Thank you to our partners for providing this post.
Some human medications have proven effective in the treatment of certain health complications in dogs. Gabapentin is one such drug! This is not the case with every human medication because of the biological differences between canines and humans. If you are wondering what other human drugs you can use for your dog, then you can check here. In this article, we will discuss the important issues revolving the use of Gabapentin for dogs because it must be used safely and not abused.
What Is Gabapentin?
This is an anti-epileptic medication used by humans. However, it has a lot of painkilling properties, making it a good option for addressing long-standing pain and inflammation issues in dogs. It is effective in treating pain related dog issues in good time. It is touted as being particularly great at resolving pain caused by nerve stimulations from conditions such as arthritis.
How Effective Is Gabapentin?
These products are remarkably effective. They take effect in as little as 1 to 2 hours. This is the reason many dog parents under the guidance of their veterinarians are administering it to their canines. The results have proven that it is great at dealing especially with pain caused by nerve stimulation.
Other than pain, these products can also be used to treat anxiety issues very intermittently. You can administer these medications to help your dog deal with things that ordinarily will make him/her frightened. An example is helping your dog deal with fireworks.
Well, with the intermittent use of this treatment, it will handle these anxiety situations better. That said, these drugs are primarily administered on canines to help address pain-related issues.
Talking about the effectiveness of these products, gabapentin is better when used with another treatment and not as a sole treatment. This means that it should be used alongside a compatible and efficient pain killer. This way, the best of this product can be gotten.
How Safe Is Gabapentin?
This drug is originally meant for humans and this is what the FDA approves it for. Currently, the stance of the FDA on the administration of Gabapentin on dogs is quite unclear. Regardless of this, the records seem to show that this treatment is safe for your dog.
However, as with every other kind of drug, caution is of the essence. To be on the safe side, these drugs should not be administered on your dog without professional guidance. First, it must be considered needed and ideal for your dog. Until then, you should not place your canine on any dose of the drug.
Also, there are a few ingredients used to make some human Gabapentin that is harmful to dogs. They may contain toxins that if ingested, may lead to liver complications and ultimately death. The common toxic ingredient is known as xylitol. This addition is usually in the liquid variety.
As a result, you should ensure that the brand and type of the product purchased is void of xylitol. This is important in ensuring the safety of your dog.
You may want to opt for Gabapentin in the form of tablets or capsules. These rarely have any measure of xylitol.
Furthermore, in ensuring safety, drug interaction should be considered. Medications like morphine do not go well with Gabapentin. As a result, ensure that the use of this drug will not further complicate things. Again, you should seek the help of your veterinarian in figuring this out.
If you discover that you cannot use this treatment for your canine, you can here: https://pethempcompany.com/blogs/medications/gabapentin-for-dogs-side-effects-alternatives for other possible treatment options.
Can Your Dog Overdose on Gabapentin?
The answer to this question is one reason this treatment is considered safe. The ingredients in these drugs are processed by the kidney and thereafter excreted. As a result, there is very little chance of your dog overdosing on it.
However, the health of the dog also determines the possibility of overdosing or not. Canines with kidney problems are more likely to experience the side effects of overdosing.
Aside from this, consistent use of this drug can make the canine’s body system very accustomed to it.
As a result, actions taken to end its use can present some gabapentin withdrawal symptoms in dogs. This can be as serious as experiencing heavy seizures. This is the more reason why professional advice and guidance is required every step of the way.
On a Final Note
In treating nerve stimulated pain issues in dogs, gabapentin has been proven to be effective. However, using this drug effectively requires the assistance of a veterinarian. This is so that you do not further complicate the situation.
The crux of the matter is therefore that you ensure that your dog gets this treatment the right way.
Leave a Reply