How Do You Know Your Dog has a Painful Tooth?
It might be challenging to tell if your dog is suffering from a painful tooth.
The best way to understand is by learning the signs and symptoms.
Some of the dog pains may result from swollen gums, broken teeth, and tartar building up.
The signs to tell that your dog has a painful tooth include unusual drooling, bad breath, loss of appetite, nasal discharge, regular sneezing, chewing using one side of the mouth, shyness, and visible change in your dog’s mouth.
Orajel is not harmful to your dog if used correctly.
However, the high amount of Orajel is toxic to your dog; hence it is mostly safer when applied in lower concentrations.
In most instances, 10% of Benzocaine is effective in controlling the pain.
The Orajel is for topical use.
However, in some instances, the dog can suffer the side effects if the Orajel is administered to the dog.
This is because when you apply Benzocaine on the skin or gum of the dog, the Benzocaine will be absorbed relative to the amount applied.
Ingesting a tube of Orajel to the dog will give it a chance to absorb even excessive amounts of the drug, which is not advisable and, in turn, exposing the dog to more dangers.
In addition, Orajel is not supposed to be applied on the open sores and should not be used in the mouth if there is bleeding.
Always ensure that Orajel is kept in a place away from the dog, such as a medicine cabinet.
Ensure your Dog does not keep licking the surface where the Benzocaine was administered.
You could consider using an Elizabethan collar to keep the dog away from the surface where Benzocaine has been applied.
Side effects of using Orajel on dogs
Methemoglobinemia is a kind of anemia that affects dogs.
The condition is a result of treating a dog using human-grade Benzocaine.
The blood condition turns out to be very harmful to any dog.
Anemia dramatically reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen.
In an adverse situation, it results in death if not addressed with urgency.
The blood affected by methemoglobinemia has a brownish color that shows there is little oxygen in the circulation.
Other signs due to methemoglobinemia are:
Exposure to toxic amounts of Benzocaine will make dogs develop conditions if they ingest a lot of acetaminophens.
Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol or ibuprofen.
Methemoglobinemia can even call for blood transfusion to the affected dog.
Methemoglobinemia does not only affect dogs but also children who are less than two years old.
The case of children suffering from methemoglobinemia due to drugs containing Benzocaine was confirmed by the U.S Food and Drug Administration in 2018.
The issue led to the administration warning against the use of Benzocaine on infants due to this risk imposed.
Every dog, as in the case of human beings, has a different sensitivity to any medicine.
Benzocaine is safer for dogs, although some dogs may have different responses to this medicine.
In most dogs, it will have the desired effect, although some dogs may have side effects.
Skin irritation is the most common adverse effect on dogs, specifically on the applied region.
Dogs that are too sensitive to Orajel may suffer from skin rashes.
The rashes may increase the discomfort to your dog.
Allergy is also associated with adverse effects on sensitive dogs towards Benzocaine.
The allergy reaction may show out in the form of wheezing and vomiting by the dog.
When these signs start to show, it calls for cleaning the Orajel that has been used and seeking veterinarian assistance.
Can you put baby Orajel on a dog’s gums?
Orajel is not harmful to your dog if used correctly. … This is because when you apply Benzocaine on the skin or gum of the dog, the Benzocaine will be absorbed relative to the amount applied.
FAQ
Can dogs use oral gel?
High amounts of benzocaine can be toxic. 20% formulations or Maximum Strength Orajel (like the one pictured above) are a little on the strong side for most dogs.
What can I put on my dogs sore gums?
How can I numb my dogs gums?