Medication can be used to treat chronic or acute pain in dogs.
Chronic pain is associated with conditions such as arthritis or dysplasia:
Acute pain may be caused by surgery or injury. Some medications are used for both types of pain. Continue for pain medication charts and comparisons.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are good for chronic and acute pain, but can cause ulcers. COX-2 inhibitors are less likely to cause ulcers but can have other side effects. Call your vet if the dog has diarrhea, stool that are black and tarry,decreased appetite or vomiting.
See link for chart below for non-narcotic pain meds.
Narcotic pain meds:
Narcotic medications will work well in combination with NSAIDs, but also work well alone. Certain narcotics should not be used at the same time or one right after another. A veterinarian should supervise administration of narcotics. Your vet may not keep in stock narcotics but can write your dog a prescription. Check your local pharmacies for prices, which may vary widely.
Sedation and constipation are common side effects of narcotic medications. Opioid absorption is only about 15% from orally administered meds.
See link for chart below.
non-narcotic pain meds
narcotic pain meds
Alternative therapies:
Acupuncture seems to work very well for some patients for both acute or chronic pain. Some patients still need pain medication but either at a lower dose or a less potent medication may be able to be used. Acupuncture frequently needs to be ongoing for chronic pain conditions. Check for a veterinary acupuncturist who is certified.<
Comments are closed.