How Long Can a Dog Take Gabapentin?
You may be wondering how long can a dog take gabapentin, since epilepsy can be a life-long condition. With epilepsy in dogs, gabapentin is taken as long as the pup needs it, which can be months or even years.
There are some risks in long-term use of gabapentin in dogs, such as an increased risk of cancer. But a dog suffering from regular heavy seizures needs this relief, so the trade-off is usually worth it.
In the short term, when correctly prescribed, gabapentin doesn’t seem to cause any real issues. Except for a bit of dizziness, most dogs do absolutely fine on this medication. So how will gabapentin affect your dog? Lets take a look at gabapentin’s side effects in dogs.
Few medications are without side effects, but their severity can differ a lot from drug to drug. Side effects of Gabapentin in dogs can also differ according to the individual dog, its general constitution and its medical history.
The most common side effects for dogs taking gabapentin involve a loss of coordination. Gabapentin use in dogs can cause them to appear unsteady on their feet. They may also experience drowsiness.
My Dose Doesn’t Match these Guidelines
Don’t worry if your dog’s dose doesn’t appear to match any of the examples we’ve given. Vets use guidelines, but they treat each dog on a case-by-case basis. Guidelines are useful, but only your vet will know how much gabapentin your dog needs. So, how long does gabapentin stay in a dog’s system? Does it linger on or disappear quickly?
How long does it take for gabapentin to kick in?
6. Response and effectiveness. Peak concentrations of gabapentin (immediate-release) occur within 2 to 3 hours. Although gabapentin may improve sleep problems due to nerve pain within a week, it may take up to two weeks for symptom relief from nerve pain to occur.