Human painkillers are a top-five cause of pet poisoning worldwide. Ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) are safe for us and dangerous for dogs — and paracetamol is outright lethal for cats at any dose. If your pet just swallowed a tablet, use this checker for urgency, then call a vet regardless.
💊 Painkiller Ingestion Checker
Common strengths: ibuprofen 200/400/600 mg; paracetamol 325/500/650 mg. Check the packaging.
Why can’t pets take human painkillers?
Dogs and cats metabolise these drugs differently and far more slowly. Ibuprofen (and other NSAIDs like naproxen, which is even more toxic) attacks the stomach lining and kidneys. Paracetamol overwhelms the liver in dogs — and cats lack the enzyme to process it at all, which is why a single tablet can kill a cat through blood-cell damage and liver failure.
Symptoms to watch
Ibuprofen: vomiting (possibly with blood), black tarry stools, poor appetite, drinking/urinating changes, wobbliness or seizures at high doses. Paracetamol: laboured breathing, brown/blue-tinged gums, facial or paw swelling (classic in cats), jaundice, lethargy.
What to do right now
1. Note the strength, count the missing tablets, keep the packaging. 2. Call a vet or emergency clinic immediately — find one worldwide here. 3. Do not induce vomiting or give anything at home unless instructed — some home remedies make it worse. 4. Antidotes and protectants exist for both drugs and work best within the first few hours.
FAQ
The vet once gave my dog an anti-inflammatory — same thing?
No. Veterinary NSAIDs (carprofen, meloxicam…) are dosed and formulated for animals. Never substitute human versions, even “just once”.
What about aspirin?
Also risky — GI ulcers and, in cats, toxicity at low doses. Only ever under direct veterinary instruction.
My dog seems totally fine — did we get away with it?
Kidney and liver damage can develop over 1–3 days while your pet looks normal. If the dose was in a warning range above, get seen anyway — early bloodwork is cheap insurance.
Triage aid only — not veterinary advice. If your pet swallowed any human medication, call a veterinarian now.
