Aspirin
ToxicAspirin causes GI bleeding, kidney injury, hyperthermia, and seizures in dogs. Merck reports that an acute ingestion of 450 mg/kg can produce GI disturbances, hyperthermia, panting, seizures, or coma.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Do not offer as a treat
There is no recommended treat portion for this hazardous item. If swallowed, contact a vet with the amount, time and product details. Do not induce vomiting yourself.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Black, tarry stool
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Panting
- Overheating
- Weakness
- Pale gums or mucous membranes
- Raised nitrogen waste in blood
- Seizures
- Blood clotting disorder
More about this food
Aspirin carries a dangerous piece of folklore: because veterinarians once used it in dogs, owners assume a little is fine. Dogs now have their own approved NSAIDs, and aspirin is not a drug to dose out of your own cabinet.
The Merck Veterinary Manual states that acute aspirin ingestion of 450 mg/kg in dogs can result in GI disturbances, hyperthermia, panting, seizures, or coma. For an 11 lb dog that is 2,250 mg, roughly seven 325 mg tablets. Pet Poison Helpline lists the signs of aspirin poisoning as gastrointestinal signs, respiratory changes, elevated body temperature, bone marrow suppression, kidney failure, and central nervous system signs. Large single ingestions are not the only problem — repeated low doses erode the stomach lining and cause bleeding.
The bottle most likely to be involved in an American house is 81 mg low-dose "baby aspirin," often in an easy-open bottle on a nightstand, sometimes chewable and flavored. Enteric-coated tablets are designed to dissolve in the intestine rather than the stomach, so signs can start later than you expect; a dog that looks normal for a few hours is not necessarily out of the woods. Watch for the hidden sources too: Excedrin combines aspirin with acetaminophen and caffeine, and Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate contain bismuth subsalicylate, which is a salicylate.
One more thing sets aspirin apart. It suppresses platelet function for the life of the platelet, so when an ulcer does bleed it does not clot well, and a dog headed for surgery or a dental is at extra risk. Black tarry stool, coffee-ground vomit, pale gums, panting with a high temperature — all of those mean go now.
Write down the product, the strength (81 mg or 325 mg), how many tablets are missing, the time, and your dog's weight, then call your veterinarian, an emergency clinic, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Bring the bottle. Do not induce vomiting at home. Decontamination, activated charcoal, gastroprotectants, IV fluids, and monitoring of temperature and kidney values are veterinary decisions.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog ate one 81 mg baby aspirin. Should I panic?
- That is about 16 mg/kg for an 11 lb dog, far below Merck's 450 mg/kg acute figure, so it is unlikely to be a crisis — but it is not a safe dose either, and enteric coating delays absorption. Call your vet with the weight and count, and go in for vomiting, black stool, or lethargy.
- My vet recommended aspirin for my dog years ago. Can I still use it?
- Do not dose it yourself. Dogs now have approved NSAIDs that are safer for the stomach and kidneys, and aspirin's effect on platelets makes bleeding harder to control. If your dog is in pain, get a current prescription sized to his weight and bloodwork.
- He chewed the bottle open and I don't know how many he ate.
- Count what is left and subtract from the original fill count to get a worst-case number. You do not need certainty — give the clinic the maximum possible dose and let them plan for it. Bring the bottle and remaining tablets, and do not induce vomiting at home.