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Comprehensive Guide for Natural and Prescription Pain Treatment for Dogs

This page is dedicated to pain relief therapies for dogs who need relief due to Arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Hip-Dysplasia.

Choose Your Dog’s Pain Meds Very Carefully

Our goal was to provide the different options of pain medicine (both prescription and non-prescription) and of course natural therapies for arthritis and joint pain in dogs.

Start Naturally FIRST…

We recommend that you first try one or both of the all natural supplements and alternatives that can be used safely and indefinitely for your dog.  You can often combine some of the natural supplements and treatments.

If you haven’t already read our article Using Gelatin Protein for Your Dog’s Pain, you really need to read this before using anything else: Click here to read!  

Natural Supplements & Cost Effective Treatments

All Natural Supplements for Arthritis Cost Effective Alternatives & Other Therapies
MaxxiFlex contains many of the individual ingredients that dog owners tend to look for in a pain supplement such as Glucosamine HCL, Chondroitin Sulfate (bovine source), Hydrolyzed Collagen, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Fructooligosaccharides, Bio Active Whey, Devils Claw Extract, Phellodendron Tree Extract, Cetylated Fatty Acids, Phenylalanine, Bromelain, Calcium Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid). Every living creature on the planet needs iodine and we don’t mean the table salt found in grocery stores. Selena Naturally Celtic Sea Salt contains iodine in its most natural form.
It also contains some excellent inactive ingredients including turmeric which is known to help with pain. Dogs typically respond very well to celtic sea salt which can help with so many different issues including and especially arthritis.
  Add 1/4 teaspoon to 1 quart of filtered water. Don’t give your dog more than 1/2 teaspoon in a quart of water daily. Most dogs wiling accept 1/4 tsp in their water, but not more than that.
  The salt can also make a difference for dogs with thyroid issues.
Elk Velvet Antler is another excellent alternative for dogs with joint pain. It naturally contains Chondroitin, glusocamine, hyaluronic acid and collagen which are just four powerful elements found in the antlers of Elk.

Chondroitin, glusocamine, hyaluronic acid and collagen are just four powerful elements found in the antlers of Elk.
Hydrotherapy is a great alternative for dog pain relief in addition to other supplements. Check around your local area and see if anyone offers it. Holistic vets usually offer this.
HyaFlex is another great all natural product that works by maintaining & replenishing viscosity (fluid thickness) that pads the joints. Hyaluronic Acid is one of the best natural remedies available for dogs with any kind of hip or joint pain. Essentials Oils (aka Raindrop Therapy)and Acupuncture Therapy worked very well for our Doberman Jenna.
  Hot steaming towels combined with essential oils and it worked for her for 6 months at a time. She loved going to see her holistic vet to have this done.
  You can also learn how to massage your dog yourself and do this part at home.
   

Prescription & Over the Counter Medicines

Over The Counter Meds for Acute (Temporary) Pain Prescription Drugs for CHRONIC (Persistent) Pain
Aspirin such as Ascriptin or any COATED Aspirin can be used for mild pain relief at 10mg per pound twice daily for no more than 3-5 days is recommended by Dr. Jon Geller, DVM. He also recommends no more than 500mg. twice daily for a dog weighing 60lbs. NSAID’s can work great for pain relief for awhile before having to up the dosage even more. They also come with some pretty heavy duty risks. Etogesic, Metacam, Deramaxx, Rimadyl, Previcox, Zubrin, Flunixin are the standard meds prescribed for dogs with Arthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease), Hip Dysplasia and Spinal Arthritis. While these drugs can quickly help, they also have SEVERE side effects. Blood tests MUST be done prior to and at 6 month intervals to check for kidney/liver damage.
Keep in mind that if used long-term, even aspirin can cause digestive upset, stomach ulcers and cause internal bleeding. *Although your dog might feel better, DON’T get too relaxed when your dog is on these medications.
Symptoms of internal bleeding would include a black stool and vomit that resembles coffee grounds. Should you see these symptoms, stop the aspirin IMMEDIATELY and take your dog to the vet!  
NEVER give any type of ASPIRIN to CATS without speaking to a vet first.  
Tylenol should only and I repeat ONLY be administered to dogs under the supervision of a veterinarian. It does not reduce inflammation and therefore would NEVER BE RECOMMENDED for any type of hip or joint pain in dogs. Tramadol is yet another analgesic that is used for treating moderate to moderately severe pain. My lab was on this for a couple of years after her surgery. Often used for arthritis/hip-dysplasia and considered safer by many vets than NSAID’s. Inexpensive.
NEVER give IBUPROFEN! Should your dog get a hold of it accidentally, take him to the vet/emergency clinic IMMEDIATELY! Adequan aka “polysulfated glycosaminoglycan” is an injectionable substance and similar to Glucosamine. Often prescribed for Osteoarthritis. It lubricates the dog’s joint and reduces inflammation naturally and reduces friction. It rebuilds cartilage in the damaged joint. My doberman was on this for Osteoarthritis for several months. It was a last ditch effort for us to help our girl and although it helped, I think it was a little to late when we tried it. It is expensive, but has very little side effects.
   

Many dog owners choose to rely on steroids such as Rimadyl, Etogesic or others for their dog’s pain relief.  But, these products are not only very expensive, but NSAID’s are VERY dangerous.

Your dog must be monitored very closely when on these drugs, due to liver failure which can happen quickly.

There are many things that you can do to help ease your dog’s pain and the best place to start is with a natural treatment program combined with regular exercise and an orthopedic bed made for dogs which can help to take pressure off of already sore and painful joints.

I can’t overstate the importance of nutrition and supplements. If you’re dog has been eating garbage food for years, has been unknowingly and unintentionally poisoned by chemical and spot flea treatments, plus routinely vaccinated — DIET and SUPPLEMENTS ARE CRITICAL to rejuvenating your dog, as well as avoiding these as well.

Why You Should Take Control of Your Dog’s Pain and Not Rely on Your Dog’s Veterinarian for Relief

Don’t put your dog’s overall health in the hands of his or her veterinarian — take control of how your dog feels from the inside out and this includes feeding your dog correctly. For more help, see our cookbook recipe page.

Commit to providing the necessary changes with regards to nutrition, supplements, exercise and of course, love.  Then, witness how much better your old friend feels.

Unfortunately, prescription drug companies play a large part in the different drugs that veterinarians push and it’s not always what’s best for our family pets.  Our dogs are a integral part of the family and providing comfort for them is just as important as any other family member.

Don’t Exclude Exercise

Many dog owners tend to think that they shouldn’t exercise their dog when the dog is suffering with joint issues such as arthritis, hip pain, etc.  But, this is not true.  You SHOULD provide exercise in small doses.  Take your dog for several short walks vs one long one.

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