What Medication Can I Give My Dog For Pain Relief?

Help! My dog is in pain! What medication can I give to my dog for pain relief? 

Is It Safe To Give Benadryl, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve or Tylenol For Pain Relief?

The simple and accurate answer is — NO!

There’s nothing worse than knowing your dog is in pain. So, if your dog has a hotspot, ear infection or any other painful condition, what can you do, as the owner, do to alleviate his or her suffering?

The most apparent course of action is a trip to the veterinarian to determine why your dog is in pain. Your vet will perform an exam to diagnose any illness and provide treatment that may be a medication.

Of course, you may already know what is bothering your dog and want to help your pup with products you can buy “over the counter.” Here, we discuss the options and risk factors associated with administering these OTC drugs to your dog:

Pain Relief For Dog Injuries or Chronic Conditions

Let’s suppose that your dog has a disease or suffers from arthritis or other chronic pain-inducing illnesses.  You may be tempted to give your pup an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Examples are aspirin, ibuprofen, or Aleve.  Stop The Presses!  Wrong choice! These are NSAIDs and are intended ONLY for human use.

PAIN MEDICATION WARNING!

Pain relieving products such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve) may be toxic to your pup! In addition, these drugs have side effects that could injure your dog – and – possibly, even be fatal. Please Read on.  We’ll explain.

The issue here lies in the mode of action of these drugs. The effect of these drugs is that they suppress enzymes.  This suppression generates enhanced inflammation, fever, and pain. Along with enzyme suppression, another unfortunate side effect is a reduced blood flow to the kidneys.  This curbs protection of the gastrointestinal tract and disrupts normal blood clotting. (Note: Problems have also been noted in humans who take too many NSAIDs!). In short, it’s a disaster for your pooch!

Some dogs who are sensitive to NSAIDs will end up with diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding disorders, labored or rapid breathing, and kidney or liver problems. Moreover, these drugs are particularly toxic if your dog already suffers from a kidney or liver disease, blood disorders, or heart failure. If your dog is pregnant, avoid these drugs at all costs.

Risk Factor: High

Added important note: While baby aspirin may have a lower dosage per pill than regular aspirin – it is generally regarded as unsafe for your dog.  Who Knew?

What About Tylenol? (aka acetaminophen)

While Tylenol may seem like an alternative, it too creates many problems for dogs. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) will have a toxic effect on the liver and kidneys and prevents (essential) hemoglobin from carrying oxygen in the blood. Painful Result? It can cause widespread tissue and organ damage leading to death in a very short amount of time. Ouch!

Risk factor: High

Then — what CAN I give my dog for pain?

The good news is that your vet can prescribe specially formulated NSAID products designed specifically for handling your dog’s pain. These are much better options for mitigating any discomfort your dog may be experiencing. Some of the brand names include:

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

The best course of action is to get the right prescription for your dog straight from your vet. Forget entirely about taking any shortcuts by giving human pain management products to your dog. You love your dog. Why put her/him in harm’s way…? It could cost you your best friend.

Risk Factor: Low or None

Pain Associated with Skin or Ear Infections:

If your dog is suffering from pain associated with hot spots (inflammation, soreness), wounds, ear infections, mange, or other skin infections due to bacterial or fungal issues, treat him with Banixx Pet Care spray. It’s a gentle but effective topical solution that tackles the underlying infection and eliminates it. With the elimination or reduced infection, pain often subsides. However, should the case be already severe, you may need to seek veterinary prescription intervention to resolve the problem more quickly.

Risk Factor: Zero

You cannot overdose using Banixx Pet Care.  It is non-toxic, easy to apply, and effective, providing immediate relief for your dog. Providing soothing support, with no medicinal odor to cause angst and no burn or sting upon application. Tested to be completely safe for use around the eye, it’s a dog owner’s #1 choice!

Banixx Pain Relief for Dog Ear Infections

If you enjoyed this article, you can learn more about taking care of other small pets by reading another blog;  such as chicken care. Or if you have ever wondered about something more frivolous such as how to clean your dog’s eyes or, more seriously, check out a related blog on when to worry about dog eye discharge.