No! Even modest doses of naproxen, which is sold under the trade name Aleve, are poisonous to dogs; only one pill can result in fatal internal bleeding and renal damage. The cause of up to half of pet poisonings is drugs intended for human use. Humans, not dogs or other pets, are the intended users and subjects of the drug testing.
Medication should always be stored in secure containers out of your dog’s reach. Your veterinarian may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) made specifically for dogs. Never give your dog pain relievers without your veterinarian’s approval.
What occurs if my dog consumes Aleve?
Common brand names for naproxen, an over-the-counter NSAID, include Aleve and Midol. Naproxen-containing prescription drugs, available as tablets, capsules, or liquids. Although naproxen is safe for human usage, due to its small margin of safety, it is extremely dangerous to dogs and cats (which means it is very potent). Even in a large dog, as little as one 220mg tablet can result in very serious symptoms or even death.
Naproxen can cause acute kidney failure and severe gastrointestinal ulcers in dogs and cats, which can perforate and rupture the intestines. Clinical symptoms include nausea, vomiting with blood, black-tarry stools (a sign of GI bleeding), diarrhea, loss of appetite, pain in the belly, weakness, pale gums (from anemia), and tiredness. The pet may become septic and pass away if extensive ulcers cause gastrointestinal perforation or rupture. Rarely, there may also be unconsciousness, sadness, seizures, facial twitching in cats, and seizures.
When does Aleve become poisonous to dogs?
Both ibuprofen and naproxen are NSAIDs and are used in human medicine for a variety of conditions, such as fever, pain, and inflammation. These goods are frequently used to get pets drunk because well-intentioned owners will give them to pets to alleviate illnesses. Ibuprofen is frequently found in Advil and Motrin, while naproxen is present in Aleve.
Due to the potential for toxicity, these products should not be administered to animals. Before giving your pet any medication, always check with your veterinarian. Ibuprofen tablets as little as one 200 mg tablet can be hazardous to cats and tiny dogs.
Additionally thought to be a possible poison for horses who are not eating are NSAIDs. Stomach acid is regularly released by horses. Giving an NSAID to a horse in the absence of meal considerably raises the risk of stomach erosion. It is best to stay away from this at all costs.
Loss of appetite or refusal to eat, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, an increase in salivation, and melena are all warning signs of poisoning (black, tarry stool). Toxicity symptoms, particularly gastrointestinal ones, may appear 2–6 hours after intake. Serious side effects, however, can not appear for 4-5 days after use.
Consumption of toxins:
Ibuprofen: In dogs, a dose of 50 mg/kg (22 mg/lb) and in cats, a dose of 25 mg/kg (11 mg/lb), respectively, may cause hazardous effects. Toxicity has been observed in dogs at dosages as low as 5–6 mg/kg (2–3 mg/lb) when given over an extended period of time.
Naproxen: There is no known hazardous threshold for intake by animals. However, dogs who ingested doses of 5 mg/kg (2 mg/lb) of body weight have shown symptoms of toxicity.
How soon does Aleve start to work in dogs?
In the event that your dog consumes Aleve, you might not have much time to react. Within 30 minutes to three hours, Aleve can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Even one pill taken in a modest dose can have major side effects in two to 24 hours, and taking too much of it can result in deadly kidney failure in less than a day.
The following are a few negative effects of giving Aleve to your dog:
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- alterations in water usage
- alterations in urination
- reduced appetite
- Paleness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Call an emergency veterinarian as soon as you believe or learn that your dog has taken Aleve. If your dog just ingested Aleve, the vet may advise you to induce vomiting, potentially using hydrogen peroxide.
Additionally, they might advise giving your dog activated charcoal to help it absorb some of the medication. You should take your dog to the emergency vet as soon as you can, whether or whether they dog vomits up the Aleve.
You can also contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline by dialing (888) 426-4435 if an emergency veterinarian is not readily available. Using this service can incur a fee, but it might be the difference between your dog’s life and death. Every day of the year, this service is offered throughout the day.
Can you give Aleve to a little dog?
The most popular over-the-counter human painkillers should never be given to dogs: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) Naproxen (Aleve)
Are dogs poisonous to naproxen?
- Both dogs and cats can become poisonous from ibuprofen and naproxen, although cats are considerably more likely than dogs to experience this poisoning.
- For a cat or small to medium-sized dog, a single 200-milligram ibuprofen tablet can be poisonous; toxic effects can happen quickly and cause stomach and renal damage.
- Ibuprofen and naproxen are human-only medications that should not be administered to animals.
- Keep all medications in the house secured to help avoid pets accidentally eating them, and never give human prescriptions to your pet unless your veterinarian specifically instructs you to.
The main component of drugs like Advil and Nuprin is ibuprofen. Similar to ibuprofen but with a longer half-life, naproxen is the active component of drugs like Aleve and Naprosyn. People frequently take ibuprofen and naproxen to manage pain, fever, and inflammation. Sadly, many medications have the potential to be exceedingly toxic (poisonous) to cats and dogs. When a cat or dog consumes enough of one of these medications to have negative effects on the body, it develops toxicosis.
Inhibiting blood flow to the kidneys and interfering with the development of substances that help preserve the stomach lining are only two of the harmful consequences of ibuprofen or naproxen in pets. As a result, ibuprofen and naproxen can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats that can result in kidney failure as well as severe stomach irritation that can develop into stomach ulcers.
Ibuprofen and naproxen toxicosis in dogs and cats frequently occurs accidentally. A pet can come upon a bottle of medicines, chew on it, or consume a tablet that fell to the ground. A single 200-milligram ibuprofen tablet can be toxic to a cat or small- to medium-sized dog due to the potency of these medications.
Sadly, pet owners sometimes administer human medications to their animals without a veterinarian’s approval, which results in toxicosis situations. Ibuprofen and naproxen should not be given to pets because they are only meant for human consumption.
Ibuprofen and naproxen are quickly absorbed from the stomach and intestines after being consumed. Toxic effects can start occurring within an hour, depending on how much of the substance was used, while certain symptoms can take several days to manifest. Stomach irritability is the most typical adverse reaction. This may make you throw up in less severe cases. The inflammation may be so severe that the animal will occasionally vomit blood and develop stomach ulcers and perforations (punctures in the stomach wall that allow stomach acid to leak into the abdomen). Blood transfusions can be essential to rescue the patient if gastrointestinal bleeding is severe.
Inhibiting blood flow to the kidneys with ibuprofen and naproxen toxicosis might result in renal failure. These medications can also have an adverse effect on the brain, resulting in altered mental status, convulsions, and coma at extremely high toxic doses. The following are some other clinical symptoms of toxicosis:
- Vomiting (sometimes with blood)
- Diarrhea (may be deeper in color due to digested blood) (may be darker in color due to digested blood)
- hunger loss
- Dehydration
- Continent pain
- White gums (secondary to blood loss)
The history of recent ingestion of one of these medications is frequently used to make the diagnosis of ibuprofen and naproxen toxicosis. To determine the degree of the injury, your veterinarian can advise diagnostic tests such blood work (a chemical panel and complete blood cell count [CBC]) and urinalysis. Additional diagnostic testing is necessary if kidney or stomach perforation are suspected.
The body absorbs ibuprofen and naproxen fairly quickly. If ingestion is immediately noticed, it is possible to cause vomiting to flush the drug from the stomach before the body can absorb it. Another choice would be to tranquilize the animal and have it vomit its stomach contents. To prevent material from the stomach and intestines from being absorbed too quickly, your veterinarian may also give your pet a particular liquid-activated charcoal solution. Due to the long-lasting effects of certain medications, this step might need to be performed several times during the day.
Toxicosis caused by ibuprofen or naproxen does not have a specific cure. Blood transfusions, intravenous fluid therapy, drugs to assist heal stomach injuries, and other treatments to maintain and stabilize the patient are all possible forms of treatment. In order to monitor blood pressure, urine output, and vital signs, hospitalization could be necessary.
Toxicosis from ibuprofen or naproxen can be lethal. However, if the problem is identified, diagnosed, and treated immediately, pets can live. The amount of medicine used also directly affects long-term results and recovery.
The majority of ibuprofen or naproxen toxicosis instances can be avoided. Keep all drugs in the house secured to help prevent accidental ingesting, and never give human prescriptions to your pet unless your veterinarian specifically instructs you to.
What takes place if a dog consumes a 200mg ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen dosages are easily harmful for dogs. In dogs, ibuprofen has a small window of safety. Even giving a 25-pound dog half of a 200 mg pill can cause toxicosis symptoms. The most frequent reason for ibuprofen poisoning is a kind owner attempting to make their dog feel better. The owner gives a dose that he believes to be acceptable without realizing it is a toxic dose. The GI tract, kidneys, and liver are the most often affected organs by toxic consequences.
What are the signs of ibuprofen toxicity?
The first symptoms of poisoning may show in as little as 12 hours. Stomach ulcers that are bleeding are the primary harmful consequence. Increased ibuprofen dosages also cause ulcers and kidney failure, which, if unchecked, can be fatal. Ibuprofen poisoning in dogs can cause symptoms such as vomiting, black tarry stools, abdominal pain, weakness, and lethargy as well as increased thirst and urine. Mild to severe symptoms can be present.
How does a veterinarian diagnose ibuprofen toxicity?
Ibuprofen poisoning is typically diagnosed after a physical examination by a veterinarian and a history of ibuprofen access or exposure. To ascertain the dog’s general health, blood tests are performed. Blood tests may show anemia from a bleeding ulcer or abnormalities as a result of renal injury if ibuprofen was consumed.
How is ibuprofen toxicity treated?
The dosage taken and the clinical indicators will determine the course of treatment. Hospitalization with continuous intravenous fluids for one to two days is a possible component of veterinary care. The use of all NSAIDs and steroids must end right away. If ingested recently, activated charcoal may be administered (less than two hours). In dogs with severe anemia brought on by bleeding ulcers, blood transfusion may be advised. Medication to protect the stomach is frequently used.
How long does naproxen remain active in a dog’s body?
Dr. DeClementi offers advice on identifying and managing canine naproxen toxicosis.
As an analgesic and antipyretic, naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID) used to treat a variety of illnesses in people, including cancer, gout, arthritis, lupus, and musculoskeletal injuries. It is available over-the-counter as naproxen sodium in 220-mg tablets and by prescription for human use as an oral suspension (25 mg/ml), 250, 375, and 500-mg tablets, as well as 750-mg extended-relief tablets. 1 While naproxen was once administered to dogs off-label, most veterinarians now recommend NSAIDs that are approved for canine usage. 2
PHARMACOKINETICS AND MECHANISM OF ACTION
In dogs, oral naproxen is rapidly absorbed and has a 68% to 100% oral bioavailability. It has a modest volume of distribution (0.13 L/kg in dogs) due to its strong protein binding. Naproxen is excreted in urine by the majority of species, including humans and horses. However, naproxen undergoes significant enterohepatic recirculation in dogs and is excreted in the stool. This explains why dogs have a lengthy half-life of 74 hours. 3
When administered orally to dogs, naproxen has been used therapeutically to treat inflammatory musculoskeletal illnesses including osteoarthritis at a dose of 2 mg/kg every other day. However, it is currently advised that veterinarians only take into account prescription naproxen when FDA-approved NSAIDs have proven unsuccessful due to possible negative effects. 2
Similar to other NSAIDs, naproxen inhibits cyclooxygenase to stop the production of prostaglandins. Cyclooxygenase comes in two widely recognized varieties: COX-1 and COX-2. Since COX-1 is a constitutive enzyme, it is constantly present. The production of prostaglandins by COX-1 is essential for healthy physiologic function. They safeguard the kidneys in addition to the GI system. An inducible enzyme is COX-2. It contributes to the production of prostaglandins, which control inflammation. Naproxen inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2.1 because it is a nonselective inhibitor of cyclooxygenases.
Prostaglandins produced by COX-1 shield the GI tract by reducing stomach acid output, boosting epithelial cell production of bicarbonate, raising blood supply to the mucosa, and encouraging epithelial cell renewal and turnover. The absence of these protective prostaglandins can cause ulceration and GI tract discomfort.
Protective prostaglandins function as vasodilators in the kidney. They facilitate the release of renin, regulate renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate, and participate in electrolyte transfer. Therefore, a decrease in these prostaglandins might result in negative renal consequences such as renal papillary necrosis, acute interstitial nephritis, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, and vasoconstrictive acute renal failure. 4
TOXICITY
The majority of cases analyzed in the literature on canine naproxen toxicosis report numerous exposures over several days. In one of these case reports, a 13-year-old male basenji dog with joint stiffness, arthritis, and mandibular edema was given 125 mg of naproxen twice daily for seven days. 5 Assuming the patient weighed 20 to 25 lb (9.07 to 11.34 kg), which was not stated in the article, the daily dosage would have been roughly 22 to 28 mg/kg.
Anorexia, weight loss, stomach pain, melena, and anemia were among symptoms this patient experienced (most likely related to GI hemorrhage since no other sources of blood loss or destruction were identified). Numerous granular and hyaline casts in the urine on analysis indicated renal tubular injury. A normal blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration of 22 mg/dl (reference range2 = 7 to 26 mg/dl) was determined by the results of a serum chemical profile. There was no information on the serum creatinine level. The drug naproxen was stopped.
The dog had improved and put on weight at the three-week follow-up. The melee had ended. The case report has no other treatments that were mentioned. 5
A 9-year-old male Samoyed who experienced occasional shoulder discomfort was treated with 5.6 mg/kg naproxen once daily for seven days, according to a second case report.
6 Vomiting and melena were brought on by the patient. Anemia, elevated BUN and serum creatinine levels, elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities, and 1.019 urine specific gravity were some of the clinical pathological alterations. The patient had antacid medication (dimethicone, calcium carbonate, and magnesium hydroxide combination), a blood transfusion, intravenous fluids for four days, and cimetidine. The dog afterwards made a full recovery. 6
The senior dachshund that took 35.7 mg/kg of naproxen was the subject of the only case report involving a dog following a single dose.
7 The dog suffered gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive hematemesis and melena the following day, along with being lethargic. After receiving supportive care, the dog got better. The report omitted specific therapy information. 7
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center data
4,404 dog exposures to naproxen from 2001 to 2011 are recorded in the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) database. 8 Here, the APCC team only included the single-exposure cases that they decided had a high or medium risk of causing the patient’s clinical results. The most frequently reported side effects of naproxen intake in dogs were anorexia, anorexia, lethargy, and vomiting. 8
Single dosages of 1 to 7 mg/kg in dogs caused vomiting and lethargic behavior. 7.7 mg/kg of naproxen caused repeated episodes of vomiting that eventually became bloody in a 1-year-old dog. 7.4 mg/kg of naproxen caused diarrhea, inappetence, and melena un one of two senior dogs, and melena and a mildly elevated BUN concentration in the second dog (presumably as a result of GI hemorrhage). 8 The body breaks down hemorrhage into the GI system just like it would any other dietary protein source, producing more urea as a result. 9
A 2-year-old dog’s BUN (38 mg/dl; reference range: 7 to 26 mg/dl) and serum creatinine (2 mg/dl; reference range: 0.6 to 1.4 mg/dl) concentrations increased slightly after ingesting 13.4 mg/kg of naproxen. It was not possible to ascertain whether the prerenal or renal origin of these increases in BUN and serum creatinine concentrations; still, no GI symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea associated with increased risk for dehydration, were recorded in this patient.
Naproxen doses of roughly 14 mg/kg caused azotemia in two 5-year-old dogs. The first dog experienced melena, inappetence, and a little rise un serum creatinine content (2 mg/dl; reference range = 0.6 to 1.4 mg/dl) after receiving naproxen at a dose of 13.9 mg/kg. It is probable that the azotemia in this dog was prerenal in origin according to the presence of GI symptoms. The second dog experienced vomiting and azotemia after receiving 14.2 mg/kg of naproxen. With a urine specific gravity of 1.008, a BUN level of 64 mg/dl (reference range: 7 to 26 mg/dl), and a serum creatinine level of 5.8 mg/dl (reference range: 0.6 to 1.4 mg/dl), it can be assumed that the isosthenuria is of renal origin.
Both times, the APCC recommended GI-protective drugs (sucralfate, H2 blockers, and misoprostol) as well as fluid diuresis. After consultation, these patients’ actual treatments and results were not disclosed. 8
According to the APCC data, a single dose of 7 mg/kg or more can result in clinical symptoms of GI irritation and ulceration (vomiting, diarrhea, melena, anorexia), whereas doses between 13 and 15 mg/kg can result in azotemia. The majority of the time, GI side effects appear within two to 24 hours, while renal side effects appear within 24 to 48 hours. 8 Concurrent use of additional NSAIDs or corticosteroids raises the likelihood of negative GI or renal consequences. 4 If renal insufficiency is already evident, elderly people may also be more susceptible to negative renal consequences. 4
DECONTAMINATION
For a dose of less than 7 mg/kg in a dog, decontamination might not be necessary, but it could lower the risk of GI irritation. Apomorphine (0.03 mg/kg intravenously; or, in the conjunctival sac, 0.25 mg/kg after dissolving the tablet in saline solution) or 3% hydrogen peroxide (2 ml/kg orally with a maximum of 50 ml) can be used to induce emesis if naproxen consumption was recent (less than two hours) and the patient exhibits no clinical signs. Consider employing activated charcoal (1 to 3 g/kg orally) if emesis is ineffective. 2
Consider giving activated charcoal (1 to 3 g/kg orally) if the patient shows no clinical indications and the consumption happened more than two hours before the evaluation. Activated charcoal should be taken with a cathartic for the first time. A cathartic should not be administered with repeated doses of activated charcoal, especially if the patient is dehydrated or has diarrhea. 10
An initial dose of activated charcoal (1 to 3 g/kg orally) may be followed by half the first dosage every six to eight hours for 24 to 48 hours following consumption in dogs whose naproxen ingestions were greater than 13 mg/kg in order to stop any enterohepatic recirculation.
MONITORING AND TREATMENT
If activated charcoal is used, keep a close eye on the serum sodium level because this medication may cause hypernatremia. 10 Clinical signs of hypernatremia include muscle tremors, fasiculations, and convulsions. Give the patient access to water if they are not throwing up. 11 The APCC advises warm-water enemas in addition to the administration of the proper intravenous fluids if hypernatremia develops in order to reduce the serum sodium concentration and the consequent detrimental effects on the central nervous system. 12
Sucralfate (0.5 to 1 g orally t.i.d.), misoprostol (2 to 5 g/kg orally every 8 to 12 hours), famotidine (0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg orally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously b.i.d.), or omeprazole (0.5 to 1 mg/kg orally once a day) can be used in conjunction to start GI protection.
2 Due to naproxen in dogs’ lengthy half-life, continue giving GI-protective drugs for at least seven to fourteen days. Antiemetics can be used to stop vomiting as needed. 12 Colloid treatment or blood transfusions might be required if a severe stomach ulceration forms. 4
Before beginning fluid diuresis, get a baseline serum chemistry profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis with a urine specific gravity for dosages where unfavorable renal consequences are possible. At 24, 48, and 72 hours, repeat a kidney panel (BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolyte values). If necessary, repeat the complete blood count and urinalysis. Intravenous fluid diuresis should start. The APCC advises twice-daily maintenance fluids for at least 72 hours due to naproxen’s prolonged half-life in dogs. After 72 hours, if the renal panel values are within the reference range, reduce the rate of fluid administration progressively during the following 24 hours.
Following NSAID exposure in humans4 and naproxen intoxication in dogs, increased liver enzyme activity has been documented.
6 If there are noticeable increases in liver enzyme activity, keep an eye on liver enzyme function and start taking liver-protective drugs. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) can be given orally once day at a dose of 20 mg/kg.
