Dog Pain Relief

Dog pain relief includes the use of dog pain medications (pain killers) as well as natural remedies such as herbs and nutraceuticals. This page looks at the common causes of pain in dogs, the signs and symptoms that a dog is in pain, and the types of conventional medications that are used as pain relief for dogs.

We don't want our dogs to suffer, so when our dogs are in pain, we naturally want to use dog pain medications to relieve their pain.

Dog pain killers come in many forms - OTC medications, prescription drugs, nutraceuticals, and alternative remedies and treatment such as herbs and acupuncture. Recently, more and more dog owners are turning to alternative remedies to relieve their dog's pain because many such remedies are not only effective but also safer - they usually do not cause side effects to dogs.

If your dog seems to be in pain, or is suffering from a health problem that causes him pain, please read on ... This page looks at these topics on dog pain and dog pain relief:

What are the signs and symptoms of dog pain?
What are the possible causes of dog pain?
What are some conventional dog pain medications?

If you would like to learn more about using natural remedies such as herbs and nutraceuticals for dog pain relief, please visit our page on herbal pain remedies.

Signs and Symptoms of Dog Pain

Unlike us, dogs don't complain and cry about their pain - They usually hide their pain and suffer in silence. That is their natural instinct for survival. However, there are telltale signs - both physical and behavioral - that may indicate our dog is in pain. By being observant and alert to these signs, we can get an early diagnosis of possible health problems, or give our dog pain relief sooner to minimize his discomfort and suffering.

Signs and symptoms to look out for are:

Vocalizing

Whining
Howling
Whimpering
Yelping
Groaning

Posture

Hunched (with hindquarters raised and front end down on the ground)
Limps
Carries his head or tail off center
Lays on his side

Facial Expression

Grimaces, especially when touched
Vacant stare
Wide-eyed or looks tired and sleepy
Dilated pupils
Flattened ears
Pants excessively even when resting

Activity Level

Restless
Reluctant to move
Difficulty getting up from a laying position
Unable to rest comfortably - gets up and lies down repeatedly
Trembling, circling or lying very still

Behavioral Changes

Becomes grouchy and aggressive (especially a previously friendly dog)
Growls, hisses, bites when being touched
Doesn't want to be held or picked up
Pins ears back
Hides (e.g. under the bed)
Withdraws from social interactions
Relunctant to play
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
Excessive drooling
Becomes more "clingy" than usual
Incessant scratching or licking a particular part of the body

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What are the Possible Causes of Dog Pain?

As you can imagine, there are zillions of possible reasons that can cause pain to our dogs. Here are some of the most common causes:

Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common dog health problems. Arthritis can be caused by genetic conditions such as hip dysplasia, or can be the result of a number of degenerative processes. Of course, it can also be secondary to an earlier injury or surgery. Read more about dog arthritis here.

Back Problems

Back problems can also cause a lot of pain to the dogs. Back problems in dogs can range from something like a pulled muscle to something more serious like a herniated disk. Read more about dog back problems here.

Injuries

Injuries such as bone fractures, sprains, bruises, etc., as well as insect bites and stings can also cause a lot of pain to our dogs.

Ear Infections

Dog ear infections, especially when spread to the middle or inner ear, can be extremely painful. Usually the dog will shake his head violently and will scratch the affected ear incessantly. He may also rub his head against the wall or furniture. Read more about dog ear infections here.

Eye Problems

Eye problems, such as ocular infections, ulceration of the cornea, glaucoma, etc., can be another source of pain and discomfort for our dogs. Dogs with eye problems usually will consistently scratch the affected eye with their hind leg. Alternatively, they will rub their eye against the bed, carpet, furniture, etc. Read more about dog eye problems here.

Headaches

Yes - dogs suffer from headaches too! They may develop nervous migrane or the headache may be as a result of a tumor.

Usually a dog suffering from headache has a fixed stare, or he may have his eyes closed. He will shake his head lightly and repeatedly from side to side and may scratch his head against the legs.

Dental and Gum Problems

Tooth decay, abscesses, and gingivitis are all culprits that cause great pain to our dogs. Dogs suffering from dental or gum diseases usually drool, sometimes cough, and have no appetite. Read more about dog dental care here.

Problems with the Digestive System

Indigestion caused by eating something inedible; poisoning; or obstruction of the intestines can cause abdominal pain to our dogs. Dogs with abdominal pain will rub their lateral abdomen against walls or furniture. They may also lay down and unwilling to get out of bed. They will try to lick their abdominal area.

Urinary Tract Infections

Another painful dog illness is urinary tract infections. Dogs with UTIs have a curved back because they have back pain. They urinate frequently and sometimes in inappropriate places. They also experience pain while urinating. Read more about dog urinary tract infections here.

Anal Sac Impaction

Dogs who have anal sac problems are always licking or even biting the anal area. They will scoot on the floor leaving unsightly "skid marks". Because of the pain from the rear end, they tend to sit down extremely carefully, looking backwards all the time. Read more about anal sac impaction here.

Cancers

Dog pain can of course be also caused by cancers of various types. Read more about dog cancer here.

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Some Conventional Dog Pain Relief Medications

Conventional dog pain relief medications include local anesthetics, opioids, and non-opioids. Non-opioids include a large of class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
These non-hormonal products include non-prescription aspirin and prescription required products such as Rimadyl. Usually NSAIDs are dog pain relief medications used to alleviate low to moderate pain and discomfort.
Aspirin is one of the older NSAIDs and is available over the counter. If you want to use aspirin as a dog pain relief, choose the buffered or enteric coated type. The uncoated type can often cause stomach upset and irritation to dogs. Prolonged use can lead to stomach ulcer development.
Do not use even coated aspirin, however, if your dog has a sensitive stomach.
The most common side effects of aspirin include digestive problems such as vomiting (sometimes with blood). Dosage is 4-10 mg/lb twice daily.
Carprofen (Rimadyl) is a newer NSAID and safer for dogs than older NSAIDs like Aspirin. It is primarily prescribed to relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. Possible side effects include gastrointestinal, liver, and kidney problems. Labrador retrievers in particular are prone to develop serious liver problems if put on this medication. Dosage is 1 mg/lb twice daily.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids and synthetic cortisone-like drugs (e.g. dexamethasone) are anti-inflammatory medications usually prescribed by conventional veterinarians to reduce pain caused by arthritis, or to alleviate discomfort caused by allergies.
These dog pain relief medications have a lot of nasty side-effects and should be used with extreme caution. Read more about these dog pain medications here.

Opioids
Opioids (or opiates), such as morphine, butorphanol, are extremely strong painkillers and because of their potency and possibility of abuse by people, they are strictly controlled by the government. Opiates are usually used in hospital to ease pain of very sick or terminally ill dogs.
Opiates can cause serious side effects, such as changes in respiratory and heart rate and they have sedative effects. In addition, dogs can also become addicted to opiates just like people do! Because of these adverse effects, opiates should only be used for very short periods to relieve pain under the close supervision of a veterinarian.

Local Anesthetics
This type of medication provides dog pain relief by blocking pain stimuli from reaching the brain and spinal cord. They differ from the opioids and NSAIDs in that they abolish pain rather than diminish it. An example of of a local anesthetic is lidocaine.