My shih tzu is limping from arthritis. Can I give him leftover Tramadol?

No, I would not give him your medication, as it is not prescribed for him and it's never safe to give a dog unprescribed human medication. I would refill it first thing Monday, and until then, you can give him glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis. I would also keep him quiet, taking him out to toilet on a lead only and bringing him right back in when he's done.

I would not give Scruffy aspirin. Even though it says it's for dogs, it still can cause GI ulcers and bleeding, and it's not safe to give to him. As for the Tramadol, I can't wait whether or not it's safe to give him nor can I tell you for how long. That's illegal for me to do so because I can't see him in person. Do not give him Tramadol without having it prescribed to him by the vet. Only the vet can decided if that's safe for him to take. I would have him seen by a vet to discuss safe pain relief for him.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Mitz. Poor girl! Legally, I cannot recommend you give her the tramadol, I can't say it's safe without seeing her in person. You should call your vet now to see if it's safe. I recommend resting her for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a leash, and bring her right back in when she's done. If she still appears painful after this time, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

Hello, thank you for your question about Tasha. Osteoarthritis is a very challenging condition to manage in pets. Unfortunately we cannot cure the arthritis but instead focus on management and delayed progression. The first line of therapy is pain management; anti-inflammatory medications (such as carprofen) often help significantly. However, these medications can be hard on pet's kidneys and liver, so bloodwork prior to starting therapy is often recommended. Tramadol can be helpful in some pets, but for other dogs it is not strong enough to be used as a sole medication. Another option is a pain medication called gabapentin, which has a dose range and can be added in to therapy. The second aspect of treatment is slowing of progression. Key aspects in this kind of therapy include joint health. Dogs can take glucosamine supplements to help maintain the lubrication in the joints. There are also some specially formulated diets that can help in the management of joint health. Finally, maintaining a healthy lean body weight helps to ease the pressure on the joints and can slow progression. Additionally, if Tasha's pain is well controlled, short leash walks to maintain activity can also help prevent progression. Hope this helps, good luck!

Sadly, we cannot give out drug dosages online. Sorry! I would recommend calling your veterinarian as they can prescribe this for you. Given the fall, however, an exam would be worthwhile. There are places on the jaw that can fracture, and this would need to be repaired ASAP. Poor girl!

At this point it seems he will need anti inflammatories pain killers on a regular basis, dogs can only take very specific pain killers, you will have to get a prescription from your vet for one of those: Rimadyl, Metacam, Previcox or Onsior.

You should take her to your veterinarian for a re-assessment. THis may include changing to another NSAID, or adding other pain medication such as Gabapentin, or even opioids. You may also start with some physiotherapy such as swimming in warm water, to keep her mobile. Unfortunately more and more evidence points to Tramadol not being very effective in dogs for taking pain. I suggest you make an appointment with your vet soon.