Pain Medication For Dogs

If you notice your dog isn't quite himself lately, it could be because he’s in pain. He could have an injury, an infection, or a disease. Or maybe he's starting to feel the aches of ageing.

It can be hard to distinguish how much pain your dog is in as they can sometimes hide it well. If only they could talk to us to tell us why they’re hurting. When they’re in pain you obviously want to help them.

It’s always best to see your vet to find out what’s wrong as there may be internal issues and you can’t see exactly what’s causing it.

There are different ways to help ease his pain. Your vet will recommend medication based on what's going on and your dog's health history.

Some people are reluctant to use drugs even for their own health let alone their dogs so there are natural alternatives to ease pain such as CBD oil.

NSAIDs

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

But don't give your pooch something from your medicine cabinet. Do not give your dog ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

There are some of the available NSAIDs just for dogs:

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

NSAIDs are usually safe for dogs and have few side effects. But in some cases, they can cause kidney, liver, or digestive problems.

With most medications, there can be side effects. You may be able to tell if your dog is having a bad reaction to an NSAID. An easy way to remember the signs is with the word BEST:

•  Behavior changes
•  Eating less
•  Skin redness, scabs
•  Tarry stool/diarrhoea/vomiting

If you spot these symptoms, you should stop giving your dog the drug and call your vet.

Aspirin is an over-the-counter NSAID. Your doctor may OK giving it to your dog for a limited amount of time, but usually only if he has an injury or another short-term condition.

It’s not recommended for long-term use in dogs because it has a greater potential for side effects, including the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Coated aspirin is best on the stomach and you should give the pills with food. Talk to your vet and follow their recommendations on how much and how often.

Other Medications

Because NSAIDs are usually good at relieving pain, veterinarians don't often prescribe other kinds of painkillers. But sometimes, your dog may need more options. Your vet may talk to you about gabapentin or tramadol.

Pain Medication Alternatives

As previously mentioned, some pet owners can be reluctant to give their dog medication. Especially if it’s for a long term illness or an incurable disease such as epilepsy. Drugs can also sometimes become ineffective as the body gets used to it, so they can be changed.

Giving your pet medication is not guaranteed to work, sometimes it can take a while to find the right medication that suits your dog.

CBD oil can be a great alternative for medication. This isn’t to say that it should be used instead of, but for those who are concerned about medication, it at least gives you an option.

Reviews From Pet Parents Using CBD Oil:

Anna

This CBD oil is a nice addition to my dog's pain management and anxiety. He was recently diagnosed with early-onset arthritis and I feel more comfortable adding CBD than adding on the pain meds.

Cristina L.

I have a 14-year-old Pomeranian and he recently was diagnosed with epilepsy , my husband and I didn't want to give him meds, I don't believe in them, and think at his age, they cause more harm than good. Well, first we tried another CBD brand and didn't saw any change(twice the intake).

The seizures continue often, then we switch the second bottle to PETALS AND TAILS, and until we start levelling up the dose to half the dropper(and was 3 times daily), the seizures begin to be less intense and he could recuperate faster, we didn't want to move to the whole dropper because we were afraid of diarrhoea, but the next 2 days later we gave him .75 3 times a daily and it's been 8 days since his last convulsion, imagine how happy and grateful we are, got a say the bottle goes pretty fast with this dosage but anything worths! The downside he is more hungry and we have to watch out his weight because of his age and heart condition, but other than that, no side effects, no loose stools, everything is going great!. We will continue using this brand, forever...

Jessica N.

4 years ago our English Bulldog had an ACL surgery that led to a terrible staph infection and 7 months of medications and surgeries. Her infection healed, but her mental well-being and body never fully recovered. Last year, she developed hip dysplasia and she was limping all the time and lost all interest in play. We did water therapy and a variety of medications to alleviate her pain, but we saw minimal improvement. Fast forward to our discovery of acupuncture and CBD oil, and we have a new dog! Since taking her daily hemp dosage of Petals & Tails, this little meatball's mobility has improved and she is able to get up easier.

She is more active, loves her toys and bones again, and even has zoomies once in a while! Our pup has regained a sense of enjoyment in the things she used to love before her injuries! We are grateful to be able to take her off prescription pain meds!