Expert: Kaza - 2/1/2009

Question
How often can I give my Bichon (15 years old) a baby aspirin. Daily? He has arthritis and weak knees. Norine

Answer
I am not a vet so cannot state officially, however buffered aspirin is what many owners use for dogs and the dose is as follows :

Aspirin has the same problems in dogs that it has in people. It can cause gastrointestinal upsets and ulcers if the GI signs are ignored. It can cause renal failure if overdosed. It causes an increase in clotting time. This usually isn't a serious side effect but it does occur. Despite these shortcomings it has a lot of beneficial effects and it is inexpensive. The currently recommended dosage of aspirin varies a little from publication to publication but it is between 5 and 15mg/lb every 12 hours. Since there is a range I usually pick the middle of it and go for about 10mg/lb every 12 hours. This works well and seems to be pretty safe. That works out to an aspirin tablet per 32 pounds of body weight twice a day. I have to admit that I rarely advise giving more than 2 aspirin twice a day despite the fact that some big dogs could obviously take more based on the per pound calculation.

Hope this helps

www.eurobichons.com


You may also give chondratina nd glucosamine for these conditions and they have a remarkable rate of succesful treatment. I would also give fish oils daily to help the joints.