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Originally Posted by 107barney  Nancy you are correct that tylenol is only toxic to dogs at a certain dose per their body weight. Since the possibility exists that owners may exceed the dosage, I would not give it. There are many other drugs that can help with pain so I think that would be the best way to go. |
That's correct. Read on...
Acetaminophen is a medication commonly used to alleviate fever and pain. Common brands include Tylenol®, Percoset®, aspirin free Excedrin® and various sinus, cold and flu medications.
Dogs most commonly receive toxic amounts of acetaminophen because owners medicate them without consulting a veterinarian. They also consume tablets that are dropped on the floor or left lying around.
Dogs are less sensitive to acetaminophen than cats. For example, a 50 pound dog would need to ingest over seven 500 mg tablets in order to suffer toxic effects. In the cat, one 250 mg acetaminophen tablet could be fatal.
In addition to severe liver failure, acetaminophen causes damage to red blood cells.
Acetaminophen Toxicity in Dogs
In all of my life, I've never used it. I would be afraid to. If someone gave it to a liver-compromised dog and didn't know they had liver problems yet, it could be fatal.