Why it's dangerous
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that causes severe gastrointestinal ulceration and can lead to acute kidney and liver failure due to high sensitivity in pets.
Toxic compound: Ibuprofen
How vets treat it
If the ingestion was recent and your dog is stable, the vet will usually make it vomit, which works best within about two hours. Dogs that are already vomiting or showing nervous-system signs aren't made to vomit. Activated charcoal is often given in repeated doses, because ibuprofen keeps cycling between the liver and the gut. Stomach protectants, often for 1 to 2 weeks, guard against ulcers: acid reducers such as famotidine or omeprazole, sucralfate to coat ulcers, and misoprostol. If the dose is high enough to harm the kidneys, your dog stays on a drip (IV fluids), often for at least 48 hours, with repeated blood and urine tests. Severe cases may also need anti-nausea and anti-seizure medicines and blood pressure support. For very large ingestions, vets may use an IV lipid (fat) emulsion or blood-cleaning treatments such as plasma exchange.
Outlook
Most dogs recover with prompt, aggressive treatment. The outlook depends on how much your dog swallowed, how severe the signs are and how quickly treatment starts, and delays make serious outcomes more likely. Large ingestions can be fatal.
Where pets are exposed
- Ibuprofen is sold under brand names such as Advil and Motrin, and as Nurofen in the UK. Some Midol products also contain it. It belongs to the group of drugs called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
- Tablets, capsules, chewables, children's liquids, and gels or creams for the skin. Prescription tablets can be as strong as 800 mg.
- Combination cold and flu remedies, which can contain ibuprofen along with decongestants, antihistamines, opioids or acetaminophen.
- Pill bottles a dog can chew open. This is the most common way dogs are poisoned, and some tablets have a sweet coating that dogs happily eat.
- A dose given by an owner for pain, sometimes in the belief that it is safer than aspirin. Cats are less likely to get into medicine on their own, and many cat poisonings happen this way.
Prevention
- Never give ibuprofen to a dog or cat without your vet's advice. The same goes for any human pain reliever.
- Ask your vet about pain relief made for pets. Vets can prescribe anti-inflammatories made for dogs.
- Store all medicines out of pets' reach. Dogs can chew through pill bottles.
- Never give ibuprofen on top of an anti-inflammatory or steroid your pet already takes.
Good to know
Cats are particularly poorly tolerant of NSAIDs, which can result in severe kidney failure even with repeated small doses. Dog-specific NSAIDs like Rimadyl or Metacam should be used instead under supervision.
Common questions
Can I give my dog ibuprofen for pain?
No. Never give ibuprofen to a pet without your vet's advice. The Merck Veterinary Manual says it is no longer recommended in dogs because it can cause stomach ulcers and perforations, and even repeated low doses have caused ulcers. Ask your vet for a pain medicine made for dogs instead.
How much ibuprofen is toxic to a dog?
Stomach upset and ulcers can start from about 25 mg/kg, according to the ASPCA, while Merck gives a higher starting point of 100 to 125 mg/kg. Kidney failure becomes a risk above about 175 mg/kg, or lower in older dogs and dogs with kidney problems. Seizures and coma can occur above 400 mg/kg, and about 600 mg/kg can be fatal. Your vet works out the dose from the tablet strength and your dog's weight, so call with the packaging to hand.
Is ibuprofen dangerous for cats?
Yes. Cats are thought to be about twice as sensitive to ibuprofen as dogs, because their bodies can't process it well, and they tend to have more serious poisonings. Treat any amount your cat swallows as an emergency and call your vet straight away.
Are Advil, Motrin and Nurofen toxic to dogs and cats?
Yes. Advil and Motrin are brand names for ibuprofen, and so is Nurofen in the UK, so they carry the same risks. Call your vet or a pet poison line now, and keep the packaging so the vet can check the tablet strength.
How long after eating ibuprofen will my dog show symptoms?
Ibuprofen reaches its peak level in the blood 30 minutes to 3 hours after a dog swallows it. Vomiting, belly pain and diarrhea can appear within 24 hours, and kidney damage can show on urine tests in as little as 18 hours. Don't wait for symptoms: waiting can lead to complications and even death.
Should I make my pet throw up after eating ibuprofen?
Not unless a vet tells you to. Call your vet or a poison line first. Vets often make a dog vomit when the ingestion was recent and the dog is stable, but that is their decision. Never try to make a cat vomit at home.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Toxicoses From Human Analgesics in Animals
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Toxicology Brief: Ibuprofen toxicosis in dogs, cats, and ferrets (Veterinary Medicine, 2004)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Toxicology Brief: The 10 most common toxicoses in dogs (Veterinary Medicine, 2006)
- ASPCApro (ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center) — Understanding the Many Dangers of Ibuprofen for Cats and Dogs
- Pet Poison Helpline — Ibuprofen
- Pet Poison Helpline — Is Giving Dogs Ibuprofen Safe?
- NHS (UK National Health Service) — Ibuprofen for adults (Nurofen)
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Ibuprofen Poisoning in Cats
- Pet Poison Helpline
This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.
