Common brand names for the over-the-counter NSAID naproxen include Aleve and Midol. Naproxen-containing prescription drugs that can be taken as tablets, capsules, or liquids Although naproxen is safe for human use, it is extremely poisonous to dogs and cats due to its small margin of safety (which means it is extremely potent). Even in a large dog, as little as one 220mg tablet can result in very serious symptoms or even death.
When dogs or cats consume naproxen, it can cause acute kidney failure and severe gastrointestinal ulcers (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 abdomen, weakness, pale gums (from anemia), and lethargy. The pet could become septic and die if the digestive tract ruptures or perforates as a result of severe ulcers. Rarely, coma, facial twitching in cats, depression, seizures, and seizures may also take place.
Never give naproxen to your dog or cat. Call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline right away for life-saving treatment recommendations if you believe your pet has been poisoned with naproxen. The sooner you treat naproxen poisoning, the better the outcome.
The content of this page is not veterinary advice. Several elements (such as the amount of substance consumed, the size of the animal, allergies, etc.) ) determine what is toxic to a particular pet. Make a call to the Pet Poison Helpline or seek immediate veterinary care if you believe your pet has consumed something potentially harmful.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Aleve?
You might only have a brief window of time to react if your dog consumes Aleve. Within 30 minutes to three hours, Aleve can enter the bloodstream.
Even one pill taken at a low dose can have serious side effects within two to 24 hours, and taking too much can result in kidney failure with a short time to live.
Here are a few of the side effects you may see if your dog consumes Aleve:
Call an emergency veterinarian right away if you know or suspect that your dog has taken Aleve. If your dog has recently consumed Aleve, the vet may advise you to induce vomiting, possibly using hydrogen peroxide.
They might also suggest giving your dog activated charcoal to help it absorb some of the medication. You should take your dog to the emergency veterinarian as soon as you can, whether or not they dog vomits up the Aleve.
If an emergency vet isn’t available, you can also try the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline by calling (888) 426-4435. There may be a charge associated with using this service, but it could be the difference between life and death for your dog. This service is available all day, every day of the year.
How Is Aleve Bad For Dogs?
Even a low dose of Aleve can cause fatal side effects in dogs.
The difference between a safe dose and a potentially lethal dose is so small that you should never give it to your dog without veterinary supervision. In extremely rare circumstances, when all other painkillers have failed, veterinarians may use it.
If you do take Aleve, store it in a location that your dog can’t possibly access.
The following are a few health issues that dogs who consume Aleve may experience.
Can My Dog Suffer From Kidney Failure From Taking Aleve?
Hormones called prostaglandins regulate kidney blood flow and filtration. Aleve blocks the production of these hormones. Aleve poisoning increases the risk of kidney failure or dysfunction in dogs.
Even in dogs, kidneys are quite resilient. This means kidney dysfunction is reversible in your pet dog. The dog’s veterinarian will keep an eye on the dog’s blood and urine levels if kidney failure develops. This is done for a few days. IV treatment is recommended for kidney recovery. You must keep in mind that taking large doses of Aleve can damage your kidneys permanently and irreparably, leading to kidney failure.
FAQ
Will 1 Aleve hurt a dog?
People frequently use ibuprofen and naproxen to treat their pain, fever, and inflammation. Sadly, these medications can be extremely poisonous (toxic) to cats and dogs. When a cat or dog consumes enough of one of these drugs to have negative effects on their body, it is said to have toxicosis.
How much Aleve can I give my dog?
Ibuprofen is frequently found in Advil and Motrin, while naproxen is present in Aleve. The potential for toxicity makes it inappropriate to administer these products to animals. Always consult your veterinarian before giving your pet any medication. Ibuprofen tablets with a 200 mg dose can be toxic to cats and smaller dogs in small amounts.
What can I give my dog to relieve her pain?
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There are some of the available NSAIDs just for dogs:
- carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl)
- deracoxib (Deramaxx)
- firocoxib (Previcox)
- meloxicam (Metacam )
- grapipant (Galliprant)
Can you give a dog a half of Aleve?
Even small doses of naproxen, which is sold under the trade name Aleve, are toxic to dogs; just one pill can result in fatal internal bleeding and kidney damage. Approximately 50% of pet poisonings are brought on by human prescription drugs. These medications were developed for and tested on humans, not on dogs or other animals.