Chihuahua Care
What Can I Give My Chihuahua for Pain?
Apr
Is your adorable Chihuahua not quite their adorable self lately? This could be because they are in pain. When your pet is in pain, you want to do everything to make them feel better. But don’t just give them anything that you think will ease their pain. You have to be sure which medications are effective as an anti-inflammatory for dogs.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications for Dogs
There are not a lot of types of medications sold to treat a dog’s pain. The most common type is NSAID.
What is NSAID?
NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, reduce joint pains, swelling, and stiffness, as well as bring down a high temperature in humans. And these drugs have similar effects on your Chihuahua. They are helpful in easing the pain of arthritis or wounds in dogs. They are also effective to relieve the pain after a surgery.
However, not all NSAIDs are suitable for dogs. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are not good for your Chihuahua. Ibuprofen, for example, causes kidney failure and ulcers. Other unsuitable human medications cause gastrointestinal bleeding (bleeding in the stomach), liver and kidney damage, or holes in the stomach lining.
These are the types of NSAIDs suitable for dogs and the brands that sell them:
- Carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl)
- Firocoxib (Previcox)
- Meloxicam (Metacam)
- Deracoxib (Deramaxx)
Potential Side Effects of NSAIDs
Although the NSAIDs listed above are generally considered safe by veterinarians, there are still potential side effects. There are cases of NSAIDs causing kidney, liver, or digestive problems in dogs. An easy way to determine if your Chihuahua is experiencing a bad reaction to an NSAID is by remembering the acronym BEST. BEST stands for:
- Behavioral changes
- Eating less
- Skin redness, rashes, or scabs
- Tarry stool, diarrhea, or vomiting
If any of these symptoms manifest themselves after administering an NSAID, stop giving your Chihuahua the drug and contact your vet.
What are My Other Options for Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for Dogs?
Aspirin is another pain-reliever option for your pet. It is an over-the-counter NSAID that a vet will let you give your dog only temporarily. You should only use aspirin for short-term situations such as your dog having an injury.
It’s not advisable for long-term use because it has a greater potential for bad side effects. But if you have to use aspirin for your hurting furball, coated aspirin is best for their stomach.
Other options include gabapentin and tramadol. But these are for more extreme cases of pain.
Gabapentin treats the pain caused by damaged nerves. It can cause your dog to be sleepy for the first few days of taking it, but that will go away soon. Gabapentin can be used with other drugs as prescribed by your vet.
Tramadol works like other mild opioid medications. Vets usually administer it only to old dogs living with 24/7 pains. Side effects include stomach problems, vomiting, and dizziness. As always, talk to your vet if your little Chi experiences anything negative from these drugs.
Steroids for pain are not advisable. Giving your Chihuahua steroids can cause serious side effects. You don’t want these for your fuzzball.
What’s the Best Way to Give NSAID to My Chihuahua?
There are various ways to give your little Chihuahua their pain-reliever. These ways are orally or via injection. The injection must be done by a vet. If an untrained person treats a dog with an injection, your Chihuahua may suffer some consequences.
When administering drugs orally, it’s best to put the pills in the dog’s food. This way, your Chihuahua will not have to be forced to swallow their pills. Forcing them to do anything will just stress them out and can aggravate the pain they’re experiencing. If your dog doesn’t take oral medications well, consult your vet for other options.
Other Considerations to Make When Administering Drugs
Watch out for allergic reactions when administering drugs to your cute Chi. Although drugs are tested before being approved so they shouldn’t cause an allergic reaction to dogs. However, there are rare cases of dogs still getting an allergic reaction.
If you are administering an NSAID to relieve your dog’s pain for the first time, be on guard for an allergic reaction.
What are My Alternatives to Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for Dogs?
There are other ways to manage pain for your dog. Diet plays an important part in causing diseases such as diabetes or arthritis. Supplementing your furry pet’s food with omega-3 rich fatty acids reduces swelling in the joints, for example. Closely monitoring your dog’s weight also reduces pressure on their joints, reducing the pain.
Other supplements, like glucosamine and chondroitin, are known to reduce pain. Although not fully understood why, all the evidence shows that these supplements repair the cartilage in a dog’s joints.
Prevention is Better than a Cure
If you can help it, take as many preventative measures as you can regarding your beloved pet’s health. Would you rather they experience pain then administer anti-inflammatory drugs for dogs or that your pet doesn’t experience any pain in the first place?
Before any pain manifests itself, be on the lookout for your dog’s health. Make sure that their diet is ideal for them. Make sure that they get enough exercise. These are parts of expressing love and care for your little Chihuahuas.
Final Word on Anti-Inflammatory for Dogs
Never do something about your Chihuahua’s health without the proper knowledge. You have to be sure that the actions you’re taking will only yield positive results. Think carefully about what’s the best NSAID or other alternatives to give your pet. Or better yet, always talk to your vet about any steps you want to take regarding the health of your adorable puppy.
No matter what NSAID you have to give your pup or by how much and how often, always consult your vet.
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