Can I give my dog or cat Tylenol (acetaminophen)?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on March 18, 2025.
Under a vets care, Tylenol (acetaminophen) can be used for fever and mild pain in dogs, but is fatal to cats and should NEVER be given to them.
Dogs can be sensitive to acetaminophen, too. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage in both dogs and cats and lower the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. In fact, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin resulted in roughly 10,000 calls to animal poison control centers in 2008.
Always get specific pet medicine instructions from your veterinarian. Do not attempt to extrapolate dosing from humans to pets; always ask your vet for the right dose.
Keep all forms of acetaminophen and other over-the-counter (OTC) medications (tablets, liquid, capsules) out of reach of your pet. And remember, acetaminophen is often combined with other OTC medications, like cold and flu treatments, so keep them out of reach of pets, too.
Read next
Acetaminophen vs paracetamol: What do you need to know?
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) found in the U.S is the same medicine as paracetamol (Panadol) used throughout many regions of the world, including Europe, Australia, India and New Zealand. Acetaminophen and paracetamol are the generic names of medicines used to treat mild pain, headache and fever. Continue reading
Advil (ibuprofen) & Tylenol (acetaminophen) together, safe?
Yes, it is safe to take ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) together if you need to for extra pain relief, such as for a dental extraction. Taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen together works better to relieve pain than taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen separately. This is because they work in different ways with few side effects. Continue reading
What is paracetamol / Panadol called in the US?
Paracetamol is known as acetaminophen in the U.S. Acetaminophen relieves mild-to-moderate pain, headache and fever. It's available over-the-counter as brand names such as Tylenol, Mapap or Panadol, and also as generics and store-specific brands. There are no differences in the chemical or therapeutics uses of acetaminophen and paracetamol, although recommended doses or available products may differ between countries. Continue reading
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