My Dog Is in Pain, What Can I Give Him?

Dogs can feel a number of symptoms or pain when they're suffering from an underlying health issue. As their caregiver, what can you do when your dog is pain?

Take them to the veterinarian

The first thing you must do if you see that your dog is experiencing pain is to take them to the veterinarian. Dogs will only be in pain or experience symptoms if there is an underlying disease or health problem. By taking them to the veterinarian you will avoid the illness getting serious.

You will also not only treat the symptoms but also the cause of their illness. Before choosing a pain-killer medication for your dog, you must go to the veterinarian.

Provide them with home remedies

There are certain times that home remedies can aid in the pain our dog is feeling. These include: ice on inflated area, heat pad, massages, rest, softer foods, etc. However, these home remedies will highly depend on what the cause of the health issue is. Therefore, your veterinarian will be able to tell you which home remedy is best for your dog's condition.

Provide them with pain-killers for dogs

Lastly, we can provide our dog with pain medication to cope with their symptoms. We must be careful when choosing the right medication as this will greatly vary in the condition and size of your dog.

Medicating a dog is serious and can have dangerous effects on them when wrongly medicated. This is why only a professional can determine which pain killer is correct for a dog's condition. We'll go into deeper detail below, however, we need to be clear that your veterinarian is the only person that can choose your dog's medication.

No, human pain killers or other human medication can kill your dog. Dogs and humans are very different in size and other physical characteristics. Human pain killers are specifically made for humans and are dangerous to dogs. Never give your dog human pain killers as the consequences can be fatal.

If your dog has accidentally consumed human pain killers you will need to rush to the veterinarian so they can be treated as soon as possible. Dogs easily over-dose on human medication as it's not formulated for canine consumption. If a dog over-doses it can lead to their death.

Analgesics, also known as a pain-killer, are the most widely used drugs when it comes to fighting pain. There are many to choose from and in different presentations such as tablets, syrups or injectables. Therefore, it is a task that can only be carried out by the vet.

Anti-inflammatories for dogs

Within this group we find drugs such as NSAIDs, which means non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. These medications help reduce swelling, stiffness and joint pain in dogs. Some examples of NSAIDs for dogs are:

• Carprofen (Novox)
• Deracoxib (Deramaxx)
• Firocoxib (Previcox)
• Meloxicam (Metacam)
• Aspirin

NSAIDs are generally safe for dogs but may have certain side effects causing kidney, liver or digestive problems. Some common side effects are:

• Decrease in food consumption
• Redness in skin
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Changes in behaviour

If you see your dog experiencing any of these side effects you must stop giving them the medication and call your veterinarian.

Pain killers for dogs

Veterinarians usually opt for NSAIDs, but in some cases, they will choose non-NSAIDs. These include opioid narcotic pain relievers and non-NSAID non-opioids.

Like any other drug, these help with certain symptoms but may also cause certain side effects. Your veterinarian will decide whether these drugs are worth consuming depending on your dog's conditions. Some of their side effects are the following:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• Loss of appetite
• Jaundice or yellowing of the mucous membranes
• Increase in water intake
• Increased urine output
• Rashes

Most veterinarians will only recommend these medications for a short term. This is because these medications can be dangerous when given during a long period of time. Nevertheless, your veterinarian will determine what type of medication is best for your dog's condition. They will also determine the dosage and for how long they will need to take it. You must simply follow their instructions in order for your dog to recover quickly and safely.

Supplements for dogs

Lastly, veterinarians may recommend that your dog take certain supplements to help with their medical conditions. Many times, these supplements can help dogs repair cartilage and improve their nutrition. Just like other medication, this type of medication isn't necessary unless your dog is experiencing health issues.

Sometimes, home remedies can help your dog cope with pain or symptoms. Nevertheless, it's always necessary to have a veterinarian's diagnosis so you know exactly what will help your dog and what area to focus on. This way, your veterinarian will tell you how you can apply cold ice or heat at a certain area, allow them to rest, massage a certain area, etc.

We also have a couple of articles about home remedies for certain health issues. For example, if your dog has an ear infection, you should read our article about home remedies for dogs with an ear infection. Or perhaps, you'd be more interested in home remedies for stomach pain in dogs. Lastly, if your dog seems to be suffering from a cold or if your veterinarian has already diagnosed them with a cold, you can read our article about home remedies for dogs with a cold.

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to My Dog Is in Pain, What Can I Give Him?, we recommend you visit our Medicine category.