Pets & Tylenol

Tylenol, also known as acetaminophen, is a drug used in humans to reduce pain, fever and inflammation. This compound is safe and useful in many human applications, however, it can be extremely toxic to pets. Companion pets lack the liver enzymes necessary to break down the drug and eliminate it from the body.

  1. Cats

    • Kittens

      Cats do possess the same liver enzymes as humans do, however the level of these enzymes in a cat's system is not enough to rid the body of the metabolites caused by the partial breakdown of the drug, which causes destruction of the red blood cells in the body.

    Dogs

    • Dogs that consume acetaminophen generally experience tissue cell damage due to the overload of metabolites in the system. All tissues in a dog's system can be affected including the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and stomach.

    Symptoms of Ingestion

    • Symptoms of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, abdominal pain and muscle weakness. Since Tylenol has been known to cause bleeding in the stomach, you may notice blood in the vomit or stool.

    Toxicity

    • The toxic dosage of Tylenol for cats is only 40 mg for an average 8-lb. cat, while the toxic level of Tylenol for dogs is higher, making it less likely for a dog over 10 lbs. to ingest a fatal dose.

    Alternative Medications

    • Tylenol is not prescribed to cats or dogs for any reason. Other NSAID drugs are prescribed to cats and dogs to reduce fever and to alleviate pain and inflammation including aspirin (in dogs) and ketoprofen in cats. Do not administer any over-the-counter medication to your pet without consulting your veterinarian first. Dosages for these and all other medications vary greatly for pets.