Can naproxen be used for dogs?

In this article:

• Uses
• Safety
• Dosage
• Alternatives
• Summary

In this article

• Uses
• Safety
• Dosage
• Alternatives
• Summary

Naproxen is a popular over-the-counter pain reliever sold under the brand name Aleve. It belongs to a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that includes aspirin and ibuprofen. Naproxen can quickly harm a dog. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook advises veterinarians only to prescribe naproxen to dogs with osteoarthritis when no safer pain reliever is effective. Because of the risk of severe side effects, such as severe gastrointestinal or kidney damage, many veterinarians will never give naproxen to a dog. Pet caregivers should never give their dog naproxen or any other human painkiller except when prescribed by a veterinarian.

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What is naproxen used for in dogs?

Veterinarians rarely use naproxen in dogs because of the risk of serious side effects. When they use it, naproxen relieves pain and swelling due to osteoarthritis. Veterinary guidelines suggest naproxen should only be a drug of last resort after other pain relievers have failed.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common problem in dogs, particularly as they age. It occurs when cartilage in joints wears down, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. About 2.5% of dogs evaluated by veterinary professionals are diagnosed with arthritis. However, post-mortem studies estimate that about 1 in 5 dogs has some degree of osteoarthritis. 

Veterinarians use many treatments to help osteoarthritic dogs. For pain management, veterinarians usually prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a first-line therapy. NSAIDs block enzymes called cyclooxygenases. These enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2, synthesize prostaglandins, the chemicals responsible for swelling and pain. 

Veterinarians do not use NSAIDs familiar to most of us, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, because of the risk of serious side effects. Instead, they use NSAIDs FDA-approved for use in dogs, such as carprofen, grapiprant, or meloxicam. 

Because of the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney problems, nervous system effects, and blood abnormalities, veterinarians only give naproxen to dogs when other NSAIDs and pain relievers aren’t working. Many veterinarians consider it too unsafe to use in dogs.

Is naproxen safe for dogs?

Naproxen is not considered safe for dogs. In dogs, naproxen can cause serious problems such as digestive system bleeding, kidney problems, liver problems, and blood problems.

Naproxen should never be used in any dog with:

• Kidney disease or a history of kidney disease
• Liver disease or a history of liver disease
• Blood disorders or a history of blood disorders
• Active stomach or duodenal ulcers
• Hypersensitivity to naproxen

Veterinarians use naproxen with caution in all dogs, particularly dogs with:

• A history of stomach or duodenal ulcers
• Heart failure

Side effects of naproxen in dogs

Naproxen has an unusually long half-life in dogs (about 35–74 hours), so dogs are very sensitive to side effects. The most common side effects NSAIDs cause in dogs are:

• Vomiting (emesis)
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Decreased physical activity

Over a short period, naproxen can cause serious side effects such as:

• Gastrointestinal ulceration
• Gastrointestinal bleeding 
• Gastrointestinal perforation
• Kidney damage or kidney failure
• Liver dysfunction 
• Anemia

Stop giving the dog naproxen and get the dog immediate veterinary care if you notice symptoms of a serious side effect, including:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Blood in the vomit
• Black and tarry stools
• Abdominal pain
• Distress
• Sluggishness
• Signs of blood loss, such as pale gums

Interactions of naproxen with other pet meds

Dogs are very sensitive to the adverse effects of naproxen. Some drug interactions could increase the risk and severity of these side effects, including:

• Other NSAIDs
• Corticosteroids 
• Drugs that damage the kidneys 
• Diuretics

Because naproxen is a risky drug, tell the veterinarian about all the drugs, remedies, supplements, and food the dog is receiving. 

Naproxen dosage for dogs

Veterinarians are unlikely to prescribe naproxen unless other NSAIDs are ineffective at managing osteoarthritis pain. Veterinarians can choose other pain medications that are less likely to cause side effects. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Manual notes that “many clinicians feel that the drug [naproxen] should not be used in this species [dogs].”

• For osteoarthritis pain: 2 mg/kg once every 48 hours

Can dogs overdose on naproxen?

Dogs can easily overdose on naproxen because they are more sensitive to its effects than humans. However, most cases of canine naproxen poisoning are due to people independently giving their dog human-formulated naproxen several days in a row. Because dogs eliminate naproxen very slowly, naproxen builds up in the body, particularly in small animals. The adverse effects can be very severe and even life-threatening, including gastrointestinal damage, renal damage, liver damage, and anemia. 

Dogs that show clinical signs of naproxen toxicity need to be seen immediately by a veterinarian. These include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Blood in the vomit
• Black and tarry stools (melena)
• Lethargy

A severe naproxen overdose will have many of the above symptoms along with neurological problems such as:

• Depression
• Weakness
• Sleepiness
• Seizures

If a dog has been given human-sized doses of naproxen or accidentally ingested naproxen, immediately call an ASPCA animal poison control center, veterinarian, or veterinary emergency hospital.

Can I give my dog naproxen every day?

No. 

When prescribed by a veterinarian, naproxen is given to dogs every other day. 

It can take a dog 1 to 2 weeks to eliminate the effects of a single dose of naproxen. With daily dosing, naproxen rapidly builds up in the dog’s body and can cause severe adverse reactions. 

Never give a dog naproxen or any other human medication until you’ve talked to a veterinarian. Most reported cases of canine naproxen poisoning are due to owners giving their dogs human naproxen daily. A week of daily naproxen can send a dog to the veterinary hospital.

How to give your dog naproxen

The first rule for giving a dog naproxen is this:

• Never give a dog naproxen unless a veterinarian prescribes it.

When prescribed by a veterinarian, consider naproxen to be a risky drug that some veterinarians never use. Pet parents must be careful to get the doses right:

• Follow all the veterinarian’s instructions.
• Doses are given every other day. Giving doses more frequently can harm the dog, so make sure you keep track of doses and stick to the dosing schedule.
• If you don’t know how to give a dog a tablet, ask a veterinary assistant to demonstrate.
• If using naproxen oral suspension:
  • Shake the bottle well before measuring a dose
  • Always use a calibrated oral syringe to measure the dose; do not use kitchen utensils or measuring devices
• Ask the veterinarian what to do in case a dose is missed.
  • If you miss a dose and don’t know what to do, call the veterinarian.
  • Never give the dog two doses of naproxen to make up for a missed dose.
• Watch the dog carefully:
  • The veterinarian will tell you what to look for.
  • If symptoms don’t improve, tell the veterinarian. The drug may need to be discontinued.
  • If you notice signs of side effects, call the veterinarian. The drug may need to be discontinued.

Naproxen alternatives for dogs

Naproxen is only meant to be used when safer NSAIDs are ineffective. Dog-safe prescription NSAIDs include:

• Carprofen (brand names include Carofenvet, Carprieve, Carprovet, Flexprofen, Levafen, Movodyl, Novox, Ostifen, Quellin, Rimadyl, Rovera, Truprofen, Vetprofen): Comes as a tablet, chewable tablet, flavored tablet, caplet, or injection
• Deracoxib (Coxiba, Deramaxx, Doxidyl, Ostimax, Rederox): Available only as a chewable tablet
• Firocoxib (Firovet, Firox, Flexira, Osticoxib, Previcox): Chewable tablet only
• Grapiprant (Galliprant): Tablet only
• Meloxicam (Alloxate, Loxicom, Meloxidyl, Meloxivet, Metacam, Ostilox): The only human NSAID approved for use in dogs; administered as an oral liquid or an injection 

If a dog is prescribed naproxen, chances are these dog-safe NSAIDs have already been tried. Instead of using naproxen, veterinarians can choose to use other painkillers for osteoarthritis in dogs, including:

• Gabapentin
• Amantadine
• Tramadol 
• Acetaminophen-codeine 

Veterinarians use a variety of therapies to manage osteoarthritis in dogs. Many of these treatments help to relieve pain, including:

• Weight loss
• Low-intensity physical activity
• Rehabilitation (physical therapy)
• Joint supplements such as glucosamine-chondroitin or omega-3 fatty acids
• Disease-modifying agents such as corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid injections into the joints, and platelet-rich plasma injections
• Surgery

Summary

Though safe in humans, naproxen for dogs is not considered safe. Veterinarians use it only as a last-resort pain reliever to treat osteoarthritic dogs, if they use it at all. The most important takeaway is this: never give a dog naproxen unless a veterinarian prescribes it.