Aspirin has been used for years as a treatment for arthritis in the dog. Aspirin seems to relieve the pain and help the animal. Of course, since you can buy aspirin anywhere it is presumed to be safe. Nothing is further from the truth. Most of us are becoming aware of the danger of gastric ulcers from aspirin. A single aspirin given to a medium size dog will cause pinpoint ulceration in the stomach. What is more alarming is what it does to the joints. While aspirin relieves the pain temporally it inhibits the normal healing of the joint. This inhibition actually accelerates and causes further degeneration of the joint (first documented in the American Journal of Medicine. 83(5A): 29-34, 1987 Nov 20). Otherwords our pets get short-term relief as we help encourage the destruction of their joints. This aspirin therapy is encouraged by individuals including veterinarians trying to save you money all at your pet’s expense. There are many excellent alternatives including prescription medications, nutraceuticals, massage therapy and acupuncture.