What can I give my dog for pain? (Tips)

In this brief article, we will be discussing what can I give my dog for pain, medications that I can give to my dog for pain, the benefits of giving medications to my dog for pain, and more information about what can I give my dog for pain.

Medications that I can give my dog for pain

Dogs are also prone to get fatigued as people do. There are different medications that you can get for your dog when he or she is suffering form this kind of condition.

These kinds of medications should be given at the proper dosages to the affected dog. The following are these medications: 

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or NSAIDs help minimize swelling, stiffness, and joint pain in humans and they can do the same for your affected dog. These medications can bring relief to a dog with arthritis or one who’s just had surgery as recorded.

But don’t give your pooch something from your medicine cabinet as suggested by professionals. Do not give your dog ibuprofen or acetaminophen as requested by the professional.

There are some of the available medications just for affected dogs:

• carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl) as a NSAID
• deracoxib (Deramaxx)
• firocoxib (Previcox)
• meloxicam (Metacam)
  

These medications are typically safe for dogs and have few side effects. But in some cases, these medications can cause kidney, liver, or digestive complications.

You may be able to tell if your dog is having a bad reaction to this medication as observed. An easy way to remember the signs is with the word BEST which is meant for the following:

•  Behaviour changes
•  Eating less
•  Skin redness, scabs in the affected dog
•  Tarry stool/diarrhoea/vomiting in the affected dog
  

If you spot these symptoms, stop giving your dog the medication and call your vet immediately.

Aspirin for Dogs in Pain

Aspirin and baby aspirin are two human medications that usually come up first when the question arises on what to give your dog for pain. This medication is an over-the-counter NSAID as recorded. 

Your doctor may be ok of giving this medication to your dog for a limited amount of time but typically only if he has an injury or another short-term condition in affected dogs. This medication is not recommended for long-term use in dogs because it has a greater potential for side effects such as the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. 

The coated form of this medication is best on the stomach and give the pills with food. Talk to your vet and follow his or her recommendations on how much and how often of this medication.

It is true that your veterinarian may prescribe this medication for short-term pain relief from minor injuries or conditions in affected dogs. If advised by a veterinarian, dog owners should give their pup the coated form of this medication as it is easier on the stomach.

Additionally, this medication should always be given with food as necessary. Experts want to make sure that their readers know that this medication should never be given long-term or for chronic pain.

This medication poses a high risk of internal bleeding and kidney damage in affected dogs. Dog owners should always follow the dosage for dogs advised by their vet when it comes to this medication.

Ibuprofen for Dogs in Pain

Ibuprofen is another NSAID that is usually safe for human consumption when used as directed as necessary. This medication is used to treat a wide range of ailments such as fever, arthritis pain, and inflammation.

However, pet owners should never give their dog this medication for pain management as it can cause many serious health complications such as stomach ulceration which can lead to a fatal stomach rupture, kidney failure, seizures, and coma as reported. You can see how critical it is for dog owners to recognize that a medication that is safe for humans can have devastating consequences for their pups in the long run.

A type of Ibuprofen, Ibuprofen 1-2 pill is used to relieve pain and migraines. However, it is not used with dogs but humans, because it might be dangerous for them.

Aleve for Dogs in Pain

This medication is an absolute no-no in terms of treating pain in affected dogs. This medication is also an NSAID that can cause terrible side effects for your already distressed pooch in the way.

You need to get away from this medication if you are looking for medications for pain in your affected dog.

Other Medications

Because NSAIDs are typically good at relieving pain, veterinarians don’t usually prescribe other kinds of painkillers. Of course, your affected dog may need other options such as the following prescribed by veterinarians:

•  Gabapentin treats pain from damaged nerves in humans and dogs as a medication. This medication may make your dog sleepy for the first few days but that typically goes away. Sometimes your vet will prescribe this medication along with other medications. People who want their dog to have instant relief from pain, in cases of emergency want to know ‘How long does it take for Gabapentin to start working?’
•  Tramadol is a painkiller that works partly like other mild opioid medications as observed. Vets sometimes give this medication to aging dogs with persistent discomfort. Some side effects that may happen include an upset stomach, vomiting and dizziness. Talk to your vet if you are worried about these effects.
• Tylenol
  

Veterinarians give stronger opiates only for a short while to affected dogs. They typically don’t prescribe steroids for pain as they can have serious side effects in affected dogs. You can also give Dilaudid in cases of severe pain.

Steroids and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen should never be used together for affected dogs. Tramadol is a medication that relieves pain in affected dogs. 

Although it is typically prescribed, experts have a few concerns with this medication that they want to bring to your attention. First, veterinarians advise that pet owners must slowly wean their affected dogs off of this medication when the pain has subsided.

This is because this medication has some pretty awful withdrawal side effects that may be just as awful as the pain that it was supposed to be helping in the affected dog.

The following are these side effects:

• Chills
  
• Nausea
  
• Diarrhoea
  
• Vomiting
  
• Tremors
  
• Jittery feeling
  
• Respiratory issues
  
  

The following are the side effects of this medication:

• Anxiety
  
• Nausea
  
• Diarrhoea
  
• Tremors
  
• Vomiting
  
• Drowsiness
  
• Appetite loss
  
• Constipation
  
• Convulsions
  
• Slowed heart rate as a side effect
  
• Respiration issues
   
• Rashes and skin irritations as side effects
  
  

Furthermore, there are certain dogs such as those that are pregnant or nursing, that should, under no circumstances, take this medication. For these reasons, you can see why experts don’t love the idea of dog owners giving their pup this medication for pain management.

Gabapentin is another typically prescribed medication that vets usually recommend for older dogs that are suffering from neuropathic pain, chronic pain, or seizures. Although this medication is prescribed for a wide array of ailments and has been known to treat these ailments rather effectively, it also has its fair share of side effects of which dog owners should be aware all the time.

The following are these side effects:

• Diarrhoea
  
• Vomiting
  
• Depression
  
• Bulging eyes
  
• Lethargy or sedation as a side effect
  
• Loss of coordination (wobbliness) as a side effect
  
  

For these reasons, among others, experts always advise readers to proceed with caution when it comes to treating their fur babies with conventional medications such as this medication.

Ketamine is another pain killer, given to reduce pain. But it isn’t used for dogs.

Supplements

Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin are very popular alternative treatments for affected dogs. It’s not clear if these medications help but some research has found that they may make swelling go down and help cartilage repair itself. 

Thery also may help protect and lubricate existing cartilage in affected dogs. Always talk to your vet before giving your dog any medications such as these supplements.

Ask for a written copy of the treatment plan as well as instructions and a demonstration for how to give the medications to your affected pet. Be sure to give the medication only as your vet recommends it. 

Too much or too little can cause complications in the affected dog. Don’t share medications between affected dogs as recommended. 

What’s good for one animal may not be the right thing for another based on the condition.
You may not be able to relieve all of your affected dog’s pain but you should be able to make him or her feel better. 

With your vet’s guidance, you may need to try different things to find out what brings the most relief for your affected dog.

Side effects of medications that I can give my dog for pain

There are things to consider when you are giving pain medications to your affected dog. You need to make sure that your affected dog is kept safe and healed with these kinds of medications.

These kinds of medications can have different side effects in your affected dog. The following are these side effects that you should consider:

• Changes in behavior as a side effect
  
• Loss of appetite as a side effect
  
• Skin redness
  
• Digestive concerns including diarrhea and vomiting as side effects
  
  

The vet may give you a leaflet information for you to take note of these medications and their effects.

Other risks to consider from these pain medications

There are also allergic reactions that can come from these kinds of medications. There are different ways to administer these medications to your affected dog but it is better to choose the safer option.

Are there alternatives to medications that I can give my dog for pain?

There are other alternatives such as natural supplements such as omega-3 fatty acid tablets. These kinds of tablets can be a part of your affected dog’s healthy diet.

These kinds of alternatives can only work when you are able to administer them regularly for once a day. You can also use the supplements that were mentioned above with the authority of your vet.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we have discussed what can I give my dog for pain, medications that I can give to my dog for pain, the benefits of giving medications to my dog for pain, and more information about what can I give my dog for pain.

If you have any questions about what can I give my dog for pain, please let us know and the team will gladly answer your queries.

FAQs: what can i give my dog for pain

Citations

Fetch. Pain Medications for Dogs.

Honest Paws. What Can I Give My Dog For Pain?.

Trupanion. Pain relief for dogs.