Today, more people than ever are turning to natural alternatives for relieving pain in dogs. Things like physical therapy, herbal supplements, exercise, and proper diet seem to be working better than conventional options in most cases. The lack of efficacy in treating pain with conventional medications has made many dog parents turn to holistic remedies. There are several natural remedies to choose from.
Some of the most popular products to give your dog for pain include fever and turmeric. Supplements infused with CBD ingredients are easily available locally, but many trusted publishers recommend that we get them online.
On top of turmeric and feverfew, you may want to try the following herbal supplements:. All of these options possess natural anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Besides herbal supplements, you may also want to add treatments like physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, hydrotherapy, and aromatherapy in addition to CBD to further comfort your dog. Many dog parents decide to give their dogs CBD oil for pain. Is there any science to back it up?
CBD oil is one of the most popular health supplements in the wellness industry. It has a wide range of health benefits due to its interaction with the mammalian endocannabinoid system ECS. This is why CBD oil is also an effective remedy for a variety of pain in dogs, including canine osteoarthritis.
Better yet, CBD oil is well tolerated by dogs even in very high doses. There have been no clinical reports of fatal overdoses on CBD, nor there have been any mentions of severe side effects. CBD oil is available in many forms, such as tinctures, pet treats , and topical treatments. Below we cover everything you need to know about giving CBD oil to dogs with pain — explaining the mechanism of action.
The best CBD oils for dogs are made from organic hemp, extracted with supercritical CO2, and fully tested for potency and purity in a third-party laboratory — something which every company out there claims to do.
In a rush? Here are the two companies that make the best CBD products for pets in terms of quality, flavor, and transparency. Recently, one of the most reputable players on the scene has expanded its collection with pet products, including CBD oil and dog treats. The Royal Paws CBD oil has been formulated with the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes to help dogs benefit from the entourage effect. You can choose from three strengths: mg small dogs , mg medium dogs , and mg large dogs.
Each of these options comes in the beloved flavor of all dogs — bacon. The oil is suspended in organic hemp seed oil to provide your dog with essential fatty acids that improve the absorption of CBD on top of boosting its anti-inflammatory properties. If your dog fusses over the flavor of CBD oil, Royal CBD has 3 types of dog treats infused with cannabidiol: Active with turmeric and boswellia , Calming with L-theanine, and chamomile , and Hearty with blueberries and flaxseed.
Each treat contains 5 mg of full-spectrum CBD. Gold Bee specializes in organic CBD oil products infused with different superfoods, such as honey, chamomile, or flaxseed. But since the dogs are strict carnivores, we suggest that you get them the unflavored version the KIWI option is flavored with honey. The treats feature a calming formula containing 5 mg of full-spectrum CBD combined with chamomile and L-theanine.
As mentioned earlier, dogs and humans have the same endocannabinoid system, which helps the body maintain homeostasis between its major biological functions , such as 4. The ECS produces its own neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids; they work in the body to maintain the aforementioned balance. This is when the body becomes deficient in cannabinoids. Researchers have linked these deficiencies to different types of chronic pain, such as migraines, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain.
It turns out that CBD can level these deficiencies by stimulating the natural production of endocannabinoids on top of increasing their duration in the bloodstream.
CBD interacts with the ECS through the cannabinoid receptors as well as on several receptor-independent routes. When it comes to using CBD for pain, it has a multifaceted mechanism. For one, it can block the release of the pro-inflammatory compounds called cytokines. By reducing their number, CBD can reduce inflammation and ease the discomfort in your dog 5. The receptor has been named after essential oils from vanilla that have been used in folk medicine to treat pain 6.
Hydrotherapy sessions include shower massages and therapeutic warm water, which provides pain relief for dogs too. Hydrotherapy is usually performed by a canine hydrotherapist or veterinary physiotherapist.
Not all pain meds for dogs are suitable for your pup. Medications must be metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. As a result, if your dog has underlying conditions which affect these organs, the use of medications could compound the problem. This is one of the main reasons it is important that you only give your dog medications that have been approved by your veterinarian.
There are many medications that cannot be given to your dog at the same time. For example, NSAIDs and corticosteroids cannot be given to your dog concurrently, as they can lead to life-threatening gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding. This is one of the main causes of ibuprofen toxicity in dogs. You might mean well, but you can do more harm than good.
It will not cost you anything to phone the emergency vet on call to ask over the phone what you can give your dog. She graduated with an honors degree in Veterinary Medicine from the prestigious Royal Veterinary College in London in To date, she has published ten books and hundreds of pet and veterinary articles, many of which can be viewed from her writing social media page. She is also a regular contributor to Veterinary Practice Today. Her clinical interests include pain management, rehabilitation, and global disease management.
Thanks for everything you do to support our mission, Dr. Ah, the coveted Vet Stamp of Approval. We live for this badge. Not seeing the badge on an article that needs it?
The medical, nutritional, or behavioral advice we provide is intended for informational and educational purposes only. FDA-approved nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs offer pain relief for many dogs with osteoarthritis.
These drugs also help veterinarians effectively manage pain after surgery in both dogs and cats. Yet, there are risks. If you consider the two most common groups of pets that receive NSAIDs, you can see why there are so many reported side effects:. All drugs can cause side effects. Every oral NSAID approved for dogs and cats has an accompanying Client Information Sheet for veterinarians to give owners the first time the prescription is filled and each time it's refilled.
This sheet summarizes important safety information about the drug and serves as an easy reference for you at home. When owners see their dog or cat limping or showing other signs of pain, they often think about giving their pet an over-the-counter pain reliever for people.
But even if data show an NSAID is safe and effective in people, the drug may not be safe and effective in dogs because the drug may:. You have to be even more careful with cats. These differences may lead to toxic effects in pets, such as ulcers and perforations holes in the digestive tract as well as liver and kidney damage.
The drug seems to have more than one mode of action to reduce fever and relieve pain. Acetaminophen has two main forms of toxicity :.
Dogs and cats can develop both forms of acetaminophen toxicity, but cats are more prone to red blood cell damage while dogs are more likely to get liver damage. This can lead to haemorrhage, seizures, coma, and death. You should never give dogs paracetamol at home as it can be highly toxic if they are given the wrong amount.
If your dog is in pain, take them to the vet and let them decide on the best treatment. There is a form of paracetamol for dogs which your vet may prescribe in some circumstances and you should always follow their instructions and never give more than the prescribed dose.
Most vets use pain scales to assess the level of pain a dog is suffering. There are several pain scales for veterinary patients. At Vets Now, our emergency vets use the Glasgow composite measure pain scale. It features 30 descriptor options within six behavioural categories, with each option ranked according to its pain severity. It can be applied quickly and reliably in clinical settings. There are some natural remedies that can help to relieve pain in dogs for specific conditions, such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which are used to treat arthritis.
But dog owners should only ever use natural remedies if directed to do so. Our advice is always to consider the evidence for a particular treatment.
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