A popular TikToker known as Ben The Vet has issued a warning after a video which claimed it was safe to give pets ibuprofen was viewed over 300,000 times on the social media platform.
Newsweek has reached out to Ben The Vet via an online contact form for comment.
Why It Matters
Pets are a massive part of American life, with some 66 percent of households (86.9 million homes) owning one, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Veterinary costs for animals can be high, so it’s important for owners to stay up to date with correct medical advice.
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What To Know
A TikTok video which went viral in June claims that you can give pets the same medicine you give to children. It shows a person taking a plastic syringe out of bottle of ibuprofen meant for children.
In a clip shared to TikTok account @ben.the.vet, Ben says: “The advice given in this video is not correct.”
“Ibuprofen is not a safe painkiller to give to pets and it’s concerning to see how many views this video has had, and how many pets might be harmed by this advice.”
Dr. Alasdair Boag, a specialist in internal medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, Scotland, told Newsweek over email: “Ibuprofen is toxic to dogs because it is not removed from the body like in people. Ibuprofen is irritating to the lining of the stomach and intestines leading to bleeding and ulceration.”
Ben The Vet advises in his video that symptoms and sickness may not be immediately apparent after consuming ibuprofen. However, over time, these symptoms can build up.
He added that he thinks confusion may lie in the fact that there are some painkillers for humans which can be used in pets, if the right dose is administered. As an example, he said it can be OK to give paracetamol to dogs, but not cats. He added that paracetamol for pets is a “prescription-only medication.”
Symptoms of Ibuprofen Poisoning in Pets
According to the Pet Poison Helpline, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are designed for human usage and can be harmful to pets if they are ingested.
The helpline advises that symptoms of poisoning from these drugs can include:
- Black tarry stool
- Diarrhea
- Increased urination or thirst
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy
- Seizures
- Vomiting
What People Are Saying
Dr. Alasdair Boag, a specialist at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, Scotland, told Newsweek over email: “Ibuprofen can also lead to kidney failure in dogs. Both the ulceration and kidney failure can be fatal; dogs should never be given ibuprofen.”
Ben The Vet, speaking in his TikTok video: “Ibuprofen can be extremely toxic, particularly if given to small dogs or to cats. It can cause kidney failure, stomach ulceration, and it can be fatal.”
What Happens Next
The summer months can pose health risks to pets due to high temperatures and an increase in outdoor activity. Pet owners should be mindful of heatstroke and dehydration, as well as burned paws, pests and parasites.
