Owners warned against giving human medications to pets

Key takeaways

• UK pet owners are increasingly searching online for home treatments, but giving dogs human paracetamol is extremely dangerous and can be toxic or fatal even in small amounts.

• Pets metabolise paracetamol differently from humans, meaning incorrect dosing can cause rapid, severe poisoning with symptoms appearing within hours and requiring immediate emergency veterinary care.

• With emergency vet visits rising in cost and frequency, pet insurance can provide crucial financial protection for owners facing urgent treatment after accidental poisoning.

Analysis of Google search data reveals that UK pet owners are increasingly looking online for ways to treat their pets at home, with searches for “can dogs take paracetamol?” reaching around 24,000 per year.

However, this seemingly innocent attempt to save money can be extremely dangerous for pets and can be toxic or even fatal if administered incorrectly.

Paracetamol: a dangerous risk that owners should avoid

Animals process medications differently from humans, meaning drugs that are safe for people can be harmful to pets.

For dogs, a therapeutic dose of paracetamol is around 15mg per kilogram, while a typical human doses of 150mg per kilogram can be lethal.¹

A single paracetamol tablet that you can get from a pharmacy or local shop typically contains 500mg of paracetamol, which is far more than the recommended dosage for small, medium, and even some large dog breeds.

Kara Gammell
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

Paracetamol is far from the only risk

Well-meaning owners may assume that if a medicine is safe for people, it must be safe for pets, but that simply isn’t true and even small misjudgements in dosing can lead to serious harm.

Occasionally, vets may prescribe a carefully calculated veterinary-specific formulation of medicines similar to paracetamol, but this is done on a case-by-case basis.

Pet owners should never attempt to use human painkillers at home. The risk of dosing incorrectly is very real.

Trying to save money by using human paracetamol instead of vet-prescribed medication can lead to a painful, emotional, and costly emergency visit – and, in the worst cases, a fatal outcome.

For owners worried about unexpected costs, pet insurance can help cover certain emergency treatments, depending on the policy.

Comparing policies on MoneySuperMarket can help you understand the level of cover available and find the right option for your pet.

What happens if I give my dog paracetamol?

Human paracetamol has the potential to poison pets and cause severe cellular damage.

In serious cases, where large amounts have been ingested – sometimes without the owner even realising – around one-third of fatalities occur within the first 24 to 72 hours.¹

If your pet has been given paracetamol - even unknowingly - you should seek emergency veterinary care immediately, and share as much information as possible with the vet, as even small delays can increase the risks.

Clinical signs may appear within four hours and can include vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, loss of appetite, difficulty standing, bluish gums or tongue, and a rapid heartbeat.

Acting quickly gives your pet the best possible chance of recovery, so don’t wait for symptoms to worsen before getting help.

Why insurance matters

Poisoning cases often require urgent emergency care, blood tests, hospitalisation, and intensive treatment, with costs that can quickly escalate into the hundreds or even thousands of pounds. 

With new MoneySuperMarket research revealing that a third (33%) of pet owners have made an emergency visit to the vet for cases like poisoning in the past year², insurance is more important now than ever.

Kara Gammell
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

Emergencies are when insurance helps the most

Emergency vet visits are typically more expensive than a routine appointment and with costs now averaging £268.92 - around 6% higher than last year.³

When a pet is sick or injured, their care will always be the priority but these rising costs can add extra pressure for owners at an already stressful time.

Pet insurance can provide valuable peace of mind, helping owners focus on their pet’s health rather than worrying about the financial impact of unexpected treatment.

<sup>Sources
1. Vets and clinics
2. Research conducted by YouGov in August 2025. 2,193 people were surveyed of which 1,115 were pet owners.
3. GovUK</sup>