My older dog is limping. Is it safe to give him Tylenol for pain?

Poor Teddy! Do not give him tylenol or any other human pain medication. Dog's livers are different than ours and human pain medications can potentially cause liver (or kidney) damage. If he is in enough pain to need pain medication, then he needs to be examined by the veterinarian for pet safe pain medication. Since Teddy can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including a ligament tears, soft tissue injury or even a hair line fracture. If Teddy will not bear weight on the foot, he needs to be examined today. if Teddy will walk on it and is only limping, you may try strict rest for a few days (no walks, running, jumping or stairs). You can apply a cool (not cold) compress to the area you think is the cause of pain for 5 minutes every hour. A gentle massage can also help if Teddy seems to enjoy it. If Teddy does not improve after a few days or if he gets worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. He may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope your pup starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Arthritis can happen in older dogs as you know. However, this is not the only condition that can cause lameness like that. I do not recommend using paracetamol without a veterinary evaluation. There are other arthritis supplements that you can start which would not hurt if this happens to not be due to arthritis and if it is, they can help a good amount. There are several joint supplements out there such as Cosequin and Dasuquin, among others. I would encourage you to start with that and if no improvement is observed, Rodger should be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day! I hope this helps!

No, I would not give these pain medications to Dexter. Many human pain medications are toxic to dogs, and can be fatal if given. Paracetamol is toxic to dogs in large enough doses. I recommend resting Dexter until he sees the vet on Monday. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done.

Please do not give Asia Tylenol! This can and does cause acetaminophen toxicity, and is not safe to give to her. It could be that she has arthritis, but she could have also strained or torn a muscle or ligament. She could have also broken a bone. It's quite serious this has been going on for a month and she needs veterinary care as soon as possible. The vet can diagnose what is causing her pain and how best to treat it. Please take her into a vet.

Unfortunately no, there are no OTC pain medications you can give Chuffy. Many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I would rest him until he sees the vet. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done.

Dogs can experience pain from a variety of health conditions, including [osteoarthritis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/arthritis-1/),[ dental disease](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/dental-disease/), [urinary tract infections](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/utis-in-dogs/) or traumatic injuries, among many others. While it is extremely difficult to see our four-legged friends in pain, there are no safe and effective over-the-counter medications for managing pain in dogs (or cats). Over the counter pain relievers for humans, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol) and naproxen (Aleve) are all toxic to animals. Aspirin should also not be given to dogs because it causes significant irritation and potential ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract, and it inhibits a dog’s ability to clot blood. If you think that your dog is in pain, your best bet is to take him to your veterinarian. After performing a [physical exam](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-does-your-veterinarian-look-for-during-a-physical-exam/), your veterinarian will be able to prescribe safe and effective medication. Only give pain medication to the pet for which it was prescribed due to risks with drug interactions, improper doses or contraindications with certain medical conditions. ### Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. Galliprant is a registered trademark of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.

Do not give him any over the counter human pain relievers as they can be toxic to dogs. He should be examined by a vet to treat any problems that he is having. He may need an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory and your vet can prescribe the right medications to treat his problems.