Important
Human medications including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can be harmful to dogs. Contact a veterinarian, emergency veterinary hospital, or animal poison control immediately.
Overview
Many common human medications are not safe for dogs and can cause stomach ulcers, kidney injury, or other serious effects. The dose relative to your dog's weight and the specific medication matter. Prompt veterinary or poison control guidance helps determine whether evaluation is needed.
Recommended timing
Act now — seek emergency veterinary care immediately if any severe signs above are present.
When emergency veterinary care may be appropriate
- Any ingestion of ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, or unknown human pills
- You find chewed packaging or missing pills
- Your dog is vomiting, lethargic, or in pain
- You are unsure of the dose or number of pills eaten
- Your dog is small or has existing kidney or liver conditions
What to tell your veterinarian
- The medication name and strength (mg per pill)
- Estimated number of pills eaten
- Time since ingestion
- Your dog's weight and age
- Any symptoms currently present
- Bring the medication bottle if possible
What to have ready
- Your pet's current weight (or a recent estimate)
- List of medications your pet takes
- When symptoms started or when exposure occurred
- Any packaging, labels, or product information (for toxins or foreign objects)
- Photos or videos of symptoms, if safe to capture
- Medication bottle with strength (mg per pill)
What not to do
- Do not wait for symptoms before calling
- Do not induce vomiting unless specifically directed by a professional
- Do not assume one pill is harmless for all dog sizes
- Do not give other medications to counteract the ingestion
Learn more from trusted sources
These are educational resources from licensed veterinary organizations and animal poison control experts. Paw Navigator is not affiliated with or endorsed by these third-party sites.