Can I give my dog or cat ibuprofen or other human anti-inflammatories?
They can irritate the stomach and cause kidney problems. Never give human medicines.
DogDangerous
CatDangerous
Call your vet right away, even if your pet seems fine.Signs can show up hours or days later. This page helps you on the phone: it doesn’t replace the vet.
What the sources say
- No. Many human anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen and naproxen, are highly toxic to animals (PDSA).
- If your pet swallowed a human painkiller by accident, call your vet or a poison helpline right away.
- Even anti-inflammatories made for pets should be given only when your vet prescribes them, exactly as your vet says.
Who to call: the numbers Search something else
What to do now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now, even if your pet seems fine: signs can take hours or days to show.
- Move your pet away from what it ate and take away what's left. If some is still in its mouth, offer a toy so it lets go.
- If the substance is on its fur or skin, wash it off with a mild shampoo and water, then rinse well and dry.
- Keep the packaging, the label or a piece of the plant, or take a photo, and bring it with you.
- Tell the vet what your pet swallowed, roughly how much and when.
What not to do
- Don't make it vomit unless the vet tells you to.
- Don't use salt water: it's extremely dangerous.
- Don't try to treat your pet yourself or give it medicines: some medicines for people and other animals are poisonous to pets.
- Don't wait for signs to appear.
Sources
- PDSA, “Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)” (checked on October 9, 2026)
- PDSA, “First aid for poisons and toxins” (checked on October 9, 2026)
- RSPCA, “Poisoning in dogs” (checked on October 9, 2026)
- RSPCA, “Poisoning in cats” (checked on October 9, 2026)