What Can I Give My Dog For Pain Relief?

Any loving pet owner hates to see their dog suffering. Canine pain can result from many different causes and it can sometimes be difficult to tell what kind of pain your dog is in and what the reasons are behind it.

Although there are some remedies and steps that can be taken to help relieve your dog’s pain, administering medicines can actually be quite dangerous if you don’t know exactly what you are doing.

For this reason, it is highly encouraged that you seek advice from your vet who can do a full workup and help you to pinpoint where your dog’s pain is originating from and what the best course of action may be for helping to relieve their suffering.

Some common culprits for canine pain include injury, infection, illness, arthritis or simply old age. It is not uncommon for dogs to respond to and express pain through aggression and/or low moods.

Since your dog cannot understand what it is that they are experiencing and why it is happening, pain can be very frightening to them. For this reason, it is important to find a way if at all possible, to relieve their pain for their physical benefit and for their emotional and mental well being.

Signs That Your Dog May Be In Pain

Some signs and symptoms of pain in your dog can be short-lived while others, due to more significant and permanent issues, can be ongoing. It is not unheard of that some owners may be completely unaware that their dog is in pain as the signs can sometimes be a little hard to read.

The physical signs can be pretty obvious, for example, if your dog is limping it is not hard to come to the conclusion that something is hurting them. Vocal signs such as whining are also hard to miss.

However, some of the more common signs that may not cause an owner to immediately think their dog is in pain, can include low moods and depression, refusing to eat or drink, less physical activity and even shivering.

If your dog begins to show an onset of any of these signs, pay close and regular attention to determine how severely their discomfort may be and consider making a visit to your vet for a checkup.

Helpful Remedies

There are several popular NSAIDS that can be acquired without prescription but generally speaking medications that were formulated for humans can be highly dangerous when given to dogs.

One popular pain medication, acquired over the counter and used regularly amongst people is Aspirin. However, administering Aspirin to your dog can very easily cause much worse problems.

Aspirin can result in the thinning of your dog’s blood which can lead to serious internal bleeding from minor issues such as bruising, internal injuries or soft tissue injuries. It can especially be dangerous for dogs that already suffer from such issues as hear, liver, kidney or intestinal problems.

Aside from medications, there are multiple remedies and steps that can be taken to help relieve your dog’s discomfort either until you can seek appropriate medical advice from your vet or even in addition to whatever your vet prescribes.

If your vet prescribes medications be sure to double check that any or all of these steps are ok to incorporate into your dog’s daily routine alongside the vet’s recommendations.

Possibly The Best Non-Prescription Pain Relief

T-Relief is an easy-to-dissolve pill that you can slip into your dog’s water dish to help control pain. Entirely homeopathic, it uses a combination of Arnica and Belladonna to help with traumatic injuries were bruising, scrapes and minor swelling may be occurring.

It works similar to NSAIDs, just without the side-effects that we typically worry about with drugs. Since it dissolves, it is a lot easier to get to your dog.

This remedy is nothing new… it’s been prescribed by physicians for over 50 years, now for both dogs and horses. It is one of the few Over-The-Counter remedies that is considered safe to offer to your pet.

Acupuncture

A natural method for helping your dog to cope with pain without resorting to, or even in addition to, medications if they don’t seem to be providing as much relief as you would like to see, is acupuncture.

This can be very effective in treating your dog’s pain. If you opt to give it a try, consult with your vet to see if they are trained in the acupuncture field of medicine. If they are not, perhaps they can recommend another vet who is as many vets are pursuing training and certification for providing this service.

For non-medicinal and less invasive methods of treating pain, there are multiple options to consider. Applying a hot or cold compress can be effective in helping to relieve your pet’s discomfort.

The application of different temperatures can soothe and relax your dog. The addition of a cold compress can help any existing swelling to go down.

Added heat to a hot compress can help to alleviate specific aches and pain when applied to your dog’s shoulders or back.

If your dog is suffering from a pulled muscle or arthritis, a hot pack can be especially helpful and effective.

Some causes of pain can be much worsened by allowing your pet to move around excessively. Sometimes limiting their movements can prove to be effective in soothing their pain even if the effects are only temporary.

Encourage plenty of downtime and naps. If your dog finds it difficult to be still and rest, consider the use of a crate to prevent them from running around and to ensure that they take it easy.

Avoid taking them out on walks and keep their outdoor time limited.

Sometimes when a dog is in pain it can cause them to lose their appetite and even turn down water.

If you notice this sign, be sure to take extra care to try to entice them to eat and drink as staying well hydrated and getting plenty of the right nutrition can help to ease their pain, or at the very least avoid making their discomfort worse by adding hunger, dehydration and malnutrition to their list of problems.

Encourage them to eat often, even using special treats to temp them if necessary. If all measures, fail to entice your dog to eat or drink, seriously consider a trip to the vet as this may signal that their discomfort is severe.

In conclusion, although some popular pain medications can possibly work on dogs, it is important to understand the danger involved in the misuse of these meds and it is always best to get the opinion of your vet before administering any medications.