Tramadol Alternatives That Are Safe & Much More Effective for Your Dog
Is your dog continuously in pain from cancer, arthritis, or surgery? If they are, there is a very good chance that your veterinarian has spoken with you about giving them Tramadol, which is a very powerful opioid painkiller. While it may sound like a great idea to help your dog alleviate some of the pain that they are in, there are also a whole lot of side-effects that come along with it, not to mention that it is very easy to become addicted too. With that being said, there is probably a very good chance that you are curious about another type of way that will help to alleviate your dog’s pain but is much safer for them as well.
Luckily for your dog, there is. It is none other than the all-powerful CBD. But first, here is exactly why you probably should not give your dog Tramadol.
What is Tramadol?
Tramadol, which is often times sold under different brand names that include Conzip and Ultram, is a very strong analgesic that is mainly used to help treat moderate to very severe pain. It is a narcotic, which means that once you take it, it will then bind to your opioid receptors that are in your brain to alter your perception of the pain you are feeling.
Tramadol is unique in the sense that it works completely differently than many of the other opioid painkillers, which researchers are still not completely sure or understand how it works once it has been consumed and has entered the body. It has been shown to help increase the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin that is in the brain however, which is one of the ways that is believed to help block out the pain signals that are felt, as well as help to create a state of euphoria.
When the Tramadol acts on the opioid receptors in the brain, it has been shown to help decrease the amount of transmission of the pain signals throughout the body, which will ultimately lead to a person or dog experiencing way less pain when compared to not taking any Tramadol at all. The Tramadol acting upon these receptors is not without its downside, however.
Tramadol can become highly addictive, as it gives its users an experience some very significant withdrawal symptoms after they have stopped using it on a regular basis. Because of this fact, it poses a very good question when it comes to giving your dog Tramadol. That question being whether or not Tramadol is safe for your dog?
Tramadol: Is it Safe for your Dog?
Besides being used to help treat pain in humans, Tramadol is also commonly used to help treat dogs and other pets who are in pain. While most commonly used to help treat the pain that is associated with things such as osteoarthritis, surgery, and even cancer, your vet is able to prescribe it for your dog for other types of pain as well.
Even though your vet may prescribe Tramadol for your dog, that does not necessarily mean that it is safe for your dog. Like most of the prescription medications that are prescribed, Tramadol has a list of side effects that can come along with its ability to prevent pain.
When you compare Tramadol to some of the side-effects that other medications can cause, Tramadol is actually considered to be somewhat mild in regard to its side-effects. For example, unlike NSAIDs, Tramadol is not going to cause any type of internal bleeding or stomach ulcers from occurring. With that being said, it does have the potential to cause nausea, sedation, vomiting, anxiety, and several other side-effects that are considered to be negative.
Another big problem with Tramadol is that it does have the potential to cause a fatal overdose, with some other dogs experiencing some very serious symptoms of withdrawal if you are to simply stop feeding them the Tramadol or do not wean them from the drug in the proper way.
Overall, Tramadol is considered to be safe for your dog and has even become the number one choice for many different veterinarians around the country.
What Side Effects can be Expected with Your Dog and Tramadol?
As with many of the other medications that can be prescribed for your dog, Tramadol too can potentially cause some side-effects in your dog. In fact, the most common side effect of giving your dog Tramadol is going to be sedation. With that being said, there are also several other adverse effects that Tramadol can cause as well. Those include:
- Vomiting, loss of appetite, and nausea
- Behavioral changes and anxiety
- Constipation or diarrhea
- An upset stomach
- Seizures and tremors
- A lack of coordination and dizziness
On top of all of these adverse effects, Tramadol can also cause your dog to have some very serious allergic reactions. This is not good as allergic reactions are potentially life-threatening when it comes to your dog.
Like some of the other prescription drugs available, Tramadol has been proven to cause some allergic reactions within some dogs. If your dog does end up suffering from some type of Tramadol allergy, you will need to get them emergency veterinary attention as quickly as possible. In fact, in some of the more severe cases of allergic reaction, there can be anaphylaxis, which is a full-body allergic reaction that can easily be life-threatening.
While there is not very much that you can do to help minimize the chances of your dog having any type of allergic reaction to Tramadol, there are several different symptoms that you can keep an eye out for that will help you catch any kind of allergic reaction earlier than later. Some of these symptoms include:
- Coughing and sneezing
- Swelling
- Strained and difficulty breathing
- Rashes or hives
If you are going to be giving your dog Tramadol, when they are first starting with it, be sure that you are monitoring them very closely. You are going to want to look for any of the adverse side effects that have been mentioned above, as well as any signs of an allergic reaction. And if anything does happen, be sure that you let your vet know and keep them as informed as possible about how your dog is responding to the new Tramadol medication.
Average Doses of Tramadol for Dogs
When you give your dog Tramadol, it will typically need to be ingested orally with an average dosage size that will range anywhere from .45 to 1.8 mg per each pound of your dog’s body weight. You will want to give them a dose about every 6 to 8 hours or as needed for pain. When you are giving your dog their Tramadol, be sure that you are only giving the exact amount that was recommended by your veterinarian.
It will be very likely that your vet has even specialized your dog’s particular dose of Tramadol based off the severity of their symptoms and their pain levels, their response to the Tramadol, and even their medical history. If for whatever reason you have any doubts at all in regard to how much Tramadol you should be giving your dog, be sure that you contact your veterinarian immediately. Also, be sure that you keep in mind that the numbers that have been mentioned above are just averages and you should not use them to try and determine how much Tramadol that your dog should get.
Tips to Use with Tramadol and Your Dog
If your dog has been prescribed Tramadol by your vet to help them manage their pain, there are several different things that you can do which will help make giving your dog their treatment one of the smoothest tasks possible. Here are some pointers for when it comes time to give your dog their Tramadol:
- Be sure that your dog is staying hydrated.
- Never crush the Tramadol tablets. You are going to want to be sure that you are giving them to your dog while they are whole, as this will help ensure that they are going to get the complete dose. It is up to you whether or not you want to give your dog their tablets with food or without it.
- Always make sure that you give your dog all of the Tramadol that was prescribed, even if all of their symptoms seem to go away.
- Never just stop giving your dog Tramadol. This can cause them to have symptoms of withdrawal.
- If your dog starts to have any seizures, be sure to contact your vet immediately. Tramadol can potentially worsen seizures in your dog.
- Never give Tramadol to your dog if they have any type of liver and kidney problems or any type of stomach disorder.
- Be sure that you let your vet know about any and all of the other supplements that your dog is taking. Tramadol can potentially have a poor reaction if your dog is also taking other drugs.
With all of the potential side-effects that Tramadol can cause your dog to have, many people have started to seek other, more natural alternatives to help their dogs with pain relief. With that being said, here are the top Tramadol natural alternatives to help eliminate your dog’s pain.
Top Natural Alternatives for Tramadol to Help Your Dog with Pain
While there is not denying the fact that Tramadol is an incredibly effective analgesic, all of the side-effects that come along with it and that it can easily cause an overdose does not really put it at the top of everyone’s list when it comes to their dogs. Luckily however, there are actually several different all-natural supplements available that you may want to consider instead of using Tramadol. These supplements include:
Yucca Extract: Yucca extract comes from the Yucca plant, which can be found in Central and South America. It has been used by ancient cultures for thousands of years and supposedly has the power to boost anti-inflammatory properties.
Arnica: This flowering European plant actually belongs to the same family of flowers as sunflower plants. While it does have the capabilities to become moderately toxic if not used correctly, some of the arnica extracts that can be made will help fight inflammation and prevent pain.
Fish Oil and Phytoplankton (Omega-3s): If you didn’t already know, Omega-3s are pretty much an essential part of being healthy. On top of that, recent research has revealed that Omega-3s are also able to help reduce any inflammation that may be present in your dog, as well as help fight pain that has been caused by those same inflammatory conditions.
Chondroitin and Glucosamine: Chondroitin and glucosamine are the compounds that are normally found in cartilage that is healthy, as well as the shells of most shellfish. The combination of the two have been shown to help improve your dog’s joint health, as well as fight any arthritis that is related to inflammation and pain.
CBD (Cannabidiol): CBD is by far one of the best analgesics that has ever been discovered in nature, as well as one of the absolute best alternative treatments for Tramadol. While all of the natural supplements that have been mentioned above are going to help your dog fight their pain and inflammation, CBD is going to beat out all of them. In fact, studies have even shown that CBD is actually more effective than many of the prescription painkillers that are available to help relieve your dog’s pain.
When it comes to your dog and them being in pain, it can be a very frustrating thing to have to deal with as there is really not a whole lot that you are able to do. However, if you are afraid of all the side-effects that prescription painkillers such as Tramadol can cause your dog to suffer through, you may want to look at some of the all-natural alternatives that are available. Specifically, you may want to ask your vet about the benefits of CBD and how it can help your dog with their pain management.
