These days I have seen that in veterinary medicine they generally use a medication called Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and they are generally prescribed for pets with different inflammatory and painful conditions involving post surgical pain relief and arthritis.
The most harmful side-effects that can occur in your dog are blood, liver and kidney disorders and stomach ulcers. When your dogs get treated for chronic pain that is linked with arthritis, the efficiency of these anti-inflammatory drugs can be enhanced by usage of joint defensive drugs, diet, physical therapy and exercise to maintain weight.
I have a list of a few side-effects that can occur in your dog when treated with such NSAIDs, that I want to share with you.
Side-effects of any NSAID
- Immune system – skin reactions, anemia
- Gastrointestinal System – ulceration, bleeding, inflammation of pancreas, perforation, diarrhea
- Musculoskeletal system – both EctoGesic and Rimadyl cause least destruction of cartilage than any other NSAIDs. Elevated level of dose of EctoGesic cause vomiting, gastrointestinal ulcers, weight loss and fecal blood
- Neurologic System- paralysis, seizures, unsteadiness
- Liver- liver failure elevated liver enzymes
- Miscellaneous – depression, aggression and hyperactivity
There are various NSAIDs that are approved and that can be used for your dogs and it includes Rimadyl and EctoGesic. To control the pain of cancer Feldene is usually prescribed to dogs. Though pain control and inflammation in dogs with arthritis requires any kind of chronic therapy, it is essential to have knowledge about the side-effects for dogs with arthritis that are treated chronically with medications like NSAIDs.
If your dog is treated for the pain of post-surgical, NSAIDs proves to be more effective if used with other pain relief medications, and in well-hydrated dogs with normal kidney function and blood pressure. If you have a dog with arthritis problem you can use therapies for reducing inflammation and pain involving acupuncture, magnetic beds, omega-3-fatty acids, herbs and antioxidants. Supplements of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine will repair and nourish the cartilage as well.
Though in many dogs NSAIDs can be safely used as well for the pain relief of post-surgical for a short-term (three to five days), the only thing essential is to follow the dosages carefully.
Read our next article about skeletal and muscular disorders and what steps you can take to prevent your dog from suffering through such disorders. You can also read our previous article, Signs of Serious Dog Health Problems as part of a series of articles about dog health problems.
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