Assess the situation
Fill in what you know. Estimates are fine, exact numbers are better. Keep the packaging nearby for your call.
Emergency vet or poison control: which do I call?
Treatment works best when started early, often before any signs appear. Vets commonly induce vomiting, give activated charcoal and stomach protectants, and start IV fluids to protect the kidneys at higher doses.
Go straight to an emergency vet if…
- Your dog is vomiting (especially blood), has black or tarry stool, is weak, wobbly, or having a seizure
- The estimated dose is in the Emergency range
- Your dog is older or has known kidney, liver, or stomach problems
- A poison control consultation or your vet has told you to bring the dog in
Call poison control first if…
- Your dog just ate the pills and seems normal
- You are unsure of the tablet strength or how many were eaten
- The product was a combination medicine (cold and flu, sleep aid) with other ingredients
- You want a case number and treatment plan to hand to your vet
How ibuprofen toxicosis develops
Ibuprofen blocks the prostaglandins that protect the stomach lining and keep blood flowing to the kidneys. Higher doses add kidney and then nervous system effects.
Stomach and gut signs
- Vomiting, sometimes with blood
- Diarrhea or black, tarry stool
- Abdominal pain, loss of appetite
Kidney injury (higher doses)
- Increased or decreased thirst and urination
- Lethargy, poor appetite
- Kidney values on bloodwork may rise before signs appear
Nervous system signs
- Wobbliness, depression
- Seizures or coma
- Shock
Published case data behind these estimates
These figures come from the Merck Veterinary Manual and ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxicology briefs. They describe documented clinical thresholds for a single acute ingestion, not a line between "safe" and "dangerous."
| Single ibuprofen dose | Documented clinical effect |
|---|---|
| ≥ 25 mg/kg | Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, GI ulceration reported (ASPCA APCC) |
| ≥ 175 mg/kg | Increased risk of acute kidney injury, plus GI bleeding |
| > 400 mg/kg | Seizures, wobbliness, coma, in addition to kidney and GI signs |
| > 600 mg/kg | Potentially lethal |
This calculator uses: under 25 mg/kg = contact a professional now; 25 to under 175 mg/kg = Urgent; 175 mg/kg and above = Emergency. Older dogs and dogs with kidney disease can be affected at lower doses.