Veterinarians prescribe pain relievers to dogs in many situations. Controlling pain after surgery, pain from dental procedures, pain after an injury, pain from diseases like pancreatitis or urinary tract disorders, pain from intervertebral disc disease, pain from nerve roots, pain from uncomfortable skin conditions, and osteoarthritis are a few examples.
Dogs may exhibit obvious symptoms of pain, such as limping or yelping. Sometimes, however, signs can be difficult to detect. The following behaviors may indicate your dog is in pain:
Most dog owners will look for over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers for dogs when their dog is in pain because they are more convenient and affordable than prescription medications. What OTC medications are available to treat pain in dogs?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one form of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief for dogs, but not all OTC pain relief for dogs is secure. Take, for example, aspirin. Many pet owners are curious about whether it’s safe for dogs. Aspirin is probably safe for most dogs in the short term, but it is not advised for long-term pain relief in dogs due to the risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding disorders. Consult your veterinarian before giving your dog aspirin to determine the appropriate dosage for pain management.
Ibuprofen or naproxen, among other over-the-counter painkillers for dogs, should not be administered to them. Both have minimal safety margins and can be extremely toxic to dogs. Tylenol, also known as acetaminophen, is dangerous for dogs and should only be administered under the strict supervision of a veterinarian.
There are several options for natural pain relief for dogs. According to a recent Cornell study, CBD oil is effective at reducing pain in canine arthritis patients. CBD oil is touted as a natural pain reliever for dogs.
The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in fish oil are an additional choice for canine pain relief. A 2016 study found that giving dogs with osteoarthritis 75 milligrams of fish oil per kilogram of body weight per day statistically reduced their symptoms.
In the media, turmeric has received a lot of attention for its ability to reduce inflammation and relieve human pain. However, dogs’ gastrointestinal tracts do not absorb turmeric well, and it is generally not very effective at relieving pain.
Even though these are natural substitutes, always talk to your veterinarian before taking any supplements, as some may be contraindicated in certain circumstances or interact negatively with prescription drugs. Additionally, for dogs experiencing moderate to severe pain, these natural painkillers often are insufficient on their own and may need to be combined with other medications to provide adequate relief. Always ask your veterinarian what to give your dog for pain whenever you’re unsure.
What Can You Give a Dog for Pain?
Depending on the kind of pain your dog is experiencing, your veterinarian will collaborate with you to create a personalized treatment plan. This may include:
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of specific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in dogs for the purpose of reducing pain and swelling in those animals who have osteoarthritis. This class of medications alters how the body reacts to pain by acting at various points along the inflammatory pathway.
But as a drawback, the drugs may prevent vital bodily processes like supporting platelet function, protecting the lining of the stomach and intestines, and preserving blood flow to the kidneys.
Only NSAIDs recommended by your veterinarian should be administered to your dog, and you should consult with them frequently while they are taking them. NSAIDs come in both over-the-counter and prescription forms. Some pets may not be able to take this class of medication, such as dogs with pre-existing liver or kidney disease.
Before beginning these medications and/or after your dog has taken them for a predetermined period of time, your veterinarian may want to perform some tests. In order to use an NSAID on your dog safely, the tests can help reveal how his body and organs are functioning.
NSAIDs can be used in a variety of ways and are useful for treating inflammation and pain.
These are some NSAIDs that vets commonly use:
- Prescription medication
- Tablet, caplet, or chewable tablet
- Prescribed once or twice daily
- In use since the late 1990s
- Prescription medication
- Chewable tablet
- Prescribed once daily
- In use since the early 2000s
- Prescription medication
- Flavored chewable tablet
- Prescribed once daily
- In use since the early 2000s
- Prescription medication
- Flavored tablet or liquid
- Prescribed once daily
- In use since the early 2000s
- Prescription medication
- Tablet
- Prescribed once daily
- In use since 2016
- Compared to some other NSAIDs, this one may have fewer side effects. Unlike the majority of other NSAIDs, it acts at a different stage of the inflammatory pathway.
- Over-the-counter medication
- Tablet
- As stated on the label, it might be necessary to administer multiple times per day.
- Not FDA-approved for use in dogs
- Compared to other prescription drugs, this one might cause more side effects and toxicity.
When used as directed, NSAIDs are frequently secure, efficient painkillers for dogs. It’s critical to keep a close eye out for adverse effects and toxicity symptoms in your pet.
In the event of an overdose or if your pet is not responding well to the medication, veterinary assistance is required.
Opioid medications relieve moderate to severe pain by activating receptors in the brain. They may be prescribed following surgery or utilized in anesthesia protocols.
Opioids come with rules, restrictions, and monitoring because they have a high potential for abuse in people. They must be prescribed by a veterinarian, and because they are controlled substances, your veterinarian is required to maintain a dispensing log that the DEA may audit.
Pets who take opioids may experience side effects such as panting or slower breathing, salivation, nausea, vomiting, vocalizing, sedation/lethargy, or hyperexcitability.
- Liquid, extended-release tablet, or extended-release capsule
- used for severe trauma or surgical pain (such as orthopedic procedures)
- Short-term use only
- Liquid
- It is squirted into the mouth rather than being swallowed so that blood vessels under the tongue can absorb it.
- Used for surgical pain, cancer pain, or trauma
- Short-term use only
- Liquid or tablet
- used for the treatment of severe arthritis pain, recurrent tracheal collapse, or post-operative pain
- Short- to medium-term use
- Liquid or tablet
- Used for surgical pain
- Short-term use
- Liquid or transdermal patch
- Used for surgical pain
- Short-term use
- Patches need to be handled carefully to prevent opioid absorption through the skin.
Side Effects in the Digestive Tract (Stomach and Intestines)
Both directly and indirectly, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may have negative effects on the digestive system. The direct effects are related to the drugs’ physical properties. Since many NSAIDs are slightly acidic and frequently become trapped in the stomach, they directly irritate the stomach lining.
NSAIDs either stop the body from producing prostaglandins or block their protective activity, which results in the indirect effects. Prostaglandins, keep in mind, also defend the lining of the stomach and intestines. The entire digestive tract may be more vulnerable to damage when prostaglandin production is reduced or some of their activity is inhibited. This may result in stomach and intestine perforations and ulcers.
Giving two NSAIDs to an animal at once or combining an NSAID with a steroid like prednisone increases the risk of digestive tract side effects and should be avoided.
Prostaglandins cause the arteries leading to the kidneys to open during times of decreased blood flow to the kidneys, such as when an animal is dehydrated, under anesthesia, or has kidney disease. This helps keep blood flowing to these vital organs.
Because NSAIDS block the production of prostaglandins or inhibit some of their activity, they may damage the kidneys and cause sudden kidney failure by decreasing blood flow to the kidneys.
In animals that may already have kidney disease or other conditions that reduce blood flow to the kidneys, such as dehydration and shock, NSAIDs should be used with caution. Intravenous (IV) fluids are typically advised prior to, during, and after anesthesia if an NSAID is being used close to the time of surgery in order to maintain blood flow to the kidneys and hopefully prevent kidney complications.
There are two types of NSAID liver side effects: dose-dependent side effects and dose-independent side effects.
As the name implies, dose-dependent side effects are related to the dose—the higher the dose of the NSAID, the worse the side effects and the liver damage. This type of liver damage is typically caused by a massive NSAID overdose, such as a dog eating an entire bottle of his owner’s ibuprofen. (The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center receives hundreds of calls each year involving dogs and cats that accidentally eat nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.)
To avoid accidental ingestion or overdose, keep all medications—for both humans and animals—in a safe location that is out of the reach of children, dogs, cats, and other animals.
When a patient’s liver has an abnormal sensitivity to the medication, dose-independent side effects can happen at any dose of an NSAID, even the recommended one. Within the first three weeks of taking an NSAID, the majority of liver damage associated with them happens.
When treating animals who may already have liver disease, NSAIDs should be used with caution.
The NSAIDs for dogs and cats that are on the market today and have FDA approval are listed in the table below. All of them are available by a veterinarian’s prescription only. No over-the-counter NSAIDs for dogs and cats are FDA-approved. Without a prescription from a veterinarian, any NSAID sold online or in pet stores for dogs or cats is considered an unapproved animal drug by the FDA, which means the agency has not examined the drug’s data. Animal drugs that have not been approved by the agency may not be safe, effective, or have improper manufacturing and labeling practices.
| Active Ingredient | Brand and Generic Names | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Carprofen | Marketed under multiple brand and generic names | Dogs only |
| Deracoxib | DERAMAXX, DOXIDYL*, DERACOXIB CHEWABLE TABLETS* | Dogs only |
| Firocoxib | PREVICOX, FIROX* | Dogs only |
| Grapiprant | GALLIPRANT | Dogs only |
| Meloxicam | Marketed under multiple brand and generic names | Dogs (injectable and oral) and cats (injectable only) |
| Robenacoxib | ONSIOR (for a maximum of 3 days) | Dogs and cats |
*Indicates an FDA-approved generic animal drug.
The FDA has approved several NSAIDs for use in dogs to treat osteoarthritis-related pain and inflammation as well as pain and inflammation following soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. [Orthopedic focuses on bones and muscles; soft tissue includes all other tissues.] Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in a dog’s torn knee is an orthopedic procedure; ball removal from a dog’s stomach is a soft tissue procedure. ].
With two exceptions: (1) robenacoxib (marketed under the name ONSIOR) is only approved to control pain and inflammation following soft tissue surgery and should be administered for a maximum of three days; and (2) grapiprant (marketed under the name GALLIPRANT) is only approved to manage pain and inflammation related to osteoarthritis. The majority of the canine NSAIDs listed in the above table are approved for both uses (for osteoarthritis and after surgery).
All canine NSAIDs are administered orally or intravenously.
A dog may be on an NSAID for a very long time because osteoarthritis is a long-term (chronic) condition that doesn’t go away. Use the lowest dose that still effectively manages your pain. Always consult your veterinarian before changing the dose, especially if you plan to increase it.
Blood tests should be performed prior to starting the medication and then again on a regular basis for a dog taking an NSAID for osteoarthritis for a prolonged period of time.
Only two NSAIDs, meloxicam (marketed under various brand and generic names) and robenacoxib (marketed under the brand name ONSIOR), have FDA approval for use in cats.
For cats, a single injection of meloxicam is approved to reduce pain and swelling following orthopedic surgery, spaying, and neutering. The injection is given under the cat’s skin before surgery.
Additionally approved for use on cats, robenacoxib reduces pain and swelling following orthopedic surgery, spaying, and neutering. The medication is available as either a tablet taken by mouth or an injection given under the cat’s skin, and it should be administered once daily for no more than three days.
Currently, no NSAIDs are approved for long-term use in cats. Cats are especially sensitive to the side effects of NSAIDs. Meloxicam in excess of one dose (repeated doses) in cats can result in kidney failure or death, and robenacoxib in excess of three doses has not been proven to be safe for cats.
Benefits of Using FDA-Approved NSAIDs for Dogs and Cats
The fact that a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for dogs or cats that has received FDA approval has been demonstrated to be both safe and effective in those species when used as directed is one of its main advantages. NSAIDs for humans or unapproved NSAIDs for animals don’t have the same guarantees of effectiveness and safety in pets, and they may even be dangerous.
The FDA-approved NSAID’s label is written specifically for dogs or cats, which is a second key benefit. The label contains all the details veterinarians require to administer the medication to that species in a safe and efficient manner.
For many dogs with osteoarthritis, FDA-approved nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications provide pain relief. Additionally, these medications support veterinarians in efficiently treating canine and feline post-operative pain. Yet, there are risks.
A significant portion of the side effects in dogs and cats reported to the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine are caused by NSAIDs. While any dog or cat may experience NSAID side effects, there may be additional dangers to take into account for the following two most typical groups of pets:
The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine collaborates with pharmaceutical companies to create clear, comprehensive drug labels for veterinarians and Client Information Sheets for owners in an effort to lower the risks of NSAID side effects.
Every oral NSAID that has been approved for use in dogs and cats comes with a client information sheet that veterinarians must hand to owners the first time the prescription is filled and every time it is renewed. If you aren’t given this sheet, you should request one. It provides an easy reference for you at home and summarizes significant safety information about the medication.
Every NSAID for animals that has been approved for use has a section on the label titled “Information for Dog Owners” or “Information for Cat Owners.” Your veterinarian should go over the details in this section with you prior to administering the medication to your pet.
FAQ
What human medicine is safe to give dogs for pain?
- Using acetaminophen (Tylenol) in moderation and for a brief period of time can make it safe.
- When taken in moderation, aspirin, particularly buffered baby aspirin, can be safe, but it is not as effective or safe as prescription drugs.
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) should never be given to dogs as it is toxic to them.
What can I give my dog for pain relief at home?
- Hot and Cold Therapy.
- Ginger.
- Turmeric.
- Boswellia.
- Devil’s Claw.
- CBD Oil.
- Acupuncture.
- Fish Oil.