Note: This publish is sponsored by 1-800-PetMeds®. I was compensated for this post, however I only share info I feel is appropriate to my readers.
Leave a comment below for a possibility to win a bottle of Super Joint Enhancer for your dog.
Should you provide a senior pet dog pain medication for things like sore joints?
This was a difficult decision for me.
My older lab mix Ace has had chronic pain in his back legs for about two years.
On top of that, the bad person had to offer with a skin condition that was triggering open wounds on his body. I am thankful we finally got that issue under manage (blog publish on that coming soon!) so now we are only taking care of joint issues.
Obviously I don’t want my pet dog to be in pain, however I’m also concerned about the prospective side impacts of pain medications (more on that below).
How do you discover the ideal balance? must you provide your senior pet dog pain medication?
For me, it comes down to improving my senior dog’s high quality of life. Yes, there are prospective side impacts to medications however this doesn’t indicate every pet dog will have issues.
In our case, natural options are not sufficient on their own to make my pet dog comfortable. That’s why his vet prescribed Rimadyl.
What is Rimadyl?
Ace’s vet prescribed a pain medication called Rimadyl to assist with sore joints on a long-lasting basis.
We went with a less costly generic version called Novox Carprofen, and we save a lot more by ordering it with the on the internet pet pharmacy 1-800-PetMeds® (prescription still required).
Rimadyl is a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) utilized to treat pain as well as inflammation in dogs due to:
arthritis
other joint illness such as hip dysplasia
surgery
dental procedures
The medication works by reducing hormones that cause pain as well as inflammation in the dog’s body, according to 1-800-PetMeds®. This enables the pet dog to step as well as exercise with less pain. checked out a lot more about NSAIDs here.
It’s like if I were to take Advil, which is likewise a NSAID. Rimadyl is created particularly for dogs as well as needs a prescription from a veterinarian.
With Ace, I originally provided him a dose on days where I understood he was going to be a lot more active (and a lot more likely to be sore later). For example, if we were going to the pet dog beach that day, I would provide him his pain medication in the morning.
[quote_center]If we were going to the pet dog beach that day, I would provide him his pain medication in the morning.[/quote_center]
Ace’s vet stated it is OK to provide the medication on an as-needed basis. It does not necessarily requirement to be provided every day.
These days I do provide Ace his pain medication every morning with breakfast. This seems to be the very best option for him at this time around since it assists him take pleasure in his everyday walks as well as playing with his tennis ball.
What are the prospective side impacts of Rimadyl?
One of the reasons I was hesitant to provide Rimadyl to my pet dog was since of the danger of specific side effects, particularly over the long term.
I eventually made a decision it was worth the minor danger in buy to make my dog’s life a lot more enjoyable. According to PetMeds®, about 1 percent of dogs taking NSAIDs will experience a few of the following:
Potential side effects of NSAIDs in dogs:
digestive upset
damage to the dog’s liver
damage to the dog’s kidneys
damage to the dog’s stomach
More information on NSAIDs’ side effects here (including Rimadyl’s).
To potentially decrease these side effects:
1. One choice is to add an over-the-counter nutritional supplement to enhance your dog’s liver function such as Denamarin, according to 1-800-PetMeds®. I have not tried this however it seems like an choice worth considering.
2. You can likewise think about occasional bloodwork to screen your dog, particularly if you plan to keep your pet on Rimadyl long term. Ace had bloodwork back in December as well as during that time there were no evident problems.
3. provide the medication with food to decrease possibilities of an upset tummy.
Alternatives to prescription pain medications for dogs
Because of the prospective side impacts of NSAIDs, you may want to think about some natural choices very first or work with your dog’s vet to find a balance between the two.
In Ace’s case, making sure to take him out for a couple of short walks each day seems to help keep his joints a lot more limber as well as his muscles stronger. However, he does requirement to prevent running or chasing full speed after a tennis ball.
Some options to pain medications include:
T-Relief tablets (homeopathic product for pain relief)
glucosamine/joint enhancer products
fish oil
acupuncture, chiropractic care or physical therapy
the Assisi Loop
Benefits of glucosamine for dogs
Giving your dog a glucosamine supplement may assist minimize your dog’s joint pain since it has an anti-inflammatory effect. More information here.
It can also:
restore your dog’s joint health
increase mobility
lubricate the joints
benefit dogs of all ages
Your dog’s vet can assist you discover the ideal balance between prescription pain medication as well as joint supplements for your dog. Sometimes with the ideal dose of glucosamine your pet dog may not even requirement pain medication.
For me, it comes down to weighing the pros as well as the cons of each product I give my dog, as well as improving his high quality of life the very best I can.
I’m thankful my pet dog is still able to take pleasure in checking out the regional pet dog beach or strolling around our preferred parks. Senior dogs are so special as well as I appreciate the time I have with my boy.
Giveaway – Win a bottle of incredibly Joint Enhancer for your pet (3 winners)
PetMeds® is providing away a bottle of its incredibly Joint Enhancer to three visitors of That Mutt.
The winners will be able to select from the tablet version (for dogs only) or the soft chew version (for dogs as well as cats).
To enter:
Just leave a comment below to let me understand which one of your family pets might benefit from these products. I’ll select three winners at random on Wed June 22. Must have a U.S. mailing address to win.
Could your pet dog benefit from a joint enhancer?
Let me understand in the comments!
Note: If your dog is in requirement of urgent or emergency care, get in touch with her veterinarian. This publish is for informational and educational functions as well as not meant to supplement or substitute your dog’s vet. It may be needed to seek advice from your dog’s veterinarian relating to your dog’s pain management, arthritis or any type of other medical condition.