Human medicine for my dog
Written by farmermom
My 11 year old dalmatian is suffering from hip dysplasia, and has always had allergies to molds in the grass. (That symptom always shows up in the fall and lasts until the first snow fall.) In past years we have purchased antihistamines from the vet, but it seems counter productive in the fact that it makes him drink more water and then he has to go out into the grass more. He whimpers a lot from a combination of the soreness in his hips and also the allergies in his feet. I can't really afford the medicine from the vet, and I was wondering if just giving him some ibuprofen out of my medicine cabinet would be O.K. and help relieve some of his pain. I would appreciate any advice I can get. Thank you.
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Farmermom, I know how expensive purchasing medicine from the vet can be. The only pain reliever on the human side that is safe for dogs is plain buffered asprin. Ibuprofen can be very irritating to the stomach and Acetaminophen toxic to the liver. (There are no over the counter pain remedies that are considered safe for cats).
You should always double check with your vet at least by phone before giving any medication just to make sure your dog can tolerate it. The buffered asprin dose for dogs is about 5mg per pound of body weight. So if your dog weighs around 65 pounds, 1 regular asprin at 325mg would be appropriate. It is a good idea to give a little food when giving asprin as it will easier on the stomach. When you talk with your vet about giving asprin also ask how often they would recommend you use it.
Again, check with your vet but you can purchase Diphenhydramine (Benadryl-plain) for occasional allergy use. The dog dose is 1/2 to 2 mg per pound of body weight every 8 hours. So a 65 pound dog would get 33mg to 130mg depending on how it effects the dog in terms of itch relief and drowsiness. You may have to shop around to find it either in a tablet or liquid that is easiest to arrive at the dose you need.
If your dog sleeps or lays down alot, he may benefit from an orthopedic bed for dogs. It may sound a bit over the top but it helps the dogs to be more comfortable because it distributes body weight evenly which does not put extra weight on any one joint. I have added a link to our article on Hip Dysplasia (click on the word) you may find helpful. Good luck and I hope your dog is more comfortable soon!
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