Apiretal is one of the formats in which we can find a well-known active ingredient on the market. This is paracetamol, a very common and widely used drug, present in many homes. It's easy to get, as it can be purchased over the counter at any pharmacy, and people often use it for relief of mild to moderate pain or fever.
However, human medicine is not the same as veterinary medicine. Therefore, in this article on our site we are going to explain if is apiretal good for dogs or not.
What is apiretal?
As we go on, apiretal is paracetamol, also known by the name of acetaminophen. It is a drug that is included in the group of drugs known as analgesics and antipyretics, that is, it acts against pain and fever, but has no anti-inflammatory effect. Its use is common in human medicine, but the truth is that apiretal for dogs is little used, as other safer drugs are available.
Is apiretal good for dogs?
Although it seems obvious, at this point we must remember that a dog is not the same as a human. Their metabolism or their ability to process the drug in the body is not the same as that of a person. For this reason, we should never give him any of our medicines. That they can be bought without a prescription, that they are in practically all home medicine cabinets or that we consume them ourselves frequently and that they work successfully for us, does not imply, in any case, that they act in the same way or serve the same dosage in a dog. Let us not assimilate, therefore, that we can self-medicate them without anything happening, since we could be responsible for serious intoxication.
In the specific case that we are dealing with, apiretal for dogs, there are safer options and specially formulated for this species that they will offer efficacy and safety and that the veterinarian can prescribe us before the apiretal. In any case, the decision to medicate the dog with apiretal can only be made by the veterinarian.
In addition, we cannot lose sight of the fact that treatments are prescribed for a reason, that is, it is essential to have a previous diagnosis. The effect of apiretal is analgesic and antipyretic, so its use would be justified only in cases of pain or fever. If we have not confirmed that this is what is happening to our dog, it may even be counterproductive to medicate it. In summary, giving our dog apiretal without veterinary advice can cause intoxication
What is apiretal used for in dogs?
Apiretal, given its analgesic and antipyretic properties, is used to combat pain rated mild to moderate, as well asfever states In this regard, it must be taken into account that it is difficult to assess the intensity of the dog's pain and that fever can only be determined using a thermometer and not, for example, by controlling the temperature or humidity of the snout. On the other hand, the normal temperature of the dog is between 37.8 and 39.2 ºC, it is not like ours. If we overlook these aspects, it is easy for us to make a mistake if we intend to solve a he alth problem by giving apiretal to the dog.
Dose of apiretal for dogs
We insist that only the veterinarian has the ability to decide if our dog can take or not apiretal and only he can prescribe the dose most appropriate, after examining the specific case and the characteristics of our dog. On average, we can talk about 10-20 mg for each kg of weight two or three times a day, but only the veterinarian can indicate the appropriate dosage and we must follow his instructions to the letter to avoid scares. Also keep in mind that apiretal can be found in tablets or syrup.
Side effects of Apiretal for dogs
Consumption of apiretal can cause different adverse effects in our dog, especially when too high a dose is administered that it will not be able to metabolize or eliminate. Perhaps the most notable is the damage that can occur in the liver and the destruction of red blood cells, which also ends up compromising oxygen transport. Specifically, in the liver it causes what is known as hepatocellular cytolysis, which is the destruction of the cells of this organ. This effect, called hemolysis, also occurs in red blood cells.
In dogs, apiretal can cause loss of appetite and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or abdominal pain, in addition to respiratory difficulties, yellowing of the mucous membranes or jaundice, edema or fluid accumulation, tachycardia or bluish mucous membranes or cyanosis. In the most serious cases shock may occur These clinical signs may appear as early as 4 hours after consumption of apiretal and death may occur within 2-3 days. It is essential to go to the vet.
We must bear in mind that it is relatively easy for dogs to become intoxicated, since the dose that a dog can tolerate is much lower than what works for humans. A small dog could suffer from poisoning if we give him a paracetamol pill. But intoxication is not always due to an overdose given by the caregiver. Sometimes the dog ingests the drug in its exploratory zeal. Hence the importance of keeping the first-aid kit out of the reach of dogs.
