Should I give my senior dog aspirin for arthritis if he won't eat?

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.

No, do not give Chief baby aspirin. It causes GI bleeding and ulcers in dogs, and is not safe to give at all. It sounds like he could have some back pain or possibly hip pain. He needs to see a vet as soon as possible for this problem. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can treat it as well as prescribe safe pain medications for him. Please take him into the vet first thing tomorrow morning, and rest him until them. No running, jumping, or playing. Don't pick him up unless absolutely necessary. Take him out to toilet on a lead only and bring him right back in when he's done. Best of luck.

Dog aspirin is a bit safer than regular human aspirin. However, now that he is feeling better I wouldn't feel the need to continue to give him the medication. Its best to just continue monitoring him and he will likely be fine here moving forward, especially if there are not wounds or even abrasions on the skin to speak of. Best wishes with your pet Oscar and I hope that he continues to do well. : )

Please do not give him aspirin! It is not recommended to give it to dogs, as it causes internal bleeding and GI ulcers, and you should stop giving it to him now to prevent this from happening. The only safe pain medications for dogs are available by prescription from the vet. You will have to take him into the vet in order to get these medications. Paying for a vet UK: If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Carefree Credit online. http://www.carefreecredit.co.uk https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/vetcare http://www.easipetcare.com You can also give him glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Hydro really needs to see a veterinarian. If not eating or drinking then the cause for that needs to be addressed first. While aspirin is occasionally used in dogs it has a very low index of safety and should absolutely not be given to a dog who is not eating- as it can potentially cause fatal G.I. ulceration. There are no other otc pain medications safe for use in dogs at all. Please take Hydro to the veterinarian asap. Good luck and I hope he's better soon.

Hello. We generally do not recommend aspirin because of the same problems seen in people. It can cause severe gastric upset & possibly ulcerations, & aspirin decreases platelet activity that can lead to prolonged & abnormal bleeding. Only use aspirin on the advice of your veterinarian, or consider one of the newer & safer anti-inflammatories available for dogs. Definitely continue your joint supplements, though. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

First of all, NEVER give a dog any human medications unless directed by a veterinarian. Aspirin is extremely irritation to the stomach and will cause gastric bleeding very easily in dogs. If the weather has gotten very cold where you are, this could be affecting his attitude. The change in food may have put him a little off balance even though he's not showing any apparent symptoms. I recommend getting him in to see your vet, just to make sure there isn't something underlying that is causing him to be lethargic and subdued. If it's enough of a change to concern you, it's worth getting your vet to check just to be on the safe side.