Can You Give a Dog Gravol/Dramamine for Anxiety?
Yes, Gravol/Dramamine is recommended for dogs’ anxiety. Its chemical composition makes it the perfect solution for the dog. When everything else fails, pets can benefit from the same medication that people take to prevent motion sickness when driving, dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).
These medications act as CNS depressants, which can help calm an agitated or anxious dog. It’s crucial to understand that medication interactions are a constant possibility. Therefore, before giving your dog any medicine, even one as seemingly harmless as Dramamine, it’s crucial to see your veterinarian.
Understanding The Medication: What Is Dramamine?
Dramamine® (generic name Dimenhydrinate) is an antihistamine and an antiemic drug that is commonly used by humans to regulate the symptoms of motion sickness. The primary active ingredient, Dimenhydrinate, may be regarded as a weaker form of diphenhydramine (the main ingredient found in most U.S. Benadryl® allergy products). Dimenhydrinate is actually a combination of diphenhydramine and a mild stimulant known as 8-chlorotheophylline, which helps to inhibit drowsiness and sedation.
This medication works by inhibiting stimulation of the vestibular system of the brain, which is located within the inner ear and is responsible for detecting motion. Dramamine blocks certain neurotransmitters, preventing the passage of information from the vestibular apparatus (middle ear) and inner ear to the part of the brain associated with coordination of reflex actions (such as vomiting and swallowing). Dogs as well as humans can experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness and stumbling when there is an excessive amount of overstimulation to the vestibular system.
Although Dimenhydrinate is not approved for use in animals by the FDA, it is prescribed legally be veterinarians as an extra-label drug. While it is primarily used to treat motion sickness in dogs, it has also been administered by vets to treat general anxiety in dogs and used as a sedative. Your vet may also prescribe it to treat nausea unrelated to motion-sickness, such as symptoms that relate to inner-ear (vestibular) disease, which is prevalent in older dogs.
Can I Give My Dog Human Dramamine?
Yes, you can give your dog human Dramamine. Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) is safe for dogs, and in veterinary medicine, it is used as an “off-label” or “extra-label.” Although safe and frequently used, it is always advisable to talk with your vet before starting to give your dog Dramamine.
Dr. Dwight Andrew Alleyne warns that “Owners have to be cautious when using this product to make sure it only contains the active ingredient dimenhydrinate. Sometimes this medication is combined with additional ingredients that can be toxic to pets.”
For example, the “All Day”/”Less Drowsy” formula features meclizine because it has a lesser sedative effect and is perfectly safe for dogs.
On the other hand, the “Non-Drowsy Naturals” formula is not safe for dogs because it contains 1000 mg of ginger. In smaller amounts, ginger is good for dogs, but these doses are way too high.