleeding. If Lily can hardly walk on it, she needs to see a vet because she is in a lot of pain. Rest her tonight, and take her into a vet first thing in the morning. If you fear she is extremely painful, take her into an ER vet now. Best of luck.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Jack Russel Terriers can get infections in the ear despite no trauma to the ear. It is usually caused by an overgrowth of natural bacteria or yeast flora. If he continues to scratch and shake his head it can lead to a condition called an aural hematoma that can need surgery to fix. I would recommend getting an E-collar for him tonight, and bringing him to your vet first thing in the morning. Disprin/Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) in high doses can be very toxic and is not recommended to give. In some dogs it can be safely used at 10mg/kg (so ~ 50mg for a Jack Russel Terrier). Best of luck with Mac.

Sorry to hear that Jack isn't acting like himself. Baby aspirin over the course of few days, while not the most preferably of pain relievers in dogs, is not likely to cause significant ailments. Inappetence and vomiting however are some of the side effects caused by the drug, however, and might be to blame in this instance. They can cause gastric ulceration, though this usually occurs in larger quantities or with overdose. If he hasn't been drinking his water for just tonight, I wouldn't begin to panic just yet. If he continues not to drink for another 12 hours and/or vomits with greater strength or frequency, get him into a veterinarian for a diagnostic work up and/or treatment plan to get him feeling better. Be sure you tell your vet the exact point of time he last received an aspirin so that he knows if it is safe to prescribe other types of anti-inflammatory drugs without the risk of cross-reactivity. If Jack struggles with arthritis, he may benefit from having an anti-inflammatory available to him on days when he struggles the most - this would be a discussion for you and your vet to have. I would also encourage you to consider starting him on a supplement that contains fatty acids and glucosamine chondroitin. Hope this makes sense.

Please do not give Oreo baby aspirin, it's not safe for puppies or dogs. It causes GI ulcers and bleeding. The only safe pain mediations for dogs are available from the vet. I would call the vet first thing in the morning to get an appointment for him to be seen. He's limping because he's in pain, and since he is so young, it's very important he's seen by a vet as soon as possible to make sure he doesn't have an injury such as a broken bone that negatively affects his growth. The only way to know for sure he hasn't broken anything is with an x-ray. Please take him into the vet tomorrow.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. When dogs are 'non-ambulatory'- not walking on a leg, this is usually a sign of significant pain. Also, swelling is concerning for either a significant injury (fracture/dislocation), an infection or abscess (pocket of pus), or in older animals we worry about cancers. I would recommend having Swayde seen by a vet to see if anything serious is going on, and would recommend x-rays. Best of luck with Swayde.

No ibuprofen is not safe to give to your dog. While aspirin had been used for pain relief many years ago now there are safer pain medications specifically for dogs. Aspirin can cause gastric ulcers and intestinal bleeding so I never recommend it. Your veterinarian should examine Hershey as she may have injured the ACL on the other leg. Over 70% of dogs who damage one ACL damage the other one within a few years. Hershey will need rest, no jumping, controlled leash walks and pain medication to get better without surgery. If there is a dog rehabilitation center near you they can give exercises for home care and can provide therapy usually including hydrotherapy. If the ligament is torn completely and the lameness not improving in a few weeks with rest, therapy and medication then Hershey may need surgery on the other knee too. Please talk with your veterinarian about prescribing a safe pain medication for Hershey. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Hershey.