Pain Relievers for Dogs

It was the case not too long ago that pain relievers for dogs available was severely limited. But just as human medicine has advanced, so too has that of veterinary medicine. There are now a wide variety of pain relievers for dogs that can help to stop your family pet from needless suffering at the hands of arthritis and other complaints, or for use if your pet is recovering from surgery.

The drugs we are talking about here are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs for short. These drugs can be extremely effective in relieving pain and inflammation, and some studies have even shown that dogs can recover quicker due to being on this kind of medication. It’s important to note that although side effects are usually quite mild when using modern NSAIDs, if you don’t follow the instructions that come with the drugs then you may inadvertently give your dog the wrong dosage which could result in serious internal damage or even death.

If your dog appears to be in a lot of pain and you think pain relief is necessary, the best person to talk to about it is a veterinarian. Your vet will know all about NSAIDs and can help you to choose the right one for your dog. They can also help to find the correct dosage, and warn you about particular side effects to look out for. It is always best when thinking about getting pain relievers for dogs to do so with veterinary supervision.

When you are prescribed an NSAID for your dog, you should also receive a Customer Information Sheet or Information for Dog Owner Sheet. These are informational leaflets outlining the benefits and possible side effects of the drug in a straight-forward manner. You should read through this information carefully as well. Never underestimate the value of information where your dog’s welfare is concerned.

Another quick check you can perform to ensure the drug is safe is to check its label. All NSAIDs that have been officially approved for use carry the following message on their label:

All dogs should undergo a thorough history and physical examination before initiation of NSAID therapy. Appropriate laboratory tests to establish baseline blood values prior to, and periodically during, the use of any NSAID are strongly recommended.

Finally, if your dog starts to show any signs of having a bad reaction to treatment, you should stop administering the drugs immediately and consult the vet. The most common side effects to watch out for are changes in appetite, behavior, or bowel movements, vomiting and jaundice.

As long as you are responsible and follow these simple guidelines, NSAIDs can make the ideal pain relievers for dogs and help to ease your dog’s suffering.

If your vet has not prescribed pain killers, it may be because they don’t wish your dog to cause more damage to the wound by being too active. In this case, you can try some of our natural ‘Pain Relief for Dogs’ suggestions.