Pain Medication for Dogs

Dogs cannot take all of the same pain medications that humans can. Some of the medication you use for pain can be fatal for your dog. It is best to always check with your vet about what you can give your dog. The majority of medications are usually given to dogs for post-surgical pain or arthritis. They are also used for severe hip dysplasia and terminal cancer.

  1. Methocarbamol (Robaxin)

    • Methocarbamol (Robaxin) is a muscle relaxant that is available for your dog with a prescription from your vet. It is considered a safe drug when given to dogs. This medication does not work as a pain reliever usually does. It relaxes the tension in the muscles that are associated with the pain of arthritis. Other pain medications work directly on the pain receptors. This medication works well for this type of chronic pain.

    Tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil)

    • Tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil) reduce chronic pain in humans, and it works the same way in dogs. This medication is a prescription-only drug. It is given to dogs that have chronic pain, such as the pain from advanced arthritis.

    Carprofen (Rimadyl)

    • Carprofen (Rimadyl) is a medication made specifically for dogs and is available only through a prescription from your vet. It is used to decrease the pain after a surgical procedure by administering it to the dog before the surgery. Treatment of arthritis in dogs is another use for this drug. A rare side effect is that it causes liver damage in dogs, particularly for golden retrievers.

    Etodolac (EtoGesic)

    • Etodolac (EtoGesic) is a pain reliever for dogs that is similar to Carprofen. If a dog is in pain from arthritis, Etodolac can be given once a day to help manage the pain. Side effects reported are diarrhea and vomiting. It is also common for the dog to be lethargic especially when first starting this medication. This medication is prescribed or dispensed by your veterinarian.

    Steroids

    • Prednisone and prednisolone are steroids, and they are very effective as an anti-inflammatory when given to a dog. This medication is second only to a narcotic pain reliever for reducing the chronic pain in a dog. They are used for only short periods of times due to possible severe side effects which can occur after prolonged use. They work well in flare-ups of arthritis pain in your dogs.

    Opiates

    • Opiates are the most powerful pain-relieving medications that are available for dogs. These pain medications are highly addictive and are given for pain that does not respond to any other drugs. They will also be used for pain in a dog that is terminally ill to elevate moderate to severe pain. It is used for dogs to stop the severe pain of arthritis, hip dysplasia or later stages of cancer. This medication needs to be increased periodically due to dogs developing a tolerance to this drug.