Relieving Your Dog’s Pain: A Complete Guide to What’s Safe — and What’s Not

Some dogs have chronic pain from medical conditions such as arthritis. Others may experience temporary pain after injuries or surgery. Regardless of the cause, you’ll want to do everything you can to relieve your dog’s pain.

The good news is that a veterinarian can choose from several good pain-relieving medications. Their choice will depend on a variety of factors, including the cause of your dog’s pain and their other medications.

Prescription pain medications for dogs

Here are eight of the most commonly prescribed pain medications for dogs.

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Carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl)

Carprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is often prescribed to relieve inflammation associated with arthritis. It can also be used to manage pain following surgery. Carprofen is FDA approved for dogs and comes in several doses and forms, including flavored tablets.

NSAIDs like carprofen can cause side effects in dogs, including stomach upset. Other risks include elevated liver enzymes and worsening kidney disease. A veterinarian can monitor for these with routine blood tests.

Deracoxib (Deramaxx)

Deracoxib works by lowering inflammation and is FDA approved for use in dogs. Veterinarians prescribe this NSAID to treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Arthritis

• Pain after surgery

• Injuries

• Some cancers

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Deracoxib can cause stomach upset, which can be reduced by giving the medication with food. It can worsen preexisting liver or kidney disease, so a veterinarian may perform blood tests before prescribing it and during treatment.

Firocoxib (Previcox)

Another NSAID that lowers inflammation is firocoxib. It’s FDA approved for dogs to treat pain from injury, surgery, and arthritis. It’s a once-daily pill that’s prescribed at the lowest effective dose.

Firocoxib can cause stomach upset in dogs. Other more serious side effects are rare but can include changes in appetite or energy level. Dog owners who observe adverse effects should contact their veterinarian for advice.

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Meloxicam (Metacam)

Meloxicam is an FDA-approved NSAID that blocks inflammation. It’s typically prescribed to dogs to treat pain from:

• Arthritis

• Pain after surgery

• Dental infections

• Injuries

Meloxicam is available as an oral liquid, a spray, or a chewable tablet. Veterinarians often start dogs on a high dose and then taper down for long-term use.

Similar to other NSAIDs, meloxicam can cause stomach upset. Because of the risk of kidney or liver side effects, a veterinarian may run blood tests every 6 to 12 months.

Grapiprant (Galliprant)

Grapiprant is a type of NSAID that’s FDA approved to relieve arthritis pain and inflammation in dogs. Unlike other pain relievers, it doesn’t affect the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, or blood-clotting pathways in the body. This helps reduce the risk of side effects.

Grapiprant may not be a good choice for dogs with heart disease. The medication may interfere with other NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, and medications used to treat heart problems. Unlike other NSAIDs, grapiprant is best given without food. But it’s OK to give the medication with food if your dog gets sick when taking it on an empty stomach.

Gabapentin

Gabapentin was originally developed to treat seizures in people. It is not FDA approved to treat pain in dogs. But it is commonly prescribed off-label by veterinarians.

Gabapentin reduces pain-producing signals from nerve cells, which can help dogs with nerve pain. It’s also used to treat arthritis and chronic back pain in dogs.

The most common side effects of gabapentin in dogs are tiredness and poor balance. These reactions often happen at high doses and tend to wear off in 8 to 12 hours.

Steroids

Steroids such as prednisolone and dexamethasone help manage excessive inflammation that leads to pain in dogs. They are sometimes prescribed off-label to treat:

• Hot spots

• Ear infections

• Paw inflammation

Veterinarians typically prescribe steroids for short-term use because they can suppress the immune system. This raises the risk of your dog getting an infection.

Steroids are available as injections, tablets, and oral liquids. Common side effects include:

• Increased thirst or appetite

• Weight gain

• Restlessness

Steroids should not be combined with NSAIDs, grapiprant, or aspirin because they can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening reactions. Make sure to tell a veterinarian if your dog takes other medications.

Tramadol

Tramadol is an opioid that blocks pain signals. It’s sometimes used off-label by veterinarians for dog pain and is typically prescribed with other medications. But in more recent years, veterinarians have started to question how well tramadol works to manage pain. So it’s not prescribed as often to dogs, especially if your dog hasn’t tried other options for pain relief.

Quiz: Is your dog in pain?

OTC pain relief for dogs

Some over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be used to relieve pain in dogs. But check with a veterinarian before using these products. Not all OTC pain medications are safe for dogs. Your dog’s vet can also recommend the proper dosage and ensure they won’t interfere with other medications your dog is taking.

Let’s look at your choices for OTC pain relief for dogs.

St. John’s wort

This herbal supplement is sold in several oral formulations, including capsules, powders, and liquids. It’s believed to work by blocking certain brain chemicals that trigger pain signals. But bear in mind that few studies have been done on dogs. Human studies have yielded mixed results.

St. John’s wort can interact with other medications your dog may take, including paroxetine, raising the risk of serotonin syndrome. This can cause muscle tremors, agitation, and other dangerous symptoms. It’s important to discuss this supplement with a vet before giving it to your dog.

CBD

Studies suggest CBD can improve arthritis pain in dogs. But CBD can interfere with other medications your dog takes and elevate their liver enzymes. CBD may also cause side effects in dogs such as lethargy and stomach upset.

Aspirin

Veterinarians often prescribe aspirin to treat arthritis or other forms of musculoskeletal inflammation in dogs. But it’s important to get the dosage right, since an overdose can be deadly for dogs. Adverse reactions in dogs are common and can include stomach upset and ulcers.

Are human painkillers safe for dogs?

Some human painkillers are safe for dogs. But it’s a bad idea to give your dog pills without talking to a veterinarian. Some human medications can harm dogs, most notably ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

Ibuprofen can be poisonous to dogs, even at small doses. Never give ibuprofen or naproxen sodium (Aleve) to dogs.

Alternative pain relief remedies safe for dogs

You may be able to relieve your dog’s pain without using any medications. Here are the top strategies that veterinarians recommend.

Rest

Limiting your dog’s physical activity is particularly helpful for relieving acute pain from injuries or surgery. Shorten walks, avoid rough play, and keep your dog on the ground level of your house to prevent stair climbing.

Ice or heat therapy

If your dog has arthritis pain, try applying an ice pack to numb the painful area after exercise. Applying a heat pack will also decrease pain while improving the flexibility of arthritic joints.

Acupuncture

This ancient Chinese practice uses tiny needles placed on the surface of the skin to stimulate nerves. The resulting electrical signals can block pain.

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Written by:

Arlene Weintraub

Arlene Weintraub is a freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience as a journalist covering health, science, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. She was most recently an associate director and a health writer for APCO Worldwide, where she provided writing and communications consulting to hospitals, biopharmaceutical companies, scientific equipment makers, and health nonprofits.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM, is from Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Princeton University for undergraduate studies. After a year of biology research at Duke University, he attended Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine.

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