What can I safely give my senior dog for pain after a hike?

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 no. Many human pain medications are toxic to dogs, and can be fatal if given. 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. She may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe.

Most human pain medications are toxic to dogs or easily overdosed. Do not medicate your pet without the advice of your veterinarian. An exam should be done to diagnose injury and x-rays would be recommended to definitively diagnose IVDD. Your vet can dispense and appropriate medication afterwards.

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.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Zeus. Please do NOT give him ibuprofen, it is toxic to dogs and have a very narrow safety margin. You could accidentally cause great harm to him if you give it to him. It sounds like to me he is in a lot of pain if he hasn't moved off the couch, won't eat or drink, and moves very slowly when you do get him down. Because there aren't any safe OTC pain medications you can give, I would take him into a vet now. The vet can prescribe pain medication for him that's safe, and can examine him to see what could be causing the pain. Have him seen by a vet immediately. I hope this helps, best of luck!

Hi there. No, unfortunately there are no over-the-counter pain medications that are safe for use in dogs. If his foot seems sore, your best bet will probably be to restrict his exercise so that he doesn't aggravate it further, and take him in to see your vet for an exam if the problem does not improve within the next 2-3 days, or if it seems to be getting worse in the meantime. If there is an actual open sore on his pad, you also need to make sure that he isn't licking or chewing at it, as this will make things worse - so place an e-collar (plastic cone) on him if needed to help prevent this.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Hydro really needs to see a veterinarian. If not eating or drinking then the cause for that needs to be addressed first. While aspirin is occasionally used in dogs it has a very low index of safety and should absolutely not be given to a dog who is not eating- as it can potentially cause fatal G.I. ulceration. There are no other otc pain medications safe for use in dogs at all. Please take Hydro to the veterinarian asap. Good luck and I hope he's better soon.