Does your dog’s behavior upset you at times? For instance, they become excessively hyper or get seizures, compelling you to search the internet to find out what is happening with your furry friend or what you did wrong in taking care of them and which medication can take them out of this misery. Well, in such conditions, apart from other medicines, vets also recommend giving Gabapentin. It was originally used to treat humans, but you can use it to relax your doggy as well. How? This medicine has shown positive results in managing various dog health conditions.
We are guessing the information above overwhelmed you a little. Therefore, allow this blog to share details regarding Gabapentin’s uses, dosages, and possible side effects so you are prepared to tackle all situations instead of panicking to see your dog normally like before.
Gabapentin: What Is This Medicine?
Let us begin by giving you a brief explanation of this medication. Now, Gabapentin is an analgesic (pain-relieving), and an anticonvulsant drug. How does it work? Once you give it to your dog, the drug will affect calcium channels in its nervous system, reducing abnormal nerve excitability.
Furthermore, you will be surprised to learn that this medicine is classified as “off-label.” What does that mean? It simply means that the FDA has not specifically approved it, but vets have the authority to prescribe it legally.
What Are The Uses Of Gabapentin In Dogs?
As mentioned in the introduction, this medicine is primarily for humans and is a part of the “off-label” medicines, making it clear that the FDA has not officially approved it for dogs. However, you can still make the most out of the drug to treat your dog’s health issues, including your dog’s pain, seizures, and anxiety, in the following ways:
Managing Their Pain
If your dog is suffering from arthritis or intervertebral disc disease, feel free to give it Gabapentin. This medicine shows its skill by treating neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage. Nerve damage can result from injuries, surgery, or chronic conditions, as mentioned above.
Apart from that, keep in mind that Gabapentin is usually used as one of the medications; as with other medications, it offers better relief from pain to your dog.
Controls Seizures
It must be quite painful to witness your dogs getting those seizures, where you had no option but to wait for your furry fellow to return to their former state. But not anymore, as Gabapentin is there to end your tension and rescue your dog. How? Since the drug is an anticonvulsant, it plays a pivotal role in controlling seizures or other related disorders.
Again, it’s not compulsory to rely solely on this medicine because Gabapentin is often used as a secondary medication to other anti-seizure medicines that improve abnormal dog movements.
Relief From Anxiety
Last but not least is relief from anxiety. If you frequently see your dog running around your lawn or jumping excessively, especially when they see your bags packed or you try to introduce them to unfamiliar faces, this drug will do wonders. How? The thing is that Gabapentin can assist in decreasing the heightened levels of anxiety in your dog, particularly in such scenarios. So, even if next time there are loud noises, a thunderstorm, or a simple visit to the vet, the drug will help put their fear, nervousness, or stress to rest.
What Should Be The Exact Dosage?
Many dog owners tend to go overboard with the dosage and end up regretting it when they see their dog’s condition worsening rather than improving. You must avoid this mistake on your end and do the following:
Depends On Your Dog
The appropriate dosage for this particular drug heavily depends on these three things:
Dog’s Size
How big is your dog? Is it a small, big, or an adult canine? You need to tell the vet about your furry fellow’s size because none of you can afford to take the matter lightly.
Dog’s Weight
Is your dog overweight or underweight? Clearly mention their weight to your vet so they can proceed and tell you what to do.
The Specific Condition
What is your dog suffering from? Anxiety, seizure, or pains? Discuss the specific condition as that will help them prescribe the appropriate dosage of Gabapentin.
Follow Your Vet’s Instructions
When you have zero knowledge about medicine, then it becomes even more crucial to stick to your vet’s instructions surrounding the dosage and how to give it. According to RCVS, in most situations, vets should only prescribe dog parents 30 days' worth of treatment for all controlled drugs. Except in those cases where there are already long-term ongoing medical conditions. For instance, when it is used to treat epilepsy in dogs,
Form Of Consumption
This drug is typically given orally. This means that you can give Gabapentin to your dog in the form of tablets, capsules, or a liquid. Therefore, see how the vet has told you to go about it and whether the same form is present in the particular pharmacies. Besides, it is better to remain in constant touch with your vet to discuss the availability of the medicine.
Can Be Given With Or Without Food
Unlike humans, where you have to take medicine after eating something, the same approach is not applicable to your dog. You can give this drug to your dog with or without food, as that doesn't lead to any kind of harm. Therefore, you don’t need to wait for them to have their meal to give Gabapentin.
Should Not Contain Xylitol
If you give Gabapentin in liquid form, then please make sure that the drug doesn't contain Xylitol. Why? Because the drug is quite toxic for dogs. Therefore, be very careful while purchasing the drug and, if possible, read the labels on the bottles to confirm that the liquid is Xylitol-free.
Always Consult Your Vet
Please always consult your vet before taking any major step, such as changing the dosage or entirely stopping the medication. Even if you feel that your dog has stopped getting seizure attacks, then you should not do the deed as you never know; the abrupt stop might result in other health conditions, leaving you even more upset. Therefore, keep updating your vet on the progress of your dog, and if they ask you to change the dose or stop continuing with it, then only fulfil the purpose.
What Are The Potential Side Effects?
We told you that vets prescribe Gabapentin to control your dog’s pain, seizures, and anxiety. Yes, it is a safe drug, but it causes multiple side effects as well. And that is vital for dedicated pet owners like you to know so you can deal with the situation while ensuring your dog’s wellness. What are those side effects? We have broken them down into common and less common ones:
The Common Side Effects
Here is a list of the drug's common side effects:
Sedation
After you begin giving your dog Gabapentin, it may seem like you’ve sedated them. Don’t worry; this is one of the most commonly reported side effects. Many other pet parents, as you mentioned, have noted that the medicine makes their dogs very drowsy. Therefore, you’ll often see your dog looking tired, sleepy, and less active when playing with you or other neighbourhood dogs, whether indoors or outdoors. You might be wondering why this happens. The answer lies in the initiation of the drug or when your vet advises you to increase their dosage. The good news is that, in most cases, the drowsiness subsides as the body adapts to the medication.
Ataxia
The next side effect is ataxia, which means loss of coordination. After your dog consumes Gabapentin, you may witness your dog lose coordination while walking, wobble when taking a few steps, or display unsteadiness. Hence, as you will see, there is a lack of balance in their walking, or, you can say, more of a drunk walking style. However, nothing to worry about here as well because, like sedation, it will end eventually as your dog’s body will get used to the wobbling.
Gastrointestinal Issues
You may also catch your dog vomiting, running to their assigned pooping spot to release runny stool, or saying no to their favourite treats. These are gastrointestinal issues that are, again, the side effects of using Gabapentin. Hence, give the medicine time to work on your dog’s seizures and relax. These symptoms are usually mild and won’t make your furry friend very ill. Just part of the recovery process, so go with the flow.
Less Common Side Effects
Now that we have discussed the more common side effects, it’s time to discuss the less common ones. You should know these as well to take care of your dog’s well-being:
Change In Appetite
We explained above that one of the drug's common side effects is a lack of hunger. However, you can experience the total opposite. Your dog might ask for more food, compelling you to fill its food bowls more than usual.
Changes In Behaviour
This drug is for reducing anxiety in your dog, but your dog may display increased frustration and anxiety. Therefore, be prepared to witness this as well, and if you think things are going out of your control, then immediately contact your vet. They will offer you better guidance.
Interactions With The Drug
Time and again, we’ve urged you to share everything regarding your dog’s condition. This includes informing your vet if you’re administering any other medications. Why? Gabapentin can interact with other substances, causing further health complications. For example, if your dog is taking antacids, it can interfere with the absorption of this seizure-stopping medication. Therefore, please disclose all relevant details to avoid any issues and ensure your dog’s well-being.
Some Necessary Considerations
Besides the uses, dosage, and side effects, we have shared some necessary conditions as well to help you and your dog in the long run:
Don’t Give The Drug Without Supervision
Always remember that you can’t give Gabapentin without your vet’s supervision. It should always be administered under their guidance to avoid serious health issues. After all, you want to see your dog fit. Hence, be careful.
Possible Drug Interactions
Don’t underestimate the power of any medicine, as they can interact with Gabapentin. Therefore, whenever you go to your vet, tell them about whatever medicines you are giving to your furry companion already so they can prescribe you a dosage that doesn’t disturb their mechanism.
Kidney or Liver Disease
Does your dog have kidney or liver disease? If so, then you might have to readjust the dosage requirements. Therefore, share this with your vet so they can guide you on the correct dosage. Otherwise, the situation might become problematic for you and especially for your dog.
Withdrawal
After giving them Gabapentin for quite a long time, it will be important for you to remove the medication from their routine as gradually as possible. Why? Then, there will be minimum withdrawal symptoms. Otherwise, you might see your dog become anxious or get those seizures again. Hence, do as instructed.
No Xylitol
You must have read about Xylitol above, and you need to avoid the liquid form of this drug if it contains Xylitol. The thing is, because the medicine is designed for humans, it consists of Xylitol. It is actually a sugar substitute, which is certainly human-friendly but super harmful for your dog. Therefore, we recommend you verify the ingredients of the medication or make sure to obtain veterinary-specific information before paying for it. Keep your dog safe.
Monitor Your Dog
Even after giving your dog the drug, your vet will still ask you to monitor it daily. This is because your vigilant check will help you identify how your dog reacts to gabapentin and determine whether there are any side effects, including the more common and less common ones.
Common Medical Concerns
Pet parents usually ask whether they can give the following medicines: Trazodone and CBD. Is Tramadol more effective than gabapentin? So, let us answer these common medical concerns:
Can Gabapentin and Trazodone Be Used Together?
Trazodone is an anxiety medication commonly prescribed to reduce stress. It is given before visiting the vet or during post-surgical confinement and rest. Gabapentin is usually used in dogs to reduce their pain and anxiety during these situations. Vets often prescribe these medicines together, marking them safe to be used together. Therefore, take this as a green flag and use both medicines to boost your dog's effectiveness.
Can You Give Cannabidiol and Gabapentin?
If you have been giving your pet Gabapentin to decrease pain or anxiety, the internet might have suggested you give your dog cannabidiol oil, too. Please stop right here, as it is not recommended to give your dog both of them. Your dog can experience severe sedation, which is certainly not good for it.
However, you should remain in touch with your vet before giving any new medication to your dog. The same thing goes for supplements as well. Just get the medicines that your vet originally asked you to start your dog on. In this way, your dog will remain safe, and there will be no stress from the interference of medication.
Tramadol vs Gabapentin: Which One Is Better For Dogs In Pain?
Unfortunately, Tramadol, the pain-decreasing medicine, is no longer considered effective. Why? A number of studies were conducted, and the same results were found. For instance, they fail to control pain in dogs, especially in those with osteoarthritis. However, a tough debate is still going on to prove the effectiveness of this particular medicine. This argument has left the vets with no option but to vote in favor of Gabapentin for relieving pain. However, it is possible that your vet might prescribe you to use the drug with other similar pain medications, including Tramadol, to deal with your dog’s pain.
Conclusion
We hope you found the blog very helpful regarding Gabapentin: how this drug is used, the correct dosage, the factors that influence the dosage, the way it has to be given, and the list of common to less common side effects. Furthermore, you also know that you must check that the liquid form does not contain Xylitol, as it is a sugar substitute that is highly toxic for your dog. Therefore, stay in contact with your vet and don’t make any changes to the dosage on your own, as that will lead to serious health issues.
