Pardale-V is a UK prescription analgesic containing 400 mg paracetamol and 9 mg codeine phosphate per tablet. It is used in dogs for the short-term management of moderate to severe pain, typically post-operatively or following injury.

Dosage Guidelines

The standard dose of Pardale-V for dogs is based on the paracetamol component at 33 mg/kg, which equates to approximately 1 tablet per 12 kg body weight, given up to 3 times daily. Treatment should be as short as possible.

⛔ Never Give to Cats

Paracetamol is highly toxic and potentially fatal to cats. Pardale-V must never be administered to cats under any circumstances. Keep all paracetamol-containing medications away from cats.

Precautions

Do not use with other paracetamol-containing products. Avoid in dogs with hepatic impairment. Codeine may cause constipation or sedation. This is a prescription-only medicine in the UK — only use under vet direction.

🇬🇧 UK Licensed · Combination Analgesic

Pardale-V for Dogs Dosage Calculator

Precise Pardale-V dosing for dogs — the UK-licensed paracetamol/codeine combination analgesic — covering tablet count by weight, maximum safe dose, treatment duration, and critical species and overdose safety information.

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CATS: PARDALE-V IS LETHAL TO CATS. Pardale-V contains paracetamol (acetaminophen), which is severely toxic to cats even in tiny doses. This medication is for DOGS ONLY. Keep out of reach of cats. Store securely and never share between species.

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UK prescription-only medicine (POM-V). Pardale-V must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon. Do not exceed the licensed dose. Contains both paracetamol and codeine — hepatotoxicity risk at overdose. Administer with food to reduce GI effects.

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About Paracetamol + Codeine (Pardale-V)

Drug Class

Analgesic Combination — COX Inhibitor + Opioid Analgesic

Mechanism of Action

Pardale-V combines two mechanisms: paracetamol inhibits COX-3 in the CNS for analgesic and antipyretic effects; codeine is a prodrug that is partially metabolised to morphine (via CYP2D6) and binds μ-opioid receptors in the CNS to provide additional analgesia. The combination provides multimodal analgesia for moderate pain.

Primary Uses in Dogs

Moderate acute pain relief in dogs (post-injury, dental extractions, post-operative). Licensed in the UK. Each tablet contains 400 mg paracetamol + 9 mg codeine.

Dosing Quick Reference

Indication	Dose	Frequency
Moderate pain	1 tablet / 12 kg	q8h PO with food
Minimum dose	0.5 tablet / dog	q8h (very small dogs)
Paracetamol content	33 mg/kg/dose	Based on licensed weight

Common Side Effects

Sedation from codeine component
Constipation (opioid effect)
Nausea and vomiting
Paracetamol hepatotoxicity at overdose
Respiratory depression at very high doses
Dependence with extended use

Monitoring

Liver enzymes (ALT) if used for more than 5 days or if lethargy/anorexia develops.

⚠️ NEVER give to cats — paracetamol is fatal in cats. Do not exceed recommended dose — paracetamol toxicity risk. Do not combine with other paracetamol-containing products (human cold/flu remedies). Short-term use only (max 5–7 days without reassessment). Prescription required in the UK.

What Is Pardale-V?

Pardale-V is a UK-licensed veterinary combination analgesic tablet containing paracetamol 400 mg + codeine phosphate 9 mg per tablet. It is the only licensed combination opioid-paracetamol product specifically approved for dogs in the UK, providing a two-pronged analgesic approach combining the central and peripheral mechanisms of both active ingredients.

Paracetamol (acetaminophen): Analgesic and antipyretic; exact mechanism not fully elucidated — believed to involve central COX inhibition, serotonergic descending pain modulation, and cannabinoid receptor pathways. Hepatically metabolised via glucuronidation, sulfation, and CYP2E1-mediated oxidation (the latter pathway produces toxic NAPQI). Dogs have adequate glucuronidation compared to cats, making paracetamol manageable at therapeutic doses in dogs — but hepatotoxicity occurs at overdose.

Codeine phosphate: A prodrug opioid; converted to morphine and codeine-6-glucuronide in the liver, providing additional central analgesic effect. The opioid component provides supplemental analgesia beyond what paracetamol alone achieves. Dogs convert codeine to morphine more efficiently than humans, but individual variation exists.

Licensed Dosing Information

Dose: 33 mg/kg paracetamol component (= approximately 1 tablet per 12 kg body weight)
More precisely: 1 tablet per 10–12 kg PO q8h (every 8 hours)
Maximum dose: Do not exceed 2 tablets per 12 kg per dose
Frequency: Every 8 hours (q8h)
Duration: Maximum 5 days continuous use without re-examination; short-term analgesia only
Minimum weight: Not recommended for dogs under 4 kg

Indications

Post-operative analgesia (soft tissue and orthopaedic)
Musculoskeletal pain (sprains, strains, traumatic injury)
Mild-to-moderate pain management when NSAIDs are contraindicated (renal disease, GI ulceration)
Adjunct to multimodal analgesia protocols

How to Use This Calculator

Confirm your dog weighs at least 4 kg — Pardale-V is not licensed for dogs under 4 kg
Confirm your dog is NOT a cat — paracetamol is lethal to cats
Enter your dog’s body weight in kg or lbs
The calculator will show the licensed tablet count per dose, daily total, and paracetamol component per dose for toxicity awareness
Click Calculate for full dosing breakdown

🧮 Pardale-V Dose Calculator

Dog’s WeightMinimum 4 kg — not licensed for smaller dogs

Weight Unit

Patient ConfirmationCATS: Pardale-V contains paracetamol — TOXIC TO CATS

Indication

Pardale-V Dosing Result

Tablets per dose

Pardale-V Tablet Count Quick Reference

Dog Weight	Tablets per Dose	Paracetamol per Dose	Codeine per Dose	Frequency
4–6 kg	½ tablet	200 mg	4.5 mg	q8h
7–9 kg	½–1 tablet	200–400 mg	4.5–9 mg	q8h
10–12 kg	1 tablet	400 mg	9 mg	q8h
13–18 kg	1½ tablets	600 mg	13.5 mg	q8h
19–24 kg	2 tablets	800 mg	18 mg	q8h
25–30 kg	2½ tablets	1000 mg	22.5 mg	q8h
31–36 kg	3 tablets	1200 mg	27 mg	q8h
37–42 kg	3½ tablets	1400 mg	31.5 mg	q8h
43–48 kg	4 tablets	1600 mg	36 mg	q8h

Frequently Asked Questions

Paracetamol is toxic to cats but dogs handle it significantly better due to more robust hepatic glucuronidation capacity. At the licensed dose (approximately 33 mg/kg q8h), the paracetamol component is well within the safe therapeutic range for dogs — clinical toxicity typically only occurs at doses exceeding 100 mg/kg or with repeated overdosing. Pardale-V is useful when NSAIDs are contraindicated (e.g., in dogs with GI ulceration or renal disease), providing moderate analgesia as an alternative. The codeine component adds additional analgesic effect through opioid mechanisms.

Pardale-V can generally be combined with gabapentin (neuropathic pain adjunct) or physiotherapy. Do NOT combine with NSAIDs if the dog has GI or renal concerns — if renal function is normal and GI protective measures are in place, some vets combine paracetamol with NSAIDs cautiously. Do NOT combine with other opioids or tramadol without veterinary guidance due to additive CNS and respiratory depression risk. Do NOT combine with other paracetamol-containing products — always check all concurrent medications for hidden paracetamol content.

Signs of paracetamol overdose include vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, muddy/brown/cyanotic mucous membranes (methemoglobinemia), facial swelling, and jaundice (from hepatic necrosis developing 24–72 hours post-ingestion). Signs of codeine overdose include excessive sedation, miosis (pinpoint pupils), respiratory depression, and bradycardia. If overdose is suspected at any dose: contact your vet immediately. Treatment includes N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for paracetamol toxicity and naloxone for opioid effects.

Pardale-V is licensed for short-term use (maximum 5 days without veterinary re-examination). Long-term continuous use is not recommended due to cumulative hepatotoxicity risk from the paracetamol component and risk of codeine tolerance/dependence. For chronic pain management (e.g., OA), licensed NSAIDs (meloxicam, carprofen) with liver and kidney monitoring are preferred for long-term use. If NSAIDs are contraindicated, consult a veterinary pain specialist for a multimodal chronic pain protocol.

Pardale-V is a UK-specific licensed veterinary product. In other countries, the paracetamol/codeine combination is not routinely licensed for veterinary use. In the USA, paracetamol (acetaminophen) combined with codeine is available as human generic products but is not licensed for dogs — use in the USA is strictly off-label and requires veterinary prescription and monitoring. In Australia and Europe, equivalent licensed veterinary analgesics (NSAIDs + gabapentin/tramadol combinations) are typically preferred. Always use only licensed or vet-prescribed medications appropriate for your country.

Yes — the codeine component of Pardale-V can reduce GI motility and cause constipation, particularly with higher doses or longer duration of treatment. This is a well-recognised opioid class effect. If constipation becomes problematic, ensure adequate hydration, consider adding fibre to the diet, and discuss lactulose supplementation with your vet if needed. Codeine can also occasionally cause nausea and vomiting, especially if given on an empty stomach — always administer Pardale-V with food to minimise these effects.

References

Pardale-V (paracetamol/codeine) Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). Dechra Veterinary Products Ltd.; 2023.
Plumb DC. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed. Wiley-Blackwell; 2018.
Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed. Elsevier; 2016.
KuKanich B, Wiese AJ. Opioids. In: Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, 5th ed. Wiley-Blackwell; 2015.
Mburu DN, et al. Disposition and clinical use of paracetamol in dogs. Vet Rec. 1988;122(7):158-160.
BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. 10th ed. British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2020.