Pain Relief for Dogs: Everything You Need to Know

Originally posted on http://www.kake.com/story/40729694/pain-relief-for-dogs-everything-you-need-to-know

As a pet owner, the last thing you want to see is your dog in pain. When your pet is hurting or in pain, it will automatically push you to do something and ease the pain. But what do you do? Unlike humans, dogs cannot self-diagnose or self-medicate.

Therefore, it’s your responsibility to figure out what to do and get your dog on its feet again. Over the counter (OTC) medication is quite dangerous when it comes to dogs when not given in the right quantities and schedule. Pet owners are spending millions of dollars on their pets, don’t be among the ones spending it on your dog’s medication by knowing the right medication.

Human medications are not convenient for dogs, but it’s difficult to sit back and watch your pet suffer in pain. Here is simple pain relief for dogs to get your pet running again.

Signs Your Dog Is in Pain

Dogs cannot tell when they are in pain, regardless of how severe the pain might be. And before you start finding help for it, it’s essential to know if it’s hurting. Unlike humans, when dogs are in pain, particular signs will express their discomfort.

To name a few signs: excessive barking, in-appetence, whimpering, lethargy or listlessness, whining, inability to exercise or reluctance, and excessive panting. Additionally, if your dog starts acting unfriendly, it might be an indication it’s in pain. Also, if you notice a change in demeanor or behavior, there are higher chances it’s in chronic pain.

Common Reasons for Dog Pain

Before getting to relief your pet from depression, it is quite essential to understand what causes the pain. Depending on your dog’s breed, there are several reasons why your dog might be feeling pain.

General issues that result in pain in any dog include accidents and injuries. Other causes of pain include hip dysplasia, arthritis, and bulging discs. It’s also common for a dog to experience anxiety due to mouth or dental problems.

Arthritis is a common problem for older dogs. However, that does not guarantee that younger dogs are not exposed to that condition and several others.

When a dog is also undergoing through a dental procedure, it’s challenging to keep the pain off completely. However, in such moments, there is no need to raise the alarm, but you can ask which pain management will be used.

The healing duration is also affected by the procedure by which your vet decides its use. Therefore, your vet will understand the appropriate drugs to administer based on your pet specifications.

Pain Relief for Dogs You Can Consider

Humans commonly use aspirin, acetaminophen (paracetamol), and ibuprofen to ease their pain. Since these medicines work perfectly in human, it’s quite tempting to pass them over to dogs in times of distress. As tempting as it may be, that is not a good idea.

Although paracetamol can help ease pain in a dog, giving it human dosage can worsen the situation more. Some medications are also toxic and can result in severe problems than mere discomfort. Some complications that may happen as a result of using human medicine on dogs include:

• Ulcers
• Kidney and liver damage
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Holes in the stomach lining

However, while under the supervision of your vet, you can give your dog human medicine. Some common NSAIDs for dogs include:

• Meloxicam (Metacam)
• Deracoxib (Deramaxx)
• Firocoxib (Previcox)
• Carprofen (Rimadyl or Novox)
• Tramadol

Your vet can diagnose your pet, tell what causes the pain, and eventually prescribe with the above medication. Check out this website for information on safe pain killers for dogs.

What to Do When Your Dog Is in Pain

It is common sense not to relax while your family dog is unwell. The first step towards healing and an all-around healthy pet are calling for your local vet. If your vet is not available to diagnose and prescribe, ensure to share with him/her every detail.

This includes the type of medications you have and what you intend to give. With this information, it will be easy to know the right dosage and medicine that will relief your dog from pain.

The problem with self-prescribing your pets is that you may not know what is harmful and what is not. It will also take time before you realize what medicines are reacting negatively on your pet.

However, there are common home remedies that are quite friendly and can help relieve pain faster. The homeopathy and acupuncture are natural remedies common for relieving pain in animals. They can be administered adjunct or an alternative to other traditional treatment.

Although they are not scientifically proven to work, most pet owners would prefer them over the OTC medicines. Additionally, you can relieve pain in your dog by changing their diet once in a while.

Healthy eating guarantees to offer permanent health solutions to your pet. For instances, you can reverse the effects of arthritis in dogs by feeding it with nutritional foods.

Omega-3 fatty acids are also helpful for monitoring weight and reducing inflammation in joints. Glucosamine and chondroitin are also other supplements convenient for relieving pain by repairing cartilage and reducing joints swelling too.

Potential Side Effects

Just like humans, pets too react differently to specific medicines. Although all drugs have side effects, their importance is measured with the positive results that they offer. The FDA warns pet owners against giving their pets’ opioids.

Therefore, immediately your vet prescribes the meds and you start administering them, it’s time to keep watch. Ensure to check your pet for any possible side effects regardless of how simple they might be.

If you start experiencing skin redness, loss of appetite, digestive issues (vomiting and diarrhea), and behavior change, this is potential side effects. In this case, consult your veterinarian to ensure that your pet is still on the right healing process. Additionally, since the vet has advanced knowledge about your pet, he/she is in a better place to advise on appropriate measures.

Pain Relief for Dogs

Although it is essential to keep your vet regularly engaged in case something isn’t right, fundamental knowledge to care for your pet is required. Always purchase approved drugs that offer pain relief for dogs.

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