Pain Relief for Dogs: What Are My Options?

They might show it differently, but dogs experience pain just as their owners do. The old belief that dogs have a higher tolerance for pain or that pain actually helps them heal faster isn’t backed by research and more owners are doing something to control the pain.

Whether it’s from a recent surgery, arthritis, skin problems, injuries from rough play or a toothache, there are medications available for dogs that will make them healthier and happier. Some drugs fall into the class of neutriceuticals, which include glucosamine and chondroitin. These can take up to a month, in some cases, to begin working.

Another common class of medications that are very effective are known as NSAIDs, which stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. While these medications are very effective means of pain relief for dogs, they pose a danger if misused and have a list of side effects. Most NSAIDs used on dogs include name brands like Metacam, Deramaxx, Rimadyl and Etogesic. If your dog is on any of these drugs, keep an eye on them and discontinue use if they vomit or experience diarrhea.

Some dogs simply don’t respond well to NSAIDs and need something that acts more quickly than the neutriceuticals. In this case, most veterinarians will recommend medications that include amantidine, tramadol or gabapentin.

In many cases, dog owners know when their dog will be in for a round of pain, mostly due to surgery or a veterinary procedure that will cause some lingering discomfort. In this case, have the medication on hand and ready so that you can cut pain off at the pass. Some veterinarians will recommend starting your dog on pain meds a day or two before the procedure.

Under no circumstances should you run to your medicine cabinet to treat bring pain relief for dogs. Advil and Tylenol are in practically every household in the nation, but they are not to be used as pain relief for dogs as they are designed for humans.

There are some holistic methods that you can try if medications don’t seem effective. Acupuncture, has been successful for some pet owners and has been shown to bring pain relief to canines. Chronic pain is especially reduced by acupuncture. Massage and hydrotherapy are other holistic approaches that can bring pain relief for dogs.

For more extreme measures, some pain relief for dogs has been found in using stem cell therapy. Laser therapy has also been used effectively.

Pain relief for dogs can also come in the form of joint health supplements, such as those from ProLabs who specializes in vet-quality products for your pets. FLEX Rx is designed to improve joint health and has been proven to work better than glucosamine-based products.

Educate Yourself When it Comes to Finding a Joint Pain Remedy For Your Pet

It’s an unfortunate fact that one in five dog owners are forced to face – at some point you’ll be researching ways to treat joint pain. From hip dysplasia to arthritis, dogs are prone to a number of issues that will affect their health.

Joint issues are bred into small breeds, but larger breeds with more weight dispersed into their joints are prone to developing osteoarthritis. Regardless of the sizes, the pain is probably not much different and it’s up to you to find a joint pain remedy that will bring more health and happiness to your canine.

Some dog lovers have noticed what they believe is an increase in the number of dogs experiencing joint pain, but in reality, veterinarians are become more adept at diagnosing these problems. But sometimes, breeders are looking for certain characteristics in the dogs they are breeding that may bring with it undesirable qualities such as hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis.

One of the first courses of action in finding a pain relief remedy is to determine whether or not your dog is in fact experiencing joint issues. Is your dog walking with a strange gait or have a limp? Does it have a hard time negotiating stairs or have trouble standing from a laying position? Does it put more weight on its front legs than its back legs? These are all signs that your dog is experiencing joint issues, whether ligament induced, hip related or from arthritis.

Joint pain remedies run the gamut, from laser surgery to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Some forward-thinking owners have even experimented with acupuncture. Stem cell therapy is on the rise as are supplements that include omega-3 fatty acids.

Finding the proper remedy might be as simple as helping your dog lose weight by better regulating its diet. Ask your veterinarian what the proper amount of food intake is for your dog on a daily basis. Being overweight is a problem for dogs with joint problems and is often caused by their obese condition, especially if the weight gain is rapid.

ProLabs Pets is a company with a focus on helping dog and cat owners achieve the best health possible for their pets, and they have a formula that is built to provide better joint health in dogs. Clinical studies of FLEX Rx supplement have shown that it is more effective than the traditional glucosamine hydrochloride method for joint health problems. In fact, FLEX Rx has been shown to be twice as effective than the popular Cosequin DS1. Currently, a $10 discount is being offered by ProLabs Pets to try this vet-quality product.

Dogs with Joint Pain: Are Small Breeds Prone to Joint Issues?

While larger breeds of canines are known to be prone to joint issues, dogs with joint pain come in all sizes. Some breeds that are bred for shorter leg lengths, which are generally small dogs, actually have more joint issues than the average breed.

Dogs with joint pain can often be identified at very youthful stages in their lives. Some veterinarians say they’ve witnessed joint issues in puppies as young as four months of age. One hip problem that joint pain sufferers have is called avascular necrosis and it occurs on the head of the femoral bone. Avascular necrosis is when blood supply fails to reach that area. One way you can detect this in your puppy is if you notice that he/she has a difficult time standing up or has difficulty walking.

Smaller dogs can also exhibit problems rooting from their knees. It’s called patellar luxation; patellar after the floating knee bone and luxation, which is the process by which the patellar comes out of alignment. Dogs with this ailment will often hop as their knee will lock up.

Small dogs with joint pain might also have a condition that is brought on over time whereby the cranial cruciate ligament ruptures. This ligament is located around the knees and can be a long-term issue in a dog that is injured through rough play. Veterinarians will refer to this as a disease in dogs that show symptoms after gradual wear and tear on the ligament.

Since most small breeds are genetically predisposed to these joint issues, there isn’t much you can do for your dog, whether it’s a puppy or full-grown to eliminate their joint issues. However, there are some supplements such as chondroitin and glucosamine that are widely available and are proven to be effective in addressing some joint issues. Some owners will also try to limit exposure to situations that cause stress on the joints, such as keeping them off slippery floor surfaces or letting them jump down from tall structures.

Some dogs will exhibit a slower pace or stiffness after vigorous exercise, which can mimic joint issues. But dogs that suffer from joint pain which is brought on by more serious issues should be taken to the veterinarian for recommendations on treatment.

Small dog owners are also turning to ProLabs for their veterinarian-quality joint health supplements that are proving to be effective. FLEX Rx is engineered to help small breeds, large breeds and every breed in between with their joint health. It’s actually the first product of its kind that is capable of managing joint health at the metabolic level. ProLabs solution involves using ingredients that are up to five times more effective than vitamin E in treating joint issues, and has been shown to be more effective than glucosamine.

Soothing Joint Pain in Your Older Dog

With one-fifth of all adult dogs suffering from arthritis, there are a good number of pet owners familiar with the signs of joint pain. Some conditions affect young dogs, so it’s never too early to know what to look for to stay one step ahead of chronic joint pain problems.

Arthritis also goes by a couple of other names, including osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease. Regardless of the name, the pain is the same and many pet owners are looking for ways to give their dogs a better quality of life.

Some dogs are genetically cursed, so to speak, to grow into joint pain associated with arthritis, which is passed down through breeding. Some dogs were not properly exercised as puppies and developed some physical issues that wear down their joints, which also mimics joint pain associated with arthritis.

The tell tale signs of joint pain include slowness in getting up off the floor and into a sitting position or walking. Your pet might have a stiff gait as they first start walking after a nap or extended rest. Mostly, you’ll see that your pet is becoming less active. Many pet owners at first believe its just part of the aging process. A more likely possibility is that the dog is feeling pain while walking or running and chooses to remain motionless to avoid the pain.

The onset of arthritis and the joint pain associated with it can come on slowly and won’t grab your attention until quite late in the onset of the disease. Homes with stairs won’t slow down a healthy dog, but when arthritis begins to set in, dogs will avoid stairs at all costs because they are difficult and painful to negotiate. But there are steps you can take to keep your pet as happy as it can be as it progresses into chronic arthritis.

As always, the first step is to consult your veterinarian. They can determine how advanced the arthritis has become and what options you have in treating it. Not all joint pain symptoms are caused from arthritis. In some cases, it’s an injured ligament. In worse cases, it’s cancer. Many adult dogs become overweight, which is something that makes joint pain much worse. Putting your dog on a diet is a positive step toward taking away the pain.

Just because the dogs is in pain doesn’t mean it should remain on a comfortable cushion for the remainder of its years. Veterinarians actually prefer that the dog remain active, which keeps muscles strong and helps ease the wear and tear on joints.

Many companies are producing medications that ease the pain in the joints. ProLabs, offers FLEX Rx, which is made for dogs of all breeds and sizes and was made to maintain or improve the joint health of your pet. The proprietary ingredients ProLabs uses can ease the pain and bring some of the puppy back to your adult dog.