Can Dogs Take Tylenol?

All puppy parents hate seeing their fur balls in pain. So, you might be wondering what can you do to help them if they’re feeling bad? You might be thinking that reaching for some Tylenol might be an option, but is that actually safe?

First things first, you should know that your dog should never have Tylenol. This medicine is a pain reliever designed for humans, not for dogs. Your dog might very easily overdose from acetaminophen, which is the active substance in Tylenol. In extreme cases, Tylenol can be prescribed by veterinarians, but that’s only because your vet knows what doses are safe.

Tylenol is harmful because it can hurt the dog’s liver by overwhelming the liver’s metabolism. If a lot of damage is done, it can even lead to death. Even if it is not fatal, it still can cause serious issues like kidney failure, gastrointestinal ulceration, tissue damage, and more.

If, for some reason, your dog ingests Tylenol, get them to a vet right away. Even if he might seem ok, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t suffer from Tylenol toxicity. Nausea, vomiting, lethargy, depression, weakness, and coma are some of the signs of Tylenol poisoning.

If your dog is in pain, there is special medication for dogs that you can administer to your puppy. It is important that you only use medication that was prescribed by a vet. One good medication for pain relief is carprofen. If your dog suffers from chronic pain, a treatment involving several pills might be needed. Whatever the root of the pain might be, you should always visit a vet to get the proper diagnosis and treatment.