What Pet Parents Should Know About
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are very useful to help with pain relief and to decrease inflammation. In general, the NSAIDs that are commonly given to people (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen) are not safe to give to dogs and cats. There are a number of NSAIDs specifically formulated for use in dogs that are safer and more effective. NSAID use in cats is problematic and will be discussed below.

Why is it not a good idea for me to give my dog aspirin as a pain reliever?

Although we used to prescribe aspirin for dogs with arthritis, we found that there were some unwelcome side-effects to the use of aspirin. Here are two of the common problems that we see with aspirin use:

1. Stomach and intestinal ulcers – These ulcers may not be apparent, or may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and blood loss; we see this whether or not the aspirin is coated

2. Increased bleeding tendencies -- Aspirin affects platelet function and impairs blood clot formation. This is why aspirin is frequently used in people during a heart attack. Decreased clotting ability is an undesired effect in any dog who has an injury or needs to undergo surgery.

Another drawback to use of aspirin in dogs is that it limits when we can start any other NSAID or steroid medication. Dogs appear to be more sensitive to the negative gastrointestinal effects of NSAIDs than people tend to be. So typically, we cannot give one form of NSAID on one day, and then give a different form the next day without seeing some significant negative effects. (These effects are typically vomiting or diarrhea that may or may not contain blood; in severe cases we have seen perforating ulcers). Most veterinarians will attempt to rest the gastrointestinal tract with 2 to 7 days of no NSAID administration before switching to a new NSAID or steroid medication.

There are situations where your veterinarian may still prescribe aspirin. We recommend that you discuss aspirin therapy with your veterinarian so that you fully understand any potential side-effects or drug interactions

Commonly prescribed NSAIDs for dogs include the following:
Carprofen (Rimadyl®)
Deracoxib (Deramaxx®)
Firocoxib (Previcox®)
Meloxicam (Metacam®)
Tepoxalin (Zubrin®)
Piroxicam (Feldene®)
(click on the drug to see the drug information sheet)

Cats and NSAID use

Cats are deficient in the enzyme glucuronyl transferase and consequently take a long time to metabolize aspirin. For this reason, aspirin is generally not considered to be safe to use in cats.

Cats also seem to be especially sensitive to the negative effects that NSAIDs may have on the kidneys. The only NSAID that has been approved by the FDA for use in cats is meloxicam. To make sure that the dosage and administration schedule is correct for your cat, we recommend that you follow the guidelines given to you by your veterinarian.

NSAID Summary

Overall, NSAIDs are very useful as a component of arthritis management in dogs and can be very beneficial as adjunctive post-operative pain and inflammation relief in dogs and cats. It is also crucial to remember that NSAIDs are drugs, and all drugs have the potential to cause serious side-effects. It is important to work closely with your veterinarian, and seek proper guidance before administering any kind of NSAID to your pet.