In humans, paracetamol and ibuprofen are highly effective drugs in reducing pain and fever.
In humans, paracetamol and ibuprofen are highly effective drugs in reducing pain and fever, but are poisonous to our dogs and cats. In these animals paracetamol destroys liver and blood cells and damages the kidneys. This is primarily due to differences in metabolic pathways between humans and dogs/cats.
Ibuprofen inhibits prostaglandin secretion which is important for the repair and protection of the stomach and intestine. Toxicity may cause gastric ulceration, kidney impairment and in high doses seizures and coma. Signs may develop within the first 4-6 hours after ingestion and progress over the next 12 hours to 4 days.