Natural Pain Relievers for Dogs

Medications and veterinary treatment for a dog's injury, illness or aging problems are often necessary, but expensive. Once the problem is diagnosed, however, any resulting pain can be treated with natural herbal and homeopathic pain relievers and therapeutic procedures like massage and acupuncture--without the side effects and high costs of conventional medicines.

  1. Herbs

    • Many herbs are effective pain relievers for dogs. Dried turmeric, sprinkled over your dog's food, serves as an anti-inflammatory and is effective in controlling arthritic pain in dogs. Also, cayenne ointment topically relieves a dog's arthritic pain, as it stimulates the anti-inflammatory responses of the dog's body. Ginger cream is frequently used as a topical pain remedy for treatment of stiff or arthritic joints. Licorice oil, applied directly to the dog's affected areas, works as an anti-inflammatory, as well as a pain remedy. Feverfew, in liquid form, is a useful alternative to aspirin, and one of the most commonly used herbal pain remedies for migraine and arthritis. Liquid skullcap is an effective herbal treatment for pain resulting from nerve-related injuries or disease. Yucca oil stimulates the body to produce its own healing hormones and is an effective anti-inflammatory used to relieve arthritis pain and inflammation. Check with your veterinarian to determine the herbal dose that is safe for your dog.

    Homeopathy

    • Homeopathy is based on the belief that all beings, including dogs, have the ability to self-heal. Homeopathic treatment is focused on stimulating self-healing responses with the use of natural plant extracts. These plant extracts are generally applied topically and are most effective for quick relief of pain due to injury. Common homeopathic remedies include: arnica and daisy, which are used to ease muscle pain, strains, sprains and bruising; St.-John's-wort for relieving pain caused by lacerations in areas with lots of nerve endings such as the paws or tail; marigold, which is effective for injuries involving torn muscles; wild rosemary for pain and swelling caused by puncture wounds from insect bites and stings; and rue for joint pains and injuries, especially to tendons.

    Massage and Acupuncture

    • Massaging your dog's troubled areas with oils such as peppermint, ginger and feverfew can treat chronic pain effectively by relaxing sore muscles and improving circulation. Acupuncture, used in China for thousands of years, is another natural way to relieve a dog's pain. Practiced by many holistic veterinarians, acupuncture helps to relieve a dog's pain without the side effects of conventional medicine. Physical examination by the pet's regular vet, prior to administering acupuncture or any other natural pain relief method, is necessary to ensure that the treatment is suited to your dog's condition.