What Can You Give a Dog for Pain?
Most dog owners are willing to go the extra mile in order to make sure that their animal is always happy. A dog that isn’t experiencing any pain is a happy dog, and happy dogs are the best! However, as a pet owner, you need to understand animal behavior and figure out when your dog is in pain. More importantly, you need to understand what you have to do to treat the animal.
What can you give a dog for pain? There are several things that you can give apart from medication to relieve the pain, but first you have to understand the differences in behavior. Dogs that are in pain are pretty easy to identify, as long as you know your animal well.
How Do You Know When Your Dog Is in Pain?
Things would be a whole lot easier if your animal could just give you a sign that it is in agony or suffering. However, even if the animal could, knowing their nature, your dog would just put a smile on its face. They really don’t want to inconvenience or burden their owners. You have to understand that by their instinct, dogs like to hide their pain as much as they can.
Some dogs simply won’t show signs of classic pain until it becomes quite severe and they are no longer able to hide it. Pain caused due to splinting or limping is quite serious, and you need to understand these behavioral changes in your dog. There are several things that you need to look out for as well, such as lethargy, a general lack of interest, or excessive licking or drooling.
If you see your dog licking one part of its body all the time, it’s probably because it is feeling pain in that area. You have to understand that the animal might not let you examine such parts of its body either. They are generally quite defensive when they are in pain and they may retaliate.
Call the Vet
If you have an inkling that your animal is in pain, you need to take action right away. Instead of looking for a quick fix on your own, take your pet to a veterinarian or simply call one to your home. The vet needs to inspect the animal in order to determine that it’s nothing serious. You might be surprised at just how good these animals are in hiding pain.
There have been cases where dogs have been able to hide serious issues such as hairline fractures by simply avoiding excessive movement. Never ignore these simple things as they could really leave your dog in serious pain. Your dog is also likely to lash out and bite as well, so it’s recommended that you pay attention to these things.
Now, what can you give your dog when it’s in pain? While the treatment has to run its course, you have to understand that there are some medications that you can give your dog to relieve the pain. After all, it’s also equally heartbreaking for dog parents to see their pet in such suffering.
Aspirin or Pain Relievers
Most people might assume that the same pain-relieving medication that they take can be given to pets as well, albeit in smaller doses. NSAIDs, also known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can reduce stiffness, joint pain, and swelling in humans. They also have a similar effect on dogs as well. Dogs that are suffering from problems such as arthritis will benefit from this.
Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen and naproxen. However, you should always consult with your vet first to figure out whether these medications are suitable or not. Keep in mind that these medications, while great for humans, might be toxic for dogs. It could cause irritation or hemorrhaging in the gastric canals.
That’s why it’s best to consult with a vet first. Remember that if your dog is already taking some other form of medication, these NSAIDs might react with those to cause even more problems. Common medicines that you can give your dog include deracoxib, carprofen, and firocoxib. While they are usually safe, there have been cases where they have caused kidney or liver failure.
Tylenol
Tylenol is one of the most popular medicines used for getting rid of pain in the body that isn’t related to inflammation. After all, it’s the only thing that we reach for when we have headaches! However, Tylenol shouldn’t be given to dogs without veterinary oversight.
The toxicity in the blood cells that Tylenol causes is high, and the margin for error is generally very low. There is a strong risk that the Tylenol could cause excessive damage to the dog’s liver as well. Tylenol is so harmful that you should never give it to cats as well. If you are going to give it, make sure that your vet is around.
Fatty Acid Supplements
So what are the best options available to you when treating pain for dogs? There are fatty acid supplements that are available out there and can greatly reduce the pain caused from arthritis. Fatty acid supplements such as Omega 6 and Omega 3 are an excellent choice and dramatically reduce the level of inflammation and pain in the animals.
If you have an old dog that suffers from osteoarthritis, this might be an excellent addition to its diet. The best part about giving them fatty acid supplements is that they don’t have any side effects. Turmeric is a great choice, but it’s not anti-inflammatory.
CBD Oil
CBD oil is a fantastic choice for relieving pain in animals. It has shown plenty of promise and is widely used for treating pain in dogs that suffer from arthritis. While research is still ongoing about the benefits that CBD oil offers, the results are there for all to see and have been incredibly promising so far.
CBD oil is a fantastic addition to your dog’s diet, and a few drops can make a positive change to your dog’s life. If your dog is ailing and old, it might be a wise idea to give it some CBD oil on a daily basis to minimize problems and make sure that its pain remains in check. These are just a few things that you should know about treating problems and giving your dog appropriate things to manage its pain.
