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Aspirin is widely used by humans, and commonly regarded as harmless if taken at the recommended dosage. But is it safe to give aspirin to your pet dog?

Just like humans, dogs develop painful conditions such as arthritis as they age, and they may have painful injuries or other conditions. These dog health problems can be treated with aspirin, which reduces inflammation and fever, and soothes the pain, but aspirin must be used with caution. ASPIRIN MUST NOT BE GIVEN TO PUPPIES because they lack the enzyme needed to process aspirin. Please talk to your vet before taking your dog's health into your own hands.

Aspirin can be given to most dogs for short term pain relief provided the dosage is correct, but it should not be given unless there is a serious condition, and it should not be used long-term because the side effects can be serious. Just because aspirin is a common drug does not mean it is not dangerous, and even a baby aspirin can be extremely toxic to a very small dog.

The dosage recommended for a dog depends on its size. Aspirin is toxic at 30 mg per lb (less for small dogs), which means that an adult aspirin (320 mg) would be toxic to a 10 lb dog. The recommended dosage is 5-10 mg per lb of dog (slightly less for small dogs) given with food no more than twice a day. Start at the lowest dose and increase only if necessary.