My Chihuahua has hip pain. What are safe options for pain relief?

I am sorry to hear about Coco. The Novox should help some with his arthritis as it is an NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as us using ibuprofen. If it isn't providing adequate pain control there are other options we can try in addition to the NSAID. These would include Glucosamine Chondroitin joint supplements such as Dasuquin, fatty acid supplements which can decrease inflammation in the body, injections that can aid in joint health (Adequan), and additional medications such as gabapentin, tramadol, and amantadine. I would talk to your vet about these options to figure out what is best for Coco. You can read more about this at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. In the meantime you can go to Petco and use the Well and Good Buffered Aspirin to provide some pain relief. I do not recommend using this product long term but for short term use over the weekend, this should be absolutely fine. This could also be an injury further down the leg such as the stifle joint (ACL injury). Your vet will know what to do based on the physical examination. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I'm sorry to hear that Bandit seems painful. Unfortunately, without seeing a veterinarian, you're very limited in what can be done for him at home since we don't know what's causing the pain, and there are no over-the-counter pain medications that are safe to use in dogs. So keeping him quiet and restricting exercise (short-leash walks to potty only, no running or jumping) is really the only thing you can do for him at home. If this has been going on for more than a day or two, I'm afraid I really would recommend taking Bandit to the vet for an exam. He may need x-rays to help determine what's wrong with his hip, and your veterinarian can prescribe safe and effective pain medication to help make him more comfortable.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If can only use one, the anti-inflammatory drug would be more useful in this scenario probably. There are no safe over the counter pain control medications that can be used without the guidance of a veterinarian. The pain is likely due to a combination of factors including arthritis and the abnormal bone growth you described. Good luck!

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I agree that this is possibly arthritis especially if this has been an issue before. Usually this can improved with joint supplements like Cosequin and the food Science Diet j/d. Pain control medications such as NSAIDs and gabapentin can be used on an as needed basis to help with pain. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment of this. If they agree that this is likely, they can go ahead and prescribe this to help her. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Poncho is lame in one of his legs, he could have an injury ranging from a problem with his toes to something in his shoulder (front leg) or his hips (hind leg). If this is a chronic issue, it is possible Poncho has some arthritis in his joints, which may benefit from a joint supplement. However, if Poncho has a soft tissue injury or something like a fracture or dislocation of any of his bones or joints, a supplement will not help. I recommend restricting Poncho's activity for 3-5 days and see if this helps his lameness. If he is no longer limping on the leg after this rest, this may have just been a soft tissue injury that needed time to heal. If his lameness does not improve or worsens over this time, I recommend having Poncho seen by a veterinarian. He/she can perform a full physical exam and orthopedic exam to localize his pain and determine the best course of treatment. As a reminder, NEVER give dogs pain medication that is intended for humans, as these can be fatally toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!