Managing pain for humans is very easy, thanks to easy access to many effective painkillers like Aspirin and Ibuprofen from any local drugstore. However, for pets, you might be wondering what can you give a dog for pain.
The answer to that is not that easy, but we’ll explore the various medications that dogs can take for pain relief. We’ll also look at what medicines are contraindicated for dogs.
What Signs Does Your Dog Show When It’s in Pain?
The first step to figuring out what can you give a dog for pain relief is to find out where they’re suffering. This will help you stay a step ahead of whatever disease or ailment is causing the issue, and keep track of whether the pain is getting better or not.
If your dog is in severe pain, it may limp, yelp, or pull away when you touch the painful area. These signs require immediate intervention by a vet before the condition of your dog worsens. These symptoms may not show if your pet’s condition hasn’t reached a critical stage, or if they are trying to hide their pain as a survival mechanism.
More subtle signs of pain that pet owners can potentially notice indicating your pet is in pain include:
- Weakness and lethargy
- Hunched posture
- Shaking or trembling
- Being less social than normal
- Behavior changes toward owners and other pets
- Sleeping more than normal
- Humping behavior
Upon detecting these signs, the best course of action is to consult your vet. Since these signs overlap with those that indicate infection and fear, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a dog showing these signs is in pain.
What Can You Give a Dog For Pain?
Both dogs and humans are warm-blooded mammals, so their basic physiology is similar. That’s why you might see some familiar-sounding drugs in this article, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
However, the specific mechanism of action of these drugs, as well as their dosage and metabolism is very different for humans and pets, despite having the same name. That’s why you should avoid giving your dog any commonly used over-the-counter painkillers, as they can cause more harm to your dog, and even be potentially lethal.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
More commonly known as NSAIDs, these are the go-to painkillers for dogs and humans. They are advised in cases of arthritis and any other disease or injury that causes swelling and inflammation.
There are specific side effects to using NSAIDs that you should look out for when giving these medications to your dog. These include vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney and liver damage.
NSAIDs include:
- Carprofen (Rimadyl)
- Firocoxib (Previcox)
- Deracoxib (Deramaxx)
- Meloxicam (Metacam)
Certain NSAIDs like Aspirin and Ibuprofen should be avoided under all circumstances.
Opioids
Oral opioids are not as effective for pain relief as other medications, nor do they help with musculoskeletal inflammation so they are generally avoided. There is also the increasing issue of humans abusing pet opioids due to their narcotic and euphoric effects.
The most common use of opioids is through injection during or after surgery for instant (but short-lived) pain relief. Long-term use of opioids is ill-advised due to their addictive properties and the need for increasingly stronger doses with each administration.
Oral opioids include:
- Buprenorphine
- Tramadol
- Codeine
- Fentanyl
Supplements
You’ll find various supplements targeted toward dogs. These are marketed to be natural and harmless, but it’s important to consult your vet who can guide you on which supplements are safe and helpful for your dog.
CBD (Cannabidiol)
This drug comes from marijuana, but it doesn’t contain the active reagent that causes delirium (THC). Instead, it acts as an effective pain reliever when given in appropriate doses. It’s best advised for arthritis-related pain in older dogs, but its efficacy varies from brand to brand.
Joint Supplements
These include Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate. Both of these compounds occur naturally in your dog’s body, and their purpose is to protect cartilage.
Using joint supplements can help your dog with arthritic joint pain and they are available over the counter. These can also be used in cases of hip joint dysplasia and various spinal cord injuries.
Fish Oil
Used more often as a preventative supplement, fish oil can help slow down the development of various painful diseases like arthritis, skin diseases, heart and kidney diseases, and even diabetes. It also possesses anti-inflammatory benefits and is available over the counter.
While fish oil won’t provide instant pain relief, giving your dog fish oil supplements might prove beneficial in the long run.
What Medications Shouldn’t Be Given to Your Dog?
Many of the discussed medicines can be used by humans and dogs. However, just as lasagna shouldn’t be given to your dog, there are a few medications you should never give your dog under any circumstances.
These include:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen (Aleve)
The risk of toxicity of these medicines outweighs any potential benefits for your dog. Misuse can lead to stomach ulcers, liver failure and kidney failure, and other generalized adverse effects. Ibuprofen is specifically contraindicated in dogs due to its extremely narrow margin of safety.
Substitute Pain Therapies for Your Dog
When determining what can you give a dog for pain relief, it’s important to consider substitute pain therapies. For dogs that are allergic to certain medications, or if the pet owners aren’t keen on giving their pets a bunch of tablets can go for alternative therapies. These can be used in combination with medications or to provide better and long-lasting relief from chronic pain.
Alternative therapies include:
- Chiropractic care
- Laser therapy
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Neuromuscular stimulation
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Physical therapy
- Underwater treadmill rehabilitation
- Passive range of motion
- Cold therapy
These methods of pain relief are best managed with the help of your vet. Always ensure that the proper technique is employed when conducting these therapies. Overdoing any of them can lead to more harm than good.
Conclusion
Every pet owner knows how difficult it is to see your pet in pain. Rushing to the local drugstore or your medicine cabinet and getting some over-the-counter painkillers like Aspirin might seem like the best thing to do for your pet. However, most human medications can have severe toxic effects on your dog and can lead to irreversible complications.
So you might be asking yourself, what can you give a dog for pain?
The first step is to figure out if your dog is in pain using the signs discussed above. Instead of buying medications yourself, consult your vet for an accurate diagnosis and a proper cure.