My dog ate ibuprofen – what should I do?
Call a vet nowCall your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Doses above 400 mg/kg have been associated with seizures, coma, and shock (Source 2).
What to do right now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
- Note what, how much, and when your dog ate.
- Bring the packaging.
- Keep your dog calm.
- Remove what is left.
Don't
- Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Do not give any human medicine.
Why it can be dangerous
Ibuprofen is a human-specific, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and should not be administered to companion animals.[1] In one study, gastrointestinal, kidney, and central nervous system toxic doses were defined as above 25, 100, and 400 mg/kg, respectively.[3]
Signs to watch for
What the experts say
“Ingestion of ibuprofen doses ranging from 25 to 125 mg/kg may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and anorexia.”
Not sure how serious it is?
OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.
OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.
Common questions
How much ibuprofen is dangerous?
In one study, gastrointestinal toxicity was defined above 25 mg/kg, kidney toxicity above 100 mg/kg, and central nervous system toxicity above 400 mg/kg.[3]
What signs can ibuprofen cause?
Reported signs include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, blood in vomit, black stool, acute kidney failure, seizures, coma, and shock.[2]
How soon will signs start?
The provided facts do not state when signs start.
Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline
- In vitro evaluation of ILE on three canine toxicants, Front Vet Sci 2024
- Outcomes of 434 dogs with NSAID toxicosis, J Vet Intern Med 2023
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages
Insecticides