Ask Dr. Amanda - Pain Killers
"Sometimes my dogs seem a little sore after hunting. Is there any over-the-counter pain medications I can give? Are any of them poisonous to dogs? Can my vet prescribe anything?"
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There are a variety of options of available to you to utilize for your dog to keep him or her more comfortable. Two that should never be given are Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) and Acetaminophen (Tylenol/Excedrin). Aspirin is the only over the counter medication that is safe for regular use. Contact your veterinarian for an appropriate dosage for your dog. Aspirin is a little more harsh on the GI tract than some of the prescription medications. Some people prefer buffered aspririn.
In terms of prescription medications, the one you're most likely to have heard of is Rimadyl (carprofen). Other options include Deramaxx, Zubrin, and Previcox. All have merit and your veterinarian can help you determine which one is best for your dog. I prescribe mostly Rimadyl, for the simple reason that is the prescription NSAID most commonly used where I went to school. Long term use dose require regular monitoring of liver functions. The other caution I usually give owners when starting an animal on Rimadyl is to be careful not to let your dog over do their activity as he or she is suddenly feeling much better. Colt is about to be my test dog on Zubrin, as a rep just gave me some samples. The newest NSAID's such as Zubrin are supposed to be more C0X-2 specific and thus have decreased negative impact on the GI tract.