My dog is hurting. What safe pain relief can I give them at home?

Dogs can only have very specific pain medications, human pain killers are toxic to dogs, those pain killers are prescription only and you must get them through your vet. some examples: Metacam, Rymadil, Onsior, Previcox.

Dogs can experience pain from a variety of health conditions, including [osteoarthritis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/arthritis-1/),[ dental disease](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/dental-disease/), [urinary tract infections](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/utis-in-dogs/) or traumatic injuries, among many others. While it is extremely difficult to see our four-legged friends in pain, there are no safe and effective over-the-counter medications for managing pain in dogs (or cats). Over the counter pain relievers for humans, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol) and naproxen (Aleve) are all toxic to animals. Aspirin should also not be given to dogs because it causes significant irritation and potential ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract, and it inhibits a dog’s ability to clot blood. If you think that your dog is in pain, your best bet is to take him to your veterinarian. After performing a [physical exam](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-does-your-veterinarian-look-for-during-a-physical-exam/), your veterinarian will be able to prescribe safe and effective medication. Only give pain medication to the pet for which it was prescribed due to risks with drug interactions, improper doses or contraindications with certain medical conditions. ### Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. Galliprant is a registered trademark of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.

Unfortunately there are no over the counter pain medications that are safe for dogs. I would recommend discussing with your veterinarian if there is something you can switch him to that is more cost effective and still approved for use in dogs. You can also check into online pharmacies or box stores (such as Costco) that offer pet medications at a lower price.

Unfortunately there are no safe over the counter pain medications for dogs, as the ones we use in humans can cause liver toxicity and stomach ulcers. I would recommend consulting with your veterinarian for a pain medication. The most popular are NSAIDs such as carprofen, meloxicam, and deracoxib. For long term/mild Arthritis pain a glucosamine chondroitin joint supplement like Dasuquin can help but must be taken daily for about a month before results are seen.

I do not recommend giving any over the counter pain medications to dogs. While dogs technically can have aspirin, it can cause stomach ulcers even at appropriate doses and does not offer the best pain control. Ibuprofen and similar medications are toxic to dogs. If you feel Gabie is painful your best bet is to have her examined by a vet and for them to prescribe a safe pain medication. It's also a little unusual to have pain around the rib and chest unless there was some kind of major trauma, but dogs with neck pain or back pain can be painful around their chests when picked up so I'm wondering if this might be the actual source of her pain.

Unfortunately there are no safe OTC pain medications for dogs. Many are toxic to dogs, and can be fatal if given. In addition, aspirin should never be given to dogs, it causes GI ulcers and bleeding. The only safe pain medications for dogs are prescription from the vet. If Bear is in pain, you will need to take him into the vet to get pain meds. Best of luck.

Hi. Unfortunately there are no safe over the counter medications for cats or dogs. They metabolizes medications very differently from humans, so many of them can be toxic. You will need to get a pain medication and diagnosis from your veterinarian. Good luck.