When we as humans are suffering from aches and pains (or the occasional hangover) many of us tend to reach for that trusty bottle of aspirin. If it seems like a dog is in pain it can be tempting to offer them the same remedy, but is aspirin harmful or helpful to dogs?

According to vets, animals should not be given any medication without consulting with a member of their profession first. Dogs do feel pain and some dogs who suffer from arthritis seem to benefit from a dose of aspirin but only in very small dose supervised by a veterinarian.

Aspirin belongs to the NSAIDS (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) family and can cause gastrointestinal problems in humans, and these difficulties can be magnified in canine stomachs, sometimes with fatal consequences.  Many professionals in animal medicine prefer to use a supplement like Glucosamine to help ease an arthritic doggy’s joint pain. In fact, the substance together with Chondroitin Sulfate is essential for keeping canine joints healthy and flexible. There are a number of specialist dog foods that are fortified with the substances and you can also buy supplement tablets and liquids as well.

The pets that certainly should never be given aspirin are your cats. Cats simply do not have the capability to produce enough liver enzymes to break the aspiring down and even the smallest of doses can make them very ill and even prove fatal. Some people say that for cats who appear to be in a lot of pain ¼ of a baby aspirin a day is OK but the majority of vets advise that the risk not be taken, especially since any pain relief Fluffy might get from such a treatment would be minimal at best.