Depending on both the type and severity of the pain being experienced, various forms of Dog Pain Relief medication may be suggested. Some will be similar to human medications, others very different and designed specifically with canines in mind. Chronic or ongoing conditions will tend to be treated with different types of medicine than acute or temporary pain.
Some vets will prescribe pain relief for dogs as a post operative measure while others will not. This will depend on the condition of the pet and considerations regarding possible side effects or the patients history of tolerance to different medications. As the dog owner it is crucial that you get to know the signs and symptoms associated with pain. Perhaps that minor surgery is normally associated with little pain during recovery, so your vet does not automatically prescribe any pain relief. But your pet may react differently and it is important to let the vet know your concerns so that they may suggest some immediate treatment.
As a brief introduction to the different types of Canine Pain Relief you may be offered we wanted to discuss the broad categories of pain relief options for your pet. All should be used under the supervision of your vet. People often ask about using human medicines such as ibruprofen or aspirin in dogs. They can sometimes be used but there are concerns and side effects that may present themselves. Just because medication has been proven generally for human use do not assume it is equally safe for your pet.
Dog Pain Relief – Narcotics
Narcotics such as morphine, pethidine, codeine, buprenorphin and butorphanol are regularly prescribed by vets to treat chronic pain. As one would expect their use is tightly controlled by both the DEA and FDA meaning that using them involves a lot of time-consuming paperwork. This can be one reason that some vets are reticent about prescribing such medications. But, when all else fails sometimes narcotics can be the only way to offer real pain relief to your dog, and if your vet is apprehensive about their use it may be time to search for another that is more flexible.
Dog Pain Relief – Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
We are all familiar with some of the oldest NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibruprofen. These old medications are regularly associated with gastro-intestinal problems and ulcers which has led many vets to prefer to use newer medications that produce side effects in fewer dogs.
But there are now a wide range of newer NSAIDs that can offer a better option to reduce pain in canines. The newer products such as carprofen offer less risk to patients but there are still possible side effects associated with their use. Though reactions are often minor, they are implicated in more serious ailments such as organ damage. There is a trade off between choosing older NSAIDs that regularly cause side effects (but that are usually mild) or using newer NSAIDs that cause side effects in far fewer animals, but that can cause more severe reactions when they occur.
Any dog that has displayed an allergic response to NSAID use is likely to react to other similar products. So if you are aware of a history of sensitivity make sure you tell your vet about it before giving any newly prescribed canine pain medication.
Canine Acupuncture is something that is both widely supported and widely thought of as nothing but suspicious. However its use to deal with both acute and chronic pain is growing. Generally it seems that acupuncture can do no real harm, and in many cases will ease symptoms. However, don’t expect this treatment to necessarily replace all others as generally patients still require additional medicinal pain relief, just less of it than without the acupuncture treatment. It can also mean being able to manage the patients condition using less potent, and less risky pain relievers which is always a good result.
Dog Pain Relief – Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are not truly pain relievers at all. But since they are great at reducing inflammation, and it is often inflammation that is causing the pain they can benefit certain conditions. They tend not be used in the long-term or as a first choice pain medication since they can be so damaging to cartilage. But in certain cases, where treatment is more about easing severe pain and immobility they can be a last chance to offer relief.
Dog Pain Relief – Non-Medicinal Relief for Pain
There are ways to reduce pain in our pets without resorting to any medication at all. These methods can also help reduce the actual amount of pain relief medication a canine requires.
Canine Acupuncture is something that is both widely supported and widely thought of as nothing but suspicious. However its use to deal with both acute and chronic pain is growing. Generally it seems that acupuncture can do no real harm, and in many cases will ease symptoms. However, don’t expect this treatment to necessarily replace all others as generally patients still require additional medicinal pain relief, just less of it than without the acupuncture treatment. It can also mean being able to manage the patients condition using less potent, and less risky pain relievers which is always a good result.
Massage is another way pet owners can offer some relaxation and canine pain relief. Massaging sore limbs and simple petting of your dog all reduce stress, induce relaxation and can offer some respite from the pain. Even ice-packs can relieve aches and pains in our dogs just as they can for us.
Showing your pet care and affection should also improve a patients state of mind, reducing stress, inducing calm and bringing them some level of respite from their pain.
There are many additional forms of dog pain relief, but these are the ones most commonly used and so the ones we shall deal with primarily.