Controlling your dog’s arthritis pain can help him act like a frisky puppy rather than an old suffering dog.Dog
arthritis pain relief medication is not the same as dog arthritis
medications like anti-inflammatories or neutraceuticals. These drugs are
effective in treating dog arthritis symptoms; they are not pain relief
medications.
Despite the fact that your
dog is being treated with anti-inflammatories and neutraceuticals like
Cosequin, they can still be in pain. A good pain medication can
effectively reduce that pain.
How often you
administer dog arthritis medication is a matter between you and
your vet. This article is intended only to familiarize you with the
various dog arthritis pain relief medications that are currently
available.
Opioid Analgesics
These
are the best of the best when it comes to controlling the pain of dog
arthritis. The effects get stronger as the dosage increases, but there
are side effect risks. The most commonly reported side effects include
vomiting and problems breathing.
Here are the most frequently prescribed Opoids:
* Tramadol
* NMDA Antagonists
* Codeine, Hydrocodone
* Morphine
* Fentanyl
Tramadol,
one of the most effective dog arthritis pain relief medications, also
has properties of an antidepressant. It is not classified as a narcotic,
so its use is not regulated by the government. As a result, you can buy
it over the counter. It is usually given every 8 hours as needed. There
is no indication that tramadol is addictive.
NMDA Antagonists
These drugs function by blocking the NMDA pain pathways. They are used to manage pain that is related to nerve damage.
These are the most commonly used antagonists for treating dog arthritis:
* Ketamine
* Amantadine
* Dextromethorphan
* Gabapentin
Amantadine
is the most effective and can be administered once per day. It is less
expensive than gapapentin, although the two drugs are commonly
administered together.
Combination Therapies
Multi-modal
therapy (MMT) involves the administration of two or more pain relief
drugs. This is often a better option for treating dog arthritis pain
than administering one drug alone. The three most commonly administered
MMT drugs include gabapentin, amantadine and tramadol. These are all
available in pill form.
Another dog arthritis
pain treatment option is MLK. This is a combination of morphine, the
local anesthetic lidocaine, and ketamine. Because MLK treatment must be
administered intravenously, it is not a viable home dog arthritis joint pain
treatment.
If your dog is exhibiting pain from
the symptoms of dog arthritis, ask your vet if any of these dog arthritis drug treatments will work for your dog.
Download our PDF file here.