Can Dogs Have Tylenol? Acetaminophen Toxicity Calculator
Do not give your dog Tylenol (acetaminophen) unless your vet has prescribed an exact dose. Dogs process it poorly, and cats cannot process it at all. In dogs, liver damage has been reported from about 100 mg/kg and blood damage (methemoglobinemia) from about 200 mg/kg; in cats, as little as 10 mg/kg can be toxic.
This page does not calculate a dose to give. Enter your pet's weight and what they swallowed to estimate the exposure for your vet or a poison line.
Cats: acetaminophen is toxic to cats at as little as 10 mg/kg, which is less than one-quarter of a regular tablet for a typical cat. Any exposure in a cat is an emergency.
If your pet swallowed some, this calculator estimates how much they took per kilogram so you can tell the poison line or vet quickly. It does not calculate a dose to give.
Warnings before giving Tylenol
- Signs in dogs: vomiting, brown or grey gums, fast breathing, swelling of the face or paws, yellow gums or eyes a day or two later.
- Signs in cats: brown gums, face and paw swelling, struggling to breathe, often within hours.
- Many cold and flu products contain acetaminophen. Check every active ingredient.
Cats: acetaminophen is toxic to cats at as little as 10 mg/kg, which is less than one-quarter of a regular tablet for a typical cat. Any exposure in a cat is an emergency.
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Questions owners ask
Can I give my dog Tylenol for pain?
Not without a vet's exact instructions. Vets occasionally prescribe acetaminophen for dogs at carefully chosen doses, but safer pain relief made for dogs exists. Never give it to a cat.
How much Tylenol is toxic to a dog?
The Merck Veterinary Manual reports liver toxicity in dogs from about 100 mg/kg and methemoglobinemia from about 200 mg/kg. For a 20 lb (9 kg) dog, 100 mg/kg is about 900 mg, fewer than two Extra Strength tablets.
My cat licked a Tylenol. What should I do?
Treat it as an emergency. Call your vet, an emergency clinic, or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) right away. Do not wait for symptoms.