Aspirin is an over-the-counter NSAID. Your doctor may OK giving it to your dog for a limited amount of time, but usually only if they have an injury or another short-term condition. Itâs not recommended for long-term use in dogs because it has a greater potential for side effects, including the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Coated aspirin is best on the stomach, and give the pills with food. Talk to your vet and follow their recommendations on how much and how often.
Ask for a written copy of the treatment plan, as well as instructions (and a demonstration) for how to give the medicines to your pet. Be sure to give the drug only as your vet recommends. Too much or too little can cause problems. Dont share medications between dogs. Whats good for one animal may not be the right thing for another.
What Can You Give a Dog for Pain?
Your veterinarian will work with you to develop an individualized plan depending on the type of pain your dog is having. This may include:
Certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can safely be used in dogs are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help control pain and inflammation in dogs with osteoarthritis. This group of drugs works at points along the inflammatory pathway to affect the body’s response to pain.
As a negative side effect, however, the medications can block essential body functions like protecting the lining of the stomach and intestines, maintaining blood flow to the kidneys, and supporting platelet function.
It is important to give your dog only NSAIDs that your vet has approved, and to work closely with your veterinarian while your dog is taking them. Some NSAIDs are available over the counter and others are by prescription. Some pets, such as dogs with pre-existing liver or kidney disease, may not be able to take this class of medication.
Your veterinarian may want to run some tests prior to starting these medications and/or once your dog is on the medication a certain amount of time. The tests can help show how your dog’s body and organs are functioning to safely use an NSAID.
NSAID drugs can be effective in controlling pain and inflammation and may be used in multiple ways:
These are some NSAIDs that vets commonly use:
- Prescription medication
- Tablet, caplet, or chewable tablet
- Prescribed once or twice daily
- In use since the late 1990s
- Prescription medication
- Chewable tablet
- Prescribed once daily
- In use since the early 2000s
- Prescription medication
- Flavored chewable tablet
- Prescribed once daily
- In use since the early 2000s
- Prescription medication
- Flavored tablet or liquid
- Prescribed once daily
- In use since the early 2000s
- Prescription medication
- Tablet
- Prescribed once daily
- In use since 2016
- This NSAID may have fewer side effects than some other NSAIDs. It works at a different point in the inflammatory pathway than most other NSAIDs.
- Over-the-counter medication
- Tablet
- May need to be given multiple times daily, as directed on the label
- Not FDA-approved for use in dogs
- This medication may have more side effects and risk of toxicity than the prescription medications available.
Most of the time, NSAIDs are safe, effective medications to help dogs with pain when given as prescribed. It’s important to monitor your pet closely for side effects and signs of toxicity.
Veterinary intervention is needed in an overdose situation or if your pet is not tolerating the medication well.
Opioid drugs work at receptors in the brain to provide relief from moderate to severe pain. They can be prescribed after surgery or used as part of an anesthetic protocol.
Opioids have a high potential for abuse in humans and come with regulations, monitoring, and limitations. They must be prescribed by the vet, and because they are controlled drugs, your veterinarian must keep a dispensing log that can be audited by the DEA.
Opioids can have side effects in pets, including panting or slowed breathing, salivation, nausea, vomiting, vocalizing, sedation/lethargy, or hyperexcitability.
- Liquid, extended-release tablet, or extended-release capsule
- Used for surgical pain (such as orthopedic procedures) or severe trauma
- Short-term use only
- Liquid
- Not meant to be swallowed; it’s squirted into the mouth for absorption by vessels under the tongue
- Used for surgical pain, cancer pain, or trauma
- Short-term use only
- Liquid or tablet
- Used for severe arthritis pain, chronic collapsing trachea cough, or surgical pain
- Short- to medium-term use
- Liquid or tablet
- Used for surgical pain
- Short-term use
- Liquid or transdermal patch
- Used for surgical pain
- Short-term use
- Patch must be handled carefully so the opioid is not absorbed into your skin
Human Medications That Are Bad for Dogs
There are some human OTC medications that dogs should never take. These OTC human pain medications can be toxic to your dog:
Ibuprofen is the main ingredient found in over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin.3 While these medicines are safe for humans in the appropriate doses, it just takes one pill to cause severe problems for your dog. Dogs and cats can get stomach ulcers or kidney failure from these toxic medications.4
Naproxen is the active ingredient in Aleve, which is a pain reliever that is available without a prescription in the United States. It can be used to treat symptoms related to inflammation, pain, and fever.
Unless a vet specifically prescribes a low dosage, naproxen should be avoided. Dogs have a low threshold for naproxen toxicity. 5
Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, has long been used as a pain reliever, even in young children. However, the same cannot be said for our furry friends; in dogs, small amounts of Tylenol cause liver failure.6
What Can I Give My Dog For Pain – Ask the Expert | Dr David Randall
If your pup is in pain, you want to provide some relief—and fast. We humans can easily reach for an over-the-counter pill to treat our aches and pains, but asking yourself “What can I give my dog for pain?” doesnt have a simple answer. Before you can treat your dogs pain, youll need to figure out whats causing it in the first place.
Before you search your own medicine cabinet or head to the local drugstore, you should know that many human pain medications are unsafe for dogs. Contact your veterinarian if you think your dog is in pain. They can help you figure out why your pup hurts and create a plan to address the pain.
How can you tell if your dog is in pain? Sometimes, its fairly obvious: limping, yelping, pulling away when the painful area is touched. But many dogs hide pain as a survival instinct. Less overt signs of pain in dogs include:
Bear in mind that these signs can indicate illness or fear rather than pain. Seeing your veterinarian is the best way to figure it out so you can help your dog.
We know dogs experience pain, even if they show it differently than we do. Pain management is an important part of veterinary healthcare for dogs. There are many different types of drugs used to relieve pain in dogs, and they work in different ways. There are also drugs you definitely shouldnt use, so consult your vet to determine which drug is best based on your dogs current pain and medical history.