Can I Give My Dog Calpol?
In the first instance we should understand what Calpol is.
Calpol is a paracetamol based childrens medication, usually in liquid form but is also available as tablets or more specifically “melts”
Whilst paracetamol, when administered in the correct dose, is not harmful to dogs one should always seek veterinary advise before giving any medication to a dog.
Calpol is formulated for humans and as we all know humans, even the small ones, are generally larger than dogs. It can be easy to give a dose that would be toxic. Calpol contains 125mg of paracetamol per 5ml. Although there are no exact studies it is considered that as little as 150mg per kg can be extremely toxic for our furry friends.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry so our advice would be that if you are looking for some pain relief for your best friend then take him to the vet. They can advise what’s best and if it is a paracetamol based medicine they can advise on the exact dose.
How would Calpol help my dog?
The active ingredient in paracetamol (Calpol) is acetaminophen which relieves mild paid and helps lower a temperature so can be beneficial for mild viral infections or light bumps and bruises.
What happens if my dog has too much Calpol?
Paracetamol poisoning can cause abnormalities in the red blood cells as well as kidney and/or liver damage. In most cases, kidney and liver damage is not reversible. Ingestion of large doses of paracetamol can also cause coma or death. Early symptoms to look our for are laboured breathing, swollen face or neck, swelling of the limbs, brownish-grey gums, hypothermia, jaundice and vomiting. If in doubt talk to your vet!
In answer to the question Can I Give My Dog Calpol? No, it’s simply not safe and could endanger your best friend.
Found this article interesting? Find out more about the dangers of other human medication on our dogs here.
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