Over the Counter Pain Relief For Dogs

Dogs can suffer the pain of arthritis as much as humans do. Although older dogs are more prone in developing this disease, even a healthy and young dog is not totally free of risk. How will you know that your beloved pet is indeed suffering from this degenerative disease? Symptoms include limping, less interest in playing and difficulty in walking, running, sitting or moving in general. There are plenty of available over the counter pain relief for dogs with arthritis.

We have a lot of NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but before most of them were approved, pet owners have been using aspirin to reduce inflammation and keep pain under control. Aspirin provides short-term joint pain relief and should not be used on a long-term basis because of its known side effects to dogs. Ask your veterinarian about the dosage because it will depend how small or big your dog is. The usual dosage for this over the counter pain relief for dogs is between 5 and 15mg/lb every 12 hours. Whatever happens, do not give your dog aspirin with an empty stomach because it can cause stomach punctures. It can also cause renal failure if overdosed. Despite of the possible side effects, it's still popular because for one it is very inexpensive and two, it actually works in relieving arthritic pain.

If you want something natural or you hate to think about side effects and you want long-term benefits for your dog then you may want to consider Glucosamine. It is an effective all-natural over the counter pain relief for dogs. It is usually given along with a NSAID because it won't give your dog instant results. Look for a Glucosamine supplement with MSM or Chondroitin in liquid form. Liquid is easily absorbed into the bloodstream making it work quickly.