Had a very traumatic night last night, thought it was worth sharing in case anyone ever finds themselves in this situation.... plus, we need some sympathy

Popped out for 10 minutes last night, left dogs in hall as usual.  Came home to find an open bedroom door (it was definitely shut when I left, it seems the catch has broken), and a chewed, now empty pack of ibuprofen... There had been at least 8 200mg ibuprofen tablets in it.  Really couldn't be sure which dog had got them, although had a good idea it was Mr. Pupster who has an obsession with finding new, shiny 'precious' items.  Frantic phone call to the vets, they phoned poison control, and said to rush all 3 in to induce vomiting asap. 

Of course, on inspecting the puke, we found it was Melvin aka Mr. Pupster aka Gollum, and I had two very disgruntled older dogs on my hands who had lost their dinner for no good reason.  Melvin is now on some syrup to make sure no lasting damage has been done to his stomach.

The vet was told that the toxic dose for dogs is just 10mg per kg body weight.  So for my 35 kg labs, less than 2 x 200mg tablets could have been lethal.  I knew Ibuprofen was dangerous, but didn't realise how little was needed for toxicity... Just thought I'd post this as it's probably good info to have!! 

I'm so thankful I was only out for 10 mins, and they were all out of him within 30 mins... who knows what could have happened if I'd been out longer   If only they'd learn their lesson after eating something they shouldn't!!

Clare

What a fright for you..................so glad it has turned out okay and there are no ill effects.

Karen

I can sympathise.

I had a similar thing happen. I was only out of the room for a few minutes and my 3 had managed to get to my pack of paracetamol which was in a zipped compartment of my handbag.  I wasnt sure how many were in the pack or which one of them had eaten them (although I had my suspicions which one it was). All 3 were rushed to the vet and Jake, who is travel sick and also the one who I suspected had eaten the pills, was sick as we arrived at the vets. All of them were fine but I must say I spent quite a few days fretting and watching their every move just in case.

Why is it if we want them to take pills, even just a worming tablet we have to hide it or practically force it down them yet paracetamol and ibuprofen which I would have thought hardly has an appealing taste, they will eat for without problems!!

Glad it all worked out happily for you.
jane

Clare, I cannot begin to imagine the panic you must have felt, trust it to be Melvin (Rolleyes).. Just glad that your speedy action meant all ended well..

I assume Melvin will get his comeuppance from the others when they give him a well deserved beating up

The other two are still sulking, so no beatings from them yet.  Can you imagine, being dragged from your warm cosey sleep on the sofa at 10.30pm, only to go the the vet... and get weighed (embarrassing for fatties like Amber), and then all of a sudden have to puke your guts out on the pavement outside... and all when you've done nothing but mind your own business.  Poor things... think I need to do some serious grovelling!!

Glad mine aren't the only dogs that get up to things like this... I felt like a very, very, very bad owner last night

Glad they are all OK now. Mine haven't actually eaten any tablets but they have nicked my repeat prescription bag of pills from the worktop, ripped open the bag and proceeded to spread the packs around the garden. Found one packet 6 months later hidden behind a tree!!

Treacle once managed to open my bedside drawer and steal the half of a large bar of Cadbury's Turkish delight chocolate that I had kept to eat the next night (how virtuous ).  She had no ill effects so I didn't know whether to be pleased about that or annoyed that she had eaten it . Didn't know setters noses were so finely attuned to chocolate!

Good warning about the ibuprofen though - its easy to forget how bad these things can be for dogs.

Oh dear I can imagine the sulks you must be getting, I never knew thay would pinch stuff like tablets, I'll be more careful, the most we get is chewed plastic bottle tops and very gingerly poohing afterwards.

The other two dogs must be in a right huff!!

If one had got into my bedside table the only chokkie would have ben exlax - bet that would have made an impact!!

this is awful, hope to god they are all ok. my vet has always advised me to give mine (leo) an ibuprofen for growing pains, or minor lameness, panosteitis etc, to save on the bill for consultation and a dose of metacam. he said one in morning with food will relieve pain all day as they are inflamatories. fair enough my breed is a lot bigger so the mg:kg ratio is a lot smaller. but still, makes me wonder if im doing the right thing, i think in the future i'll spend the 40 quid rather than risk my boys life. having said all this, i know what its like to have a stomach ulcer and i wouldnt wish the pain on any dog. (could name a few people tho lol)

I cannot say categorically that "Terrierman" is right on this one, but I did grill him regarding his research and I was convinced enough to now occasionally use very short-term, low-dose ibruprofen (and aspirin) to treat my own dogs.

http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2008/05/rimadyl-relief-for-swollen-wallet.html

Jemima

> I cannot say categorically that "Terrierman" is right on this one, but I did grill him regarding his research and I was convinced enough to now occasionally use very short-term, low-dose ibruprofen (and aspirin) to treat my own dogs.

I had to go the vets, Maxie ate my letterbox this morning. So I asked him about the Ibruprofen as seen on terrierman and he said the aspirin is ok but not more than 300mg for a labrador sized dog, but definately not ibuprofen. Rimadyl can be purchased from other sources cheaper than from the vet, the only thing to be aware of is whether the company selling the rimadyl is UK based or not, as you could fall foul of customs and excise, as one dog owner found out, when they informed her she could be sent to prison for importing drugs. As it was a "first offence" she was let off with a caution.

Also if ibuprofen is very toxic would you by giving it with out veterinary guidance be contravening the Animal Welfare Act? Interesting one, since I know the RSPCA have removed dogs who were overweight, so why not dogs who are being given a poison?

You're very lucky to have returned home so quickly.  I had a scare when my 5 year old was a pup ... found a chomped paracetamol tablet plastic container on the floor.  2 tablets still in the plastic, but didn't know whether there had been more attached.  Immediately rang the vet in a panic.  Apparently just 1 paracetamol tablet would have been enough to kill her.  It doesn't matter how careful you are, and how pup tight you may think your house is, they have ways and means of making your blood pressure rise!
Glad all's well now.

Polly I've looked at the toxicity data and it involves doses way higher than anything Terrierman is recommending - at least 10 times higher. Many drugs that are safe at low doses are very toxic at higher ones (in fact that goes for most things, even water).

Please note that I am NOT recommending that anyone gives ibruprofen to their dog as clearly there are dangers (as few as 3 x 200mg tablets will kill a dog and far lower doses than that can cause gastric problems). The safety margin is a narrow one. What I am saying is that there is evidence to suggest that at very low doses, it may be useful for short-term pain-relief.

Individual vets are not always experts. Mine recently admitted to throwing her dogs the raisins out of her breakfast meusli. She was very embarrassed when she checked with the poisons unit to find just how toxic they can be in some dogs.

I am in the main a big fan of vets, but one can hardly blame them for advising against something that costs 30p a packet bought over the counter, especially when it's coupled with the clear, documented risk at high doses and the risk that your average owner might easily get the dose wrong.

Jemima

Polly, isn't rimadyl a POM?
Like any other NSAID can have quite nasty side effects. Ive seen it cause malaena in dogs. It certainly shouldn't be used if dogs have other complications, pregnant etc without veterinary advice. I don't think people should be self prescribing for their dogs without veterinary advice.

Giving any painkiller without first seeing the vet would be self prescribing.
Rimadyl is a POM but can be bought cheaper with a prescription obtained form the vet which is I am sure what Polly meant.

Cheers Satincollie

gosh what a fright useful to know about ibroprofen, I knew cats and asprin was bad newa but not this one for odgs.
I knoew of  a colleague who came home to  find a little toy breed (I forget what 0 had eaten a whole packet of contraceptive pills fortunately all though unwell the dog recovered with know long lasting effectsf

> Polly, isn't rimadyl a POM?

Yes it is but you do not have to buy it from your vet. You can buy it from other sources provided you have a prescription from your vet.

Hi, just been doing some unrelated research on the internet, and came across this:

Ibuprofen (Nurofen®). NEVER GIVE THIS TO A DOG. Although it is one of the safest NSAIDs used in man, it is toxic to the kidney in the dog, at doses close to those used therapeutically. There is no reason to use ibuprofen in dogs! It is unlicensed, and there are safer and more effective drugs available.

Just in case anyone is in any doubt regarding the danger of Ibuprofen to dogs.  From http://www.vetrica.com/care/dog/hipdysplasia.shtml