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Like humans, dogs can suffer from short-term or long-term pain. To help your furry family member, pain medications for dogs can help – here’s what to know about a dog in pain.
Discovering that your beloved dog is in pain may take awhile. Your furry pals are often so happy to see you, and so eager to please, that outward symptoms of their suffering may be minimized. It is almost as if they don’t want to bother you with their own concerns, and will attempt to hide the fact that they aren’t feeling well.
Is Your Dog in Pain?
Determining that there is something wrong can depend upon your noticing of subtle clues that indicate something isn’t quite right with your dog’s behavior. Some of the signs that indicate your dog is in some measure of pain include the following:
Loss of Appetite: There are several reasons that a dog may refuse to eat for a period of time. For picky eaters, changing the food brand or bowl presentation can be enough to put off an appetite for a bit. Your dog may also not be falling in line with eating the amount of food suggested by general instructions, and will simply be following his or her own instinct when it comes to food intake. A dog who is in some sort of pain, however, will often stop eating for an alarming amount of time. A refusal to eat that comes out of the blue can indicate tooth pain, stomach pain, or worse.
Decreased Energy: Dog breeds vary in energy levels, and the age of your dog will often vary those levels even further. An attentive dog owner will come to know the energy levels that are normal for a particular dog, and can tell when there is a decrease in activity. In the absence of direct sources of your dog’s lethargy – such as a recent romp in the park or a vigorous ball-chasing session in the back yard – the lack of energy can indicate that your dog is in some sort of physical turmoil.
Tail-Tucking: One of the most pitiful things to observe on a dog is the old tail-tuck. While this can be a normal sign of submission or worry in a new dog, your typical family pet will have long progressed past this stage. If you notice that the wagging tail that usually greets you at the door is drooped or tucked, this may be your dog’s way of communicating that he or she is in pain.
Yelps or Whimpers: A more obvious sign of a dog in pain is when your dog lets out a spontaneous noise when being petted or brushed, or when attempting to go about his or her daily business. These vocalizations are likely indicating that there is a localized source of pain, that is activating those nerve endings during certain activities.
Snapping or Biting: Dogs don’t snap or bite because they are mean. Biting behavior serves a very specific purpose for a canine, and typically stems from a desire to protect. In the case of a dog who is in pain, this biting behavior can be the instinctual way that your dog is attempting to avoid having you come into direct contact with the painful area.
Excessive Chewing or Licking: Dogs don’t have working hands, so their mouths have to fill in the gaps. Just as a human will attempt to rub out a sore back or pick at a splinter in the finger, a dog will do what it can to try to get at the source of his or her pain. If you notice that your dog repeatedly licks or chews at a specific area on his or her body, investigate the issue further.
Do’s and Don’ts of Using Medication for Dogs
Once you have determined that your canine is experiencing pain, the next step will be to decide how to approach the issue. While many pet owners will immediately go to the phone to schedule a vet appointment , there still remains the problem of your pet being uncomfortable in the meantime. It may be tempting to crush up a pain reliever that is designed for human consumption – such as acetametaphin or ibuprofin – and coax your dog to consume it for short-term relief.
Avoid this temptation, as the pain relievers that work for people can be very harmful to pets. Even a small amount of these medications can be toxic and deadly. The side effects of canine consumption of these types of human drugs include liver failure, intestinal bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, and death. It’s important to give your canine specific medication for dogs rather than medicine for humans.
Homeopathic Options
While waiting for the vet, there are some homeopathic remedies that can help to relieve your dog’s pain without creating further health risks. Several of these vitamins and herbs may already be found in your cupboard and medicine cabinet, as, unlike the aforementioned pain relievers, these remedies are cross-species compatible. Consider dusting your pet’s food or hiding one of the following supplements in a treat when looking to ease your dog’s suffering. Remember to always do your research into the specific supplements that you are considering, as there are even certain natural things which can be toxic for dogs.
Ginger: Ginger is one of the supplements that is generally considered to be safe for pets. It can help to relieve discomfort associated with stomach and intestinal issues, and can reduce the painful inflammation associated with arthritis.
St. John’s Wort: This plant has been hailed as a remedy for emotional distress for several decades. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, and can help to shore up your dog’s immune system during recovery from a painful infection.
Devil’s Claw: In spite of the creepy name, Devil’s Claw is a very useful plant. It can help to reduce the painful swelling and inflammation of joints, and can be useful in relieving pain for dogs which are suffering from long-term, degenerative, conditions.
Conclusion
Once arriving for your veterinary appointment, your vet will be able to determine the source of your dog’s pain and prescribe a fitting medication. Along with appropriate pain relief medication, your vet may also suggest increasing your dog’s comfort through application of holistic treatments, such as massage, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and aromatherapy.
In addition, compounded pet medications are available for your dog in pain. Finding the right medication, in the right dose and delivery method is imperative to ensure that your fluffy friend can stay healthy and out of pain.
