MEDICINE FOR PETS...
For Dogs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, help reduce swelling, stiffness, and joint pain in humans, and they can do the same for your dog. They can bring relief to a dog with arthritis, or one who’s just had surgery.
But don't give your pooch something from your medicine cabinet. There are NSAIDs just for dogs:
- carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl)
- deracoxib (Deramaxx)
- etodolac (Etogesic)
- firocoxib (Previcox)
- meloxicam (Metacam )
- tepoxalin ( Zubrin)
NSAIDs are usually safe for dogs and have few side effects. But in some cases, they can cause kidney, liver, or digestive problems.
You may be able to tell if your dog is having a bad reaction to an NSAID. An easy way to remember the signs is with the word BEST:
- Behavior changes
- Eating less
- Skin redness, scabs
- Tarry stool/diarrhea/vomiting
If you spot these symptoms, stop giving your dog the drug and call your vet.
Aspirin is an over-the-counter NSAID. Your doctor may OK giving it to your dog for a limited amount of time, but usually only if he has an injury or another short-term condition. It’s not recommended for long-term use in dogs because it has side effects, including the risk of bleeding. Coated aspirin is best on the stomach, and give the pills with food.
Other Medications
Because NSAIDs are usually good at relieving pain, veterinarians don't often prescribe other kinds of painkillers. But sometimes, your dog may need more options. Your vet may talk to you about amantadine, gabapentin, or tramadol.
- Amantadine, which treats Parkinson's disease in humans, helps block pain. Dogs may get it to treat aches from arthritis, disk disease, and cancer. The side effects can include diarrhea and agitation.
- Gabapentin treats pain from damaged nerves in humans and dogs. It may make your dog sleepy for the first few days, but that usually goes away. Sometimes your vet will prescribe it along with other drugs.
- Tramadol is an opiate, which means it’s part of a strong class of narcotic painkillers whose main ingredient comes from the opium poppy. Vets sometimes give it to aging dogs with constant discomfort. If your pet takes it, he may get an upset stomach, decreased heart rate, panting, and constipation.
Veterinarians give stronger opiates only for a short while. They usually don’t prescribe steroids for pain, as they can have serious side effete.
For Cats
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is one of a class of drugs called no steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Buffered or enteric-coated aspirin is a safe analgesic for home veterinary use in dogs, but it must be administered with extreme care to cats. Small doses of aspirin given to cats can produce loss of appetite, depression, and vomiting. One aspirin tablet a day for three or four days is sufficient to cause salivation, dehydration, vomiting, and a staggering gait. Severe disturbances in the acid-base balance may ensue. The bone marrow and liver may show signs of toxicity. Gastrointestinal bleeding is common.
Be aware of this potential toxicity and use aspirin only under veterinary supervision. The recommended dosage for cats is 5 mg per pound (.45 kg) of body weight every 48 to 72 hours. One adult aspirin tablet (324 mg) is eight times the recommended dosage for an 8-pound (3.6 kg) cat. A baby aspirin given every three days is a typical safe cat dose. It should only be given with food and not on an empty stomach. At the first signs of toxicity, the drug should be withdrawn.
Meloxicam is a relatively safe NSAID for use in cats, but is currently approved in the United States only for injectable use. This should also be used only after consultation with your veterinarian.
For Rabbit
WARNING, important !!!
|
Administration of drugs: the conformation of the rabbit body can be misleading...
|
Drugs
| |
Analgesics (pain medication)
|
Analgesic drugs safe for use in rabbits (table)
|
Anesthetic agents
|
Pre-anesthetic drugs safe for use in rabbits (table)
|
Antibiotics
|
Antibiotics *safe* for use in rabbits (table)
|
Anti-parasitic
| |
Prevention and treatment of Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in rabbits with fenbendazole, by Suter C, Muller-Doblies UU, Hatt JM, Deplazes P.
| |
Glucocorticosteroids (steroids)
|
Corticosteroids: best avoided in rabbits
|
Gut motility drugs
|
Cisapride
|
Sludge treatment
| |
Veterinary abbreviations
| Abbreviations for administration of medications |
WARNING, important !!!
|
Administration of drugs: the conformation of the rabbit body can be misleading...
|
Drugs
| |
Analgesics (pain medication)
|
Analgesic drugs safe for use in rabbits (table)
|
Anesthetic agents
|
Pre-anesthetic drugs safe for use in rabbits (table)
|
Antibiotics
|
Antibiotics *safe* for use in rabbits (table)
|
Anti-parasitic
| |
Prevention and treatment of Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in rabbits with fenbendazole, by Suter C, Muller-Doblies UU, Hatt JM, Deplazes P.
| |
Glucocorticosteroids (steroids)
|
Corticosteroids: best avoided in rabbits
|
Gut motility drugs
|
Cisapride
|
Sludge treatment
| |
Veterinary abbreviations
| Abbreviations for administration of medications |
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