Dogs have a reputation for getting into anything and everything. While you wouldn’t think that your pain relief medication would be a tempting target, it’s very common for dogs to ingest it accidentally, a problem that could be enhanced by the sugar coating on some tablets.

Unfortunately, eating these tablets usually leads to ibuprofen toxicity mainly because of the high dose of medication in the tablets, as well as the dog’s low tolerance for this medication. You must take immediate action if your dog has eaten Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Combogesic, Duexis, Reprexain, Wal-profen, or other medicines containing ibuprofen.

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What to Do if Your Dog Eats Ibuprofen

1. Assess the Situation

First, ensure your dog is safe and shows no signs of distress. If they are showing any signs of illness, take them to the veterinarian immediately. However, in most cases, the signs of ibuprofen toxicity will take hours or days to develop. You should remove additional medication from the area and prevent your dog from ingesting any more than they already have.

Once you have checked on your dog, you need to gather some information. You may need to ask others in your household if they have anything to add. When you speak to the vet, you will need to know a few things:

2. Contact the Experts

You can contact your local vet or emergency clinic for advice. You can also call Animal Poison Control or Pet Poison Helpline for a phone consultation. These experts are trained to assess the potential risk to pets when they eat something they shouldn’t. If your dog has consumed a potentially toxic dose of ibuprofen, they will advise you on which signs you are likely to see and the next steps.

The experts can also evaluate your dog’s health status to make decisions. Pre-existing kidney or liver disease, age, and size will impact your dog’s response to ibuprofen. If your dog is taking certain medications like meloxicam, carprofen, or prednisolone, they have an increased risk of side effects from ibuprofen.

Never induce vomiting at home if your dog has eaten ibuprofen; hydrogen peroxide could make things worse. All further treatments must be under vet recommendation and tailored to your dog.

3. Take Your Dog to the Vet

Your vet will make an individual treatment plan depending on your circumstances. If the ingestion is caught early, the vet can reduce your pet’s exposure to ibuprofen. They can be made to vomit to bring up any medication in their stomach.

Some dogs will not be good candidates to vomit, and your vet may recommend a “stomach pump,” also known as gastric lavage. A toxin binder can be given every 6 to 8 hours to reduce the absorption of ibuprofen into your dog’s system. These important and time-dependent steps can reduce your dog’s risk of serious side effects. This is why time is of the essence when your dog eats ibuprofen.

Based on the dose of ibuprofen ingested, your vet will decide if your dog needs hospitalization or at-home care. Most dogs will receive medication to protect the stomach and need a bland diet until they are recovered. If there is a higher risk of toxicity, your vet may take baseline blood tests, which can be repeated every 24 to 48 hours. Urine samples may also be needed. Your pet may need a fluid drip for a minimum of 48 hours.

Other treatment is given based on your dog’s signs. For example, medications to reduce nausea or seizures may be used. Dogs with extreme gastrointestinal signs may need surgery or a blood transfusion.

4. Monitor Their Recovery

Follow all medication instructions given by your vet carefully. Most vets will recommend a bland diet. Boiled chicken breast and rice work well for most dogs, but dogs with special dietary requirements may need something else. Your dog may need further blood tests after they go home.

Sometimes, ibuprofen toxicity leads to lifelong kidney problems, and the treatment may be lifelong. Contact your vet if you notice any signs you are concerned about once your dog has been discharged.

5. Take Steps to Prevent This Happening Again

Dogs can get into medication for a few reasons. Anxiety or boredom can lead to destructive behaviors. We recommend behavioral interventions like environmental changes, training, and possibly medication if your dog seems anxious and tends to shred anything they can.

You should keep all medication and harmful foods out of your dog’s reach, and everyone in the house should clean up after themselves. Use garbage cans with lids and store everything in high cupboards. Confine your pet in safe areas when you’re not at home with them.

You can also provide puzzle toys, games, and chew toys. Exercise is vital for dogs, but the amount will depend on their age, health, and breed. However, you can ask your vet how much exercise your dog should get daily and discuss any behavioral concerns.

Signs of Ibuprofen Toxicity

The signs of ibuprofen toxicity are related to the dose your dog ingests relative to their size. Different doses lead to different “levels” of toxicity. For example, a dog at risk of kidney damage is also at risk of gastrointestinal signs.

1. Gastrointestinal Signs

Lower-range toxicity can cause side effects related to the gastrointestinal tract. Ibuprofen can compromise the protective layer lining the stomach and lead to gastric ulcers. In extreme cases, gastric ulcers can lead to a ruptured stomach and peritonitis (inflammation in the abdominal cavity). These effects can still be fatal despite occurring at a lower dose range. Gastric ulceration can lead to signs like:

2. Kidney Damage

In addition to gastric ulceration, in cases of moderate doses of ibuprofen, the blood supply to the kidneys can be reduced, which leads to kidney damage. The effects on the kidneys can be temporary or permanent. If your dog has kidney damage, you could notice signs like:

3. Neurological Signs

With very high doses of ibuprofen, the central nervous system is affected. The reasons for the neurological side effects are still unknown. Neurological signs can include:

4. Less Common Reactions

Despite what we know about the medication’s effects, idiosyncratic liver damage can occur with ibuprofen. Liver damage is not expected but can occur in some individuals. It is suspected to occur when ibuprofen is broken down in the liver into compounds that worsen the effects of copper accumulation in the liver (a pre-existing condition).

Why Can’t Dogs Have Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen is a medication belonging to the class of drugs known as non-steroidal-anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Unlike humans, dogs are extremely sensitive to the side effects of ibuprofen, which means most vets will never prescribe it, but there is technically a dose considered “safe” for short-term use.

Using the medication at low doses for more than 30 days has been proven to cause gastrointestinal damage and signs of illness. In one case, a very low dose given every other day for 6 weeks caused a ruptured stomach, and the dog died.

NSAIDs work to reduce inflammation by blocking certain pathways that synthesize prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are involved in inflammation and pain but also have beneficial roles in the body, like maintaining kidney blood supply and promoting a protective layer of mucus in the stomach.

The side effects occur because these beneficial prostaglandins are inhibited. Some NSAIDs are safer to use in dogs and are FDA-approved. In addition, vets may prescribe a human over-the-counter medication off-label at safe doses, but typically, ibuprofen is not used this way.

Conclusion

With ibuprofen toxicity, the prognosis worsens with the dose ingested. However, timely vet intervention can mean your dog is exposed to less medication and has a better recovery.

Depending on the amount of ibuprofen ingested and other signs, your dog may need a hospital stay or medication and monitoring at home. Keep medication out of your pet’s reach, and never ever give human medication to your dog without vet approval.

• See also: Rimadyl vs Deramaxx for Dogs: Safety, Usage & What To Choose

Featured Image Credit: speedshutter Photography, Shutterstock