Please Help Me Rank Canine Painkillers by Strength

[chestnutmarebeware]

My 12-y-o (big) ACD has minor age-related aches and pains, and gets 2 81 mg. baby aspirin as needed for relief (per my vet).

This weekend, his back legs kept collapsing, and I didn’t know if it was pain- or neuro-based. Before we went to the ER vet, I treated him with aspirin, a heating pad, and a super-cushy bed. It worked, so definitely pain-related!

My question is this: If I call, my vet will dispense whatever pain meds I ask for (they know the dog and his issues). I’m guessing Rimadyl is the next step up, but I want something stronger on hand for emergencies (not for daily use).

My old dog took Deramaxx for her hip dysplasia, but I’ve been told it doesn’t work for every dog. My brother swears by gabapentin for his arthritic sheltie.

So COTHers, can you guys provide a guide to doggie painkillers (mildest to strongest), so I can request one from my vet?

(Before anyone suggests calling & asking my vet, it’s a very busy practice and can take a week for a non-emergency callback…) Thanks in advance for your help!!!

[Horsegal984]

He’ll need to be off the aspirin for about a week before you can use Deramaxx/Rimadyl/Prevacox/Metacam. Those are all NSAIDs and which one will work best for him will depend on the dog.

The next step up is usually either Tramadol or Gabapentin, or both depending on severity and type of pain.

[animaldoc]

Has your dog had an exam and bloodwork lately?

There are a multitude of other options for arthritis type pains (making a big assumption that’s what you’re talking about), but most vets will require bloodwork prior to starting them as side effects can include liver/kidney problems. They would want to get a baseline, make sure all is OK for now, and then do periodic bloodwork to make sure all is OK.

There are numerous adjuncts to managing arthritis pain- weight loss, Adequan, Omega3 FA supplements, Duralactin, Dasaquin, and then there are the medications.

Rimadyl, Deramaxx etc. are all NSAIDs (Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs). One isn’t “stronger” than another, but one may work better for an individual than another. These can be used on “bad days” at first and then daily as time goes on.

Amantidine/gabapentin are good adjunctive drugs for chronic pain that can be added in with NSAIDs. They aren’t really meant to be given alone, but in conjunction with other drugs and should be given daily.

Tramadol is an opioid-like drug, and while the mechanism is poorly understood, it helps many patients (again, often in conjunction with an NSAID). Every patient is different, and some may have better effects from tramadol than others (the appropriate dose and dosing interval likely help ensure efficacy).

Tylenol combinations can also be Rxd from a pharmacy (for dogs only, not cats) - tylenol with codeine, tylenol with hydrocodone, etc.

At the top of the heap for severe pain are the narcotics - morphine, fentanyl, etc. Not generally pulled out for arthritis type pain, but more for cancer and severe pain.

You might be better off calling your vet and asking what they would recommend as the next step since there are so many options. My guess would be that the next step could be a NSAID and then tramadol on top of that for “bad days” (if bloodwork, weight etc. are all OK).

[cloudyandcallie]

Ok things my dogs have used for various illnesses and pain:

The morphine patch. Used for cancer.

Bute. yep, bute for dogs. works pretty well for arthritis and other ailments.

[jherold]

Maybe try Adequan?

[Horsegal984]

Bute for dogs is outdated. There are so many safer alternatives now it’s really not worth trying unlessnothing else works.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Thanks so far! This is very helpful! He’s had (has) regular exams, plus recent bloodwork, but no recent x-rays. He has no signs of hip dysplasia. The vet is assuming it’s arthritis, based on his age. Some days he has some pain, some days he has none.

The pain seems to be low and intermittent right now (except for when he does something crazy like like leap into the air for a tennis ball). I guess I’m just wondering the best next step up to keep on hand for ouchy days.

[Pancakes]

Gapabentin is great for nerve-based chronic pain, like with arthritis, and tramadol or trazadone is good for acute pain.
An NSAID like Rimadyl is good too, but you can’t give aspirin if you’re giving an NSAID for risk of GI ulceration and renal/hepatic side effects.
Glucosamine/chondroitin for long-term joint health.

[jetsmom]

[QUOTE=chestnutmarebeware;7953646]
Thanks so far! This is very helpful! He’s had (has) regular exams, plus recent bloodwork, but no recent x-rays. He has no signs of hip dysplasia. The vet is assuming it’s arthritis, based on his age. Some days he has some pain, some days he has none.

The pain seems to be low and intermittent right now (except for when he does something crazy like like leap into the air for a tennis ball). I guess I’m just wondering the best next step up to keep on hand for ouchy days.[/QUOTE]

Try a month long loading dose of adequan. It actually helps the body produce joint lubrication which relieves pain, instead of just relieving some inflammation and masking pain. Less side effects also.

[betsyk]

Vets take the washout period seriously. Our BC mix had been on aspirin and tweaked a cruciate. We had Metacam left from our other Lab but our vet was very strict about only letting her have tramadol until or unless we stopped the aspirin for a couple weeks.