When a dog suffers from arthritis, medications may be prescribed to help manage the inflammation and pain of the joints. Dogs, in general, are more sensitive to medications than humans, but some of the same drugs used to treat arthritis in humans can be given to dogs. Of course, a veterinarian should always be consulted before administering any medication to a pet.
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Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
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This common method of pain control has been used for a long time in both humans and dogs suffering from arthritis. Dosages for a dog will be smaller, but these medications will work very well. NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), Ketoprofen (Orudis), Naproxen (Aleve) and etodolac (Lodine, Etogesic). Of these, aspirin and ibuprofen are the most commonly used, as they are available over-the-counter.
Side effects of NSAIDs might include nausea, vomiting or lack of appetite.
Narcotics
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Usually, dogs suffering from arthritis do not need to go to the extreme of taking narcotics. Most pet owners would prefer to use over-the-counter medication, so narcotics are not often used. In extreme cases, however, a veterinarian may prescribe these medications to combat severe pain. The most common narcotic used is morphine, since it has been shown to work consistently and reliably in dogs.
Side effects of morphine can include constipation, vomiting and sedation (if used in large doses).
Other Pain Relief
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Some other medications may help dogs to manage the pain of arthritis. Studies have shown that tramadol (Ultram Rx), a pain medication similar to a narcotic, can help relieve long-term pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a more popular choice of medication, since it rarely causes side effects in dogs and is easy to administer. Finally, gabapentin (Neurotin Rx), a seizure control medication, will help control chronic pain but is less commonly prescribed for pets.
Since these medications have less severe side effects than NSAIDs and narcotics, many veterinarians might prefer to prescribe Ultram Rx or Tylenol.
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