GIVING PETS ASPIRIN CAN CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS

QUESTION:

When my cat was young she suffered a broken leg. Now she is getting older and at times seems a little stiff in that leg. I think she is probably suffering a little from arthritis. Someone told me not to give her aspirin. Is it safe to give my cat aspirin?

ANSWER:

Aspirin can be given to cats however the dose is very critical. Any more than the recommended amount could have very bad side effects. In cats the correct dose is 6 milligrams per kilogram of body weight using enteric coated aspirin and given only once every 72 hours. For those not into the metric system of computing dosages this translates into one baby aspirin per average adult cat every three days.

The cat dose is quite a bit lower than the dog dose of 25 milligram per kilograms of body weight up to three times each day of enteric coated aspirin. This is equivalent to an adult size aspirin to a 30 pound dog.

Aspirin can cause gastric irritation so if there is any sign of vomiting or diarrhea the medication should be stopped. Giving enteric coated aspirin helps prevent this as does giving it with a little something to eat.

It is important that only aspirin be used in cats especially. Tylenol or Ibuprofen should not be substituted. These medications are not safe to use. Dogs can receive Tylenol but not Ibuprofen. A good practice is to contact your veterinarian before using any anti-inflammatory medication.