Pain Relief for Dogs

When considering pain relief for dogs, many dog lovers are concerned with the effects pain killers could have. Dogs on pain killers are likely to cause more damage to the affected area since the normal pain warning signs have been taken away. Some vets do advise you to allow your dog to feel some pain during the healing process. This is to make sure the dog reacts to his condition accordingly by slowing down and resting, allowing his injuries to heal. A dog on pain medication that works effectively would assume there was no injury and continue to play and run around as normal causing further damage. 

If your vet hasn’t prescribed you any pain relief medication for your dog, you must assume that the vet therefore feels your dog is better off without the medication as the pain is not too severe. There are a few natural methods to help ease your dog’s pain and keep him more comfortable during his recovery, if you do feel the pain is worse then the vet has perceived, then just call your vet and have a chat. If the vet feels there is sufficient information to re-examine the situation then he will do so.

For dogs that are not on pain medication, many people choose to use warm towels fresh from your tumble dryer, or micro-waved wheat bags and place them around the injured area or lining the dog basket, to help your dog’s pain and rest period. You don’t need to purchase any special heat materials for your dog; you can use everyday wheat bags used for humans and whatever towels you can bear to have dog hair on. Even tumble dry his favourite blanket, if he has one, and line his sleeping place.

For pain resulting from stiffness of joints, arthritis or previous injuries a company called Forbes Copper provides pain relief for dogs in the form of copper dog collars and other copper goods. These work on the same principles as copper bracelets for human conditions which have become increasingly popular. It is an old practice well developed in many countries including Japan and China but it is becoming increasingly substantial in the UK, and the USA as pain relief for dogs.

There are many different ideas on how copper magnets work, the most popular one is that the magnetic field, when applied properly, alters the ion exchange within the blood which improves how we use and absorb oxygen. This in turn is supposed to help and quicken the healing process. They are also reputed to increase the body’s natural production of endorphins when nerve fibres are within the magnetic field. This is your body’s version of a pain killer which is normally produced to some extent when you suffer pain and can delay you feeling your injury. A combination of one of these copper dog collars, bed rest and providing a steady supply of warm towels will ensure your dog heals as quickly as possible while reducing pain.