What painkillers can be given to a dog for various diseases: types and the right choice of drugs

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In life, unforeseen situations often arise when a dog needs help to get rid of pain. Pain can be different: in the bones and joints, pathological, arising from chronic diseases and other pathologies, and so on. In each of the cases, it is required to correctly determine the medicine that will alleviate the condition of the animal, and it is best to select the drug together with the veterinarian. In emergency situations, when there is no time to wait for the help of a veterinarian, drugs from a dog first-aid kit will come in handy, which should always be at hand.

Types of pain in dogs and their symptoms

To prescribe the correct pain medication for your dog, need to determine the type of painexperienced by the animal. On the basis of this, one or another medicinal analgesic drug is prescribed. Dogs often have visceral abdominal pain. Signs of this type of pain are:

• anxiety;
• the dog licks the belly or bites it;
• the animal takes an unnatural position, sways;
• indigestion occurs, appetite disappears.

Chest pain in dogs is also not uncommon. They are characterized by increased caution of the animal when moving, refusal to take a lying position, standing with elbows out, and shallow breathing. The most pronounced are superficial or somatic pains. They occur against the background of damage to the skin, bones, muscles, pleura and intercostal nerves. As a rule, when touching the chest, the dog flinches, tries to evade, may assume a threatening posture or growl, grinning, that is, it shows that any touch increases pain, causing discomfort. Visceral pain indicating heart or lung disease not so pronounced, but they have the same symptoms.

Pain in the extremities and back pain occur against the background of inflammation and diseases of the spine, joints, muscles, spinal cord and are, most often, somatic. The reaction of the dog to pain in these areas is manifested in the form of:

• immobility;
• lame;
• inability to step on limbs;
• the dog may moan;
• obvious discomfort when touching a painful place.

Dogs can also suffer from headaches. They can also be both visceral and somatic, more pronounced. Somatic pain indicates that the skin, nerves, periosteum, nerves on the head are affected. Deep pain is sign of increased cranial pressure or cerebrovascular disease.

Pain can occur with poisoning, diseases of the nervous system, anemia. An acute headache in a dog is expressed in increased arousal, and a dull headache in drowsiness and lethargy. Also may experience indigestion and vomiting. You can find out the presence of headaches in an animal during an examination at a veterinary clinic.

Types of painkillers for dogs

Finding a specialized pain reliever for a dog can often become not only difficult, but simply an impossible task. In this case, to relieve pain for the pet Can you give painkillers? and other drugs used to treat people. With such drugs, you should be doubly careful and calculate the dose as carefully as possible so as not to aggravate the condition of the pet.

The first group of drugs used for pain relief are nutraceuticals. They include amino acids, herbs, antioxidants, minerals and fatty acids. These drugs are usually used to treat joint pain and have virtually no contraindications.

Nonsteroidal drugs (NSAIDs) are very effective as pain relievers for dogs. They can be given in most cases of a painful condition in a pet. These include:

• Ibuprofen;
• Naproxen;
• Aspirin.

Steroid drugs are often prescribed not only as an anesthetic, but also as an anti-inflammatory agent. These drugs are very good at relieving pain, but their long-term use can lead to undesirable consequences arising from the manifestation of side effects. Corticosteroids and steroids do not self-administerbetter to visit the vet.

Opioids and narcotic painkillers for a dog can only be prescribed by a doctor. These heavy drugs are prescribed only in the most severe cases, in particular if the pet has cancer or severe arthritis. These drugs cause drowsiness, numbness, lethargy in the animal.

Painkillers for dogs

Available pain relievers for dogs are Ketonal or Ketoprofen. This tool is not only quite affordable, but convenient to use, since it is available both in the form of a solution for injection and in tablets. It is allowed to use the drug for up to one and a half weeks.

Vedaprofen (Quadrisol) Gel Specially Formulated to Relieve Pain Symptoms in Dogs proved to be excellent to alleviate the painful condition in various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The disadvantage of this drug is its relatively high cost. You can use the gel for 28 days.

Carprofen (Rimadyl) is a relatively safe pain reliever tablet that helps relieve pain. The drug is quite effective, and its use in acceptable doses allows you to use it for quite a long time.

Baralgin and Analgin are quite easily tolerated by animals, but their effect is much weaker than that of Ketonal, so these drugs cannot be considered as effective as possible.

Revalgin and Spazgan veterinarians recommend using to relieve spasmolytic pain in pets.

If it is not possible to consult with a veterinarian about the possibility of giving this or that drug to a dog, as well as to find out the right dosage, you can use homeopathic remedies Trauma or Traumelem.

Indomethacin, Ketorolac, Diclofenac strongly not recommended for treatment dogs. These drugs can lead to serious consequences and even death of a pet.

If you have any doubts about what kind of painkiller you can give your dog, then be sure to get the advice of a qualified veterinarian.