Aspirin for Dogs
Aspirin for Canine Arthritis, Aspirin is used in dogs generally for arthritis pain or even hip dysplasia. Aspirin has it is benefits and drawbacks when used in dogs. Special instructions should be followed when using aspirin to treat inflammation in dogs.
The benefits of administering buffered aspirin for your dogs include temporary relief of pain and swelling or inflammation caused by injury, surgery etc. Aspirin is is an (NSAID) which will aid in pain relief and make your dog at ease. Aspirin should be administered with meals to reduce any stomach irritation and should never be combined with other dog medications. Buffered aspirin is the recommended usage of aspirin to reduce further irritation in dogs. The usual dosage is 5 to 10 milligrams per pound of body weight every 12 hours with food and this dosage should never be surpassed.
Aspirin for Canine Arthritis
Canine Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease often followed by chronic pain for the dog. Your dog can pick up arthritis at any point in his or her lifetime. Due to cartilage loss your dog will show joint weakness. symptoms of canine arthritis include limping, sleeping all the time, weight gain due to inactivity and stiff joints. You will also notice that your dog may refuse to or will have difficulty climbing up and down the stairs. Your doctor may prescribe Aspirin for pain relief, read on for the side effects of Aspirin and other choices available for your canine.
Side Effects of Aspirin for Dogs
Side effects of aspirin may include ulcers, lethargy, vomiting, lack of appetite or blood in stools. Always consult with your Vet on the proper dosage and timing of this drug as it could possibly cause more harm than good. You cannot just give your dog buffered aspirin yourself as some dogs are allergic to it and the consequences could be kidney failure or death. Aspirin in higher dosages is toxic to dogs even baby aspirin can be poisonous for small dogs. In case your dog consumes aspirin you must admit them to a animal hospital immediately and your vet will try to induce vomiting and give fluid 
therapy to treat it.
There is a wealth of information about proper aspirin usage in dogs and canine arthritis in the following website Aspirin and canine Arthritis . If you have any questions refer to this site and your local veterinarian.
If aspirin is prescribed by a veterinarian be sure to ask questions such as the correct dosage,length of medication and other drugs or foods to avoid while your pet is on Aspirin. When aspirin is prescribed by a veterinarian there is usually follow up visits for physical checkups. During these checkups, a blood test and urine test will be done to make sure everything is alright with your dog.
Alternatives to Aspirin for Dogs
Aspirin, Carprofen and Etodolac all are good treatment for a small period of time however prolonged treatments will require drugs that are natural and safe for dogs such as Arthro-lonx and Glyco Flex. A herbal remedy along with bone supporting vitamins such as glucosamine and chondrotin is more beneficial for dogs in the long run. As a dog owner, one of the best thing that you could do to help your arthritis prone dog is to keep them at their ideal weight. Ideal weight equals less stress on joints of your dog thus providing better pain management. For diseases such as Hip Dysplasia, permanent treatment is possible such as surgery. Although surgery may cost anywhere from $3000 – $8000, it is one of the best treatments available for your dog.
