My dog ate acetaminophen—what should I do?
Call a vet nowCall your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage in dogs.
What to do right now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
- Note what was eaten, how much and when.
- Bring the packaging.
- Keep your dog calm.
- Remove any acetaminophen left within reach.
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
Dogs can suffer red blood cell damage from acetaminophen and are more likely to get liver damage.[1] Acetaminophen is found in some prescription pain medicines as well as over-the-counter products for pain and fever.[2]
Signs to watch for
Where it is found
What the experts say
“Dogs and cats can suffer both forms of side effects from acetaminophen, but cats are more prone to red blood cell damage while dogs are more likely to get liver damage.”
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 acetaminophen is dangerous for a dog?
The permitted numeric dose information is for cats, and no dog-specific amount is provided here.[3]
What signs should I watch for?
Dogs can suffer red blood cell damage and are more likely to get liver damage.[1]
How soon will signs start?
When signs start is not stated in the available information.
Sources
- US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine
- Pet Poison Helpline
- Glutathione in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in cats, Open Vet J 2013
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
Adder bite (Vipera berus)
Anticoagulant rodenticides