What are some of the most common types of pain medications that are prescribed to dogs and how do they work?
What are some of the most common types of pain medications that are prescribed to dogs and how do they work?
/_res/mp3/26_pain_medication.mp3
If your dog has chronic pain due to a condition such as osteoarthritis, your veterinarian will likely prescribe some kind of medication to make him more comfortable.
Two common choices are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opiods such as morphine or codine. Victoria Lukasik, an Anesthesiologist with the Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, says these two types of drugs have complementary modes of action, so they are often given in conjunction.
Lukasik states, “so we have the non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs working where the pain is produced, and then the opiods working in the pathways that transmit that pain to the brain.”
When writing a prescription, a veterinarian will consider your dog’s specific needs.
– Dr. Andrea Looney, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series