Pain management in pets

Pain management in pets is an essential component of compassionate care in canine and feline medicine. Although pain management is now an established component of pet therapy, the development of modalities for joint meds for dogs is still an evolving facet of veterinary clinical practice.

This article seeks to contribute to the ever-increasing body of literature aimed at helping pet owners understand ways to optimize joint relief for dogs with arthritic and other forms of pain.

As a rule of thumb, if you want to administer any joint pills for dogs or cats, stop and call your veterinarian. Take this very seriously because pets are not small people. A medication meant for you or even one of your dogs may not be right for the dog or cat you’re thinking of administering it to. It is, therefore, insightful to learn about joint pills for dogs and cats.

Joint pills for dogs and cats

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have emerged as key joint pills for dogs and cats. They play a major role in controlling dog and cat joint pain and inflammation.

For many pets, NSAIDs are useful as part of the pain management regimen after surgery or to relieve chronic pain, such as that caused by osteoarthritis. NSAIDs work by reducing inflammation, which is one of the causes of pain. These joint pills for dogs and cats are readily available, last relatively longer, and are generally inexpensive.

Another advantage of NSAIDs is that they can be administered at home after the pet has been released from the hospital. Veterinarians may prescribe NSAIDs as one part of the total plan for pet pain relief, provided the pet does not have kidney, liver, blood clotting, or stomach problems.

Prescription medications such as Antinol for Dogs, Antinol for Cats, Galliprant, Carprofen, and Meloxicam are among those that significantly provide safe joint relief for dogs and cats with pain and inflammation compared to over-the-counter non-veterinary products.

Other supplements that leading veterinarians and dog owner communities have given the thumbs up include Cosequin, Dasuquin with MSM, Movoflex, Nutri-Vet Joint Health DS plus MSM, Duralactin, Zesty Paws Mobility Bites, Vetoquinol Triglyceride Omega, and Flexadin, among others.

Apart from NSAIDs and leading supplements for joint pain relief for dogs and cats, other joint meds for dogs include opioids, and some local pain relief therapies.

Opioids for pain relief in dogs and cats

Opioids such as morphine are used by licensed professionals primarily for their pain-relieving effects, despite the fact that they have some well-known side effects. These drugs are the most effective analgesics available for the treatment of acute pain in pets.

Opioids relieve pain by acting on a pet’s central nervous system. Their side effects, such as sluggishness, change in mood, and excitement, are related to other processes in the central nervous system.

The effect of opioids usually depends on additional factors such as whether the pet is already in pain, the overall health of the pet, the administration of other drugs at the same time the opioids are being administered, and the individual sensitivity of the pet to opioid effects.

Local pain relief therapies

Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine, have been cited among some of the best joint pain relief meds for dogs and cats. These are regarded as among the best methods for relieving joint pain in dogs and cats because of their tendency to be used to create an area of numbness in a localized area of a pet, such as the area around a wound or surgical site.

Local anesthetics are typically used in pets such as dogs and cats for minor procedures such as suturing cuts. It is argued that using local anesthetics prior to surgery allows veterinarians to use less powerful anesthetics during longer and more complex surgical procedures. This can minimize post-operative pain in pets, which leads to a faster recovery.

Always use pet pain meds after getting advice from your veterinarian

It is critical to emphasize that giving your pet pain relievers without first consulting with a veterinarian can be disastrous. Regardless of how your other pets responded to particular joint meds for dogs, always treat each pet as a different case. Seek the guidance of your veterinarian before giving any pain-relieving pill to your pet.