鎮痛剤と犬

重要ポイント

• 泣き言や喘ぎ声などの兆候は、犬が苦しんでいることを示している可能性があります。薬を投与する前に、必ず獣医師に相談してください。
• 鎮痛剤の過剰摂取は、深刻で致命的な場合さえあります。犬や猫が市販の鎮痛剤を飲み込んだ疑いがある場合は、すぐに獣医に連れて行ってください。
• 獣医は、犬専用の鎮痛剤を処方したり、理学療法、鍼治療、天然サプリメントなどの他の治療法を提案したりする場合があります。

動物がいつ痛みを感じているかを検出するのは難しい場合があります。結局のところ、動物はどこが痛いのかを示したり、痛みの種類を説明したりすることはできませんが、泣き言や喘ぎ声などの兆候は、何かが起きていることを示している可能性があります。最愛の子犬が苦しむのは最も避けたいことですが、ペットの痛みを和らげたいというこの欲求は、偶発的な中毒につながる可能性があります。 結論:イブプロフェンやアセトアミノフェンなどの人間用医薬品は犬用に設計されていないため、獣医師の承認なしに投与することはできません。

犬が苦しんでいることをどうやって知ることができますか?

痛みの兆候は、次のような身体的または音声的なものである可能性があります:

• 泣き言または吠える 触れると、プレイ中に怒鳴る
• 食欲減退
• うつ病の症状 (無愛想になり、少し触れただけでパチンと鳴る)
• 心拍数の上昇と高血圧
• 大きくて速い呼吸
• 跛行と移動の問題
• 隠蔽または反社会的行動
• 姿勢の変化

あなたは自分の犬を誰よりもよく知っています。活動レベルや関心の急激な変化は、何かが起こっているという警告サインです。 ウォーキングなどの好きな活動を避ける またはフェッチをすることは、痛みのために運動したくない、または運動できないことを示している可能性があります。普段は友好的な犬がきびきびしたり、絶えず不機嫌になったりする場合、それは別の危険信号です。愛犬をいつ獣医に連れていくべきかを判断するのは難しい場合があります - 安くはありません 、私たちは知っています – しかし、潜在的な健康問題を早期に発見することは、ペットに可能な限り最良の結果をもたらします.

人間用の市販鎮痛剤

人間用の市販の鎮痛剤には、主に次の 2 つの形態があります。

• イブプロフェン (Advil)、アスピリン、ナプロキセン (Aleve) などの NSAID (非ステロイド性抗炎症薬) と呼ばれる薬は、人間にとって最も一般的に知られている鎮痛剤です。
• Tylenol、Sudafed、Benadryl などのブランド名の医薬品に含まれるアセトアミノフェンは、軽度から中等度のうずきや痛みの治療に使用されます。発熱も抑えます。 NSAID とは異なり、アセトアミノフェンは抗炎症作用はありませんが、専門家はそれがどのように機能するかを正確に特定することはできません.アセトアミノフェンは、月経痛、関節炎の不快感、筋肉の捻挫、発熱、または頭痛による痛みを和らげるために使用できます.

痛みのために犬に NSAIDs を与えてもいいですか?

いいえ、獣医が推奨し、厳密な指示がない限り、犬に人間特有の抗炎症剤をいくらでも与えることは安全ではありません.これらの薬は人間用に処方され、腎臓や消化管などの体の他の部分に影響を与えます.

NSAID のリスクと副作用

犬に間違った用量を与えるのは簡単で、致命的になる可能性があります.正しい量を与えられたとしても、一部のペットは次のような副作用を経験する場合があります:

• 嘔吐
• 下痢
• 胃腸潰瘍
• 腎機能障害
• 肝障害
• ペットに処方されている他の薬との相互作用

愛犬にアセトアミノフェン (タイレノール; パラセタモール) を与えてもいいですか?

いいえ。イブプロフェンやアスピリンと同様に、これらの医薬品は人間用に処方されたもので、犬の腎臓や肝臓に損傷を与える可能性があります。タイレノールの量に関係なく、ペットに大きな害を及ぼす可能性があります.

犬に対するアセトアミノフェンのリスクと副作用

犬のアセトアミノフェン中毒は一般的であり、この薬は猫にとって非常に有毒であるため、通常の強度の錠剤 1 錠でさえ死に至る可能性があります。深刻な肝臓と腎臓の損傷は、アセトアミノフェンの過剰摂取に起因する可能性があるため、獣医の同意なしにこの薬を投与しないことが重要です.アセトアミノフェンの副作用には次のようなものがあります:

• 黄疸（目や皮膚が黄色い）
• 食べ物を抑えることができず、頻繁に嘔吐する
• 茶色の尿
• 腹痛
• 無気力
• よだれ
• 歯茎の色が薄い、または変色している​​
• 異常な呼吸

中毒が十分に深刻な場合、タイレノールはあなたのペットをショック状態にしたり死に至らしめる可能性があります.

事例紹介

ペットの親である DeeDee は、2 歳の Goldendoodle Bentley が未知の量の薬物を摂取したときに、イブプロフェン中毒の恐怖を経験しました。 “It was a horrible time in our family’s life,” she said on Dr. Doug Kenney’s “Pet Insurance Guide” podcast . Bentley ended up with kidney failure and spent two days in the ER, but he’s since made a full recovery and is now enjoying life as a therapy dog.

If you suspect your dog or cat has ingested an over-the-counter painkiller, take the situation seriously. Contact your vet or local animal emergency clinic immediately.

Avoid accidental ingestion

To ensure that your dog or cat don’t get into pain medications accidentally, keep them on a high shelf, in the tamper-proof containers they came in. Or put child (and pet-proof) locks on any cupboard they can reach. Don’t leave medications sitting out, or in a purse or backpack that your pet might access.

If you suspect your dog or cat has ingested an over-the-counter painkiller, take the situation seriously. Contact your vet or local animal emergency clinic immediately.

What can you give your dog for pain?

While human-grade pain relievers are not recommended for pets, fortunately, there are options for dogs that are safe.

Dog-specific pain medications

Drug companies have formulated certain medications specifically for dogs and cats that are much safer than over-the-counter pain medications meant for humans. Common medications prescribed for dogs include carprofen, etodolac, and meloxicam. Your veterinarian can prescribe one of these at a safe dose for your pet’s specific needs.

Carprofen

Carprofen (brand names such as Rimadyl® and Zinecarp®) is an FDA approved NSAID to treat dogs for pain and inflammation. It is recommended to give with food to prevent upset stomach and usually takes effect within 1-2 hours.

Etodolac

This medication, commonly known by the names EtoGesic® and Lodine®, is another NSAID specifically used for dogs to treat pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, fever, and post-surgery.

Meloxicam

This NSAID, brand names such as Metacam® Loxicom®, OroCAM®, Rheumocam, is used to treat pain, inflammation, and fever in dogs. It may be used to treat arthritis or post-surgery.

Can I treat my dog’s pain without medication?

Your veterinarian is the most qualified person to answer that question, but there are plenty of non-medical treatments, also known as alternative care , for a dog suffering from chronic pain:

• Exercise :To help with daily, chronic pain from arthritis and aging, daily exercise helps to keep limbs flexible and limits pet obesity (extra pounds put pressure on weakened joints), however sometimes an animal isn’t physically able to partake in the daily run around the park. Your veterinarian can help you devise an exercise plan that is appropriate for your pet’s overall health status and physical limitations.
• Hydrotherapy has been extremely beneficial for pets as warm water helps to soothe swollen joints and enhance circulation without gravity. Compared with walking on a hard surface like concrete, hydrotherapy is much easier on the joints, making walking less painful.
• Acupuncture has also been noted to treat pain and inflammation in dogs, promoting circulation and muscle relaxation by inserting needles at areas of the body where nerves and blood vessels meet. Acupuncture should be performed only by a certified veterinary acupuncturist. Search for a certified veterinary acupuncturist on the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society website.
• Other options: Pups can also find relief in massage and chiropractic services, as well as laser therapy, which is a relatively new treatment that speeds healing of surgical incisions and wounds. It also has been proven to help assuage pain from arthritis and residual pain from fractures  or damaged nerves.

Create a treatment plan with your vet that you and your pet are comfortable with (some pets refuse to take medication and others can be terrified of acupuncture). Healthy Paws covers alternative care  such as acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, and hydrotherapy, as long as the procedure is performed by a licensed veterinarian. Enrolling your dog in pet insurance early on, before any problems occur, is the best way to be prepared for an unexpected accident or illness, and allows you to pursue the best treatment available without having to worry about the cost.

What about supplements or CBD oil?

Many pet parents give their dogs or cats glucosamine to help ease those creaky, arthritic joints. Although many websites and pet homeopaths allege that certain “herbal pain remedies” are safer or more reliable, there is no scientific data to back up these claims. A 2006 study found glucosamine/chondroitin supplements can relieve pain related to osteoarthritis in dogs, but some vets are still skeptical, saying it has “some value, little risk.”

CBD oil, however, has been making headlines of late as helping alleviate pain, discomfort, increase appetite, and help with anxiety in pets, so asking your vet is a good first step. Check out our article CBD Oil for Cats and Dogs to find out more about how it works and what pet-friendly brands are out there.

Notably, a study by Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine reported that CBD oil provided significant pain relief to dogs with arthritis, allowing the dogs to be more physically active. Veterinary research on CBD oil is only just beginning, so there’s still a lot more to learn about how CBD oil can help pets who are in pain.

What natural remedies can I give my dog for pain?

Because NSAIDs, even those specifically prescribed to dogs, can cause unwanted side effects such as upset stomach, some pet parents may opt to try a more natural approach first. There are a number of herbal supplements that can safely aid pain management in dogs.

Comfrey has long been used as a traditional healing herb for a number of ailments, including pain, digestive issues, and cancer. It can help manage joint pain due to its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

Turmeric is an orange root that has natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is best absorbed when consumed with black pepper and some fat, such as peanut butter or coconut oil. Learn more about how to make turmeric paste and dosage for your dog based on body weight.

Ginger , like turmeric, is a root that has many healing benefits and is safe to give to dogs. A 2010 human study showed that gingerol, the active ingredient in ginger, can reduce pain and inflammation in humans with rheumatoid arthritis.

Licorice root has anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce joint pain and arthritis symptoms as well as improve digestion and respiratory function. In large quantities or with daily use, it can have unwanted side effects, so speak with your veterinarian before giving it to your pet.

What causes pain in dogs?

The root of a pet’s pain is not always immediately apparent. While in some cases the cause may be obvious – a broken limb or post-surgery – most of the time the animal is suffering in silence. Sometimes the pain’s location can be difficult to identify. For example, visceral pain, such as abdominal pain, can be challenging for a vet to pinpoint. Pay attention to any changes in your dog’s behavior, especially in senior pets and after medical procedures. Some pain in dogs appears only after certain kinds of activity, like hiking or high-intensity exercise, or as a result of actions like eating or going potty.

Chronic pain: Degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis and degenerative myelopathy, which affects the spinal cord, are more likely to arise in senior dogs and can be very painful if left untreated. Dog hip pain is the most common type, frequently caused by canine hip dysplasia or arthritis. Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) occurs more often in certain dog breeds, like Dachshunds and Shih Tzus, commonly known as a “bulging” or herniated disc.

Acute pain:  In addition to incident-related injuries or broken bones, internal pain can be acute and needs immediate vet attention. For example, stomach pain can indicate a serious medical condition like peritonitis, an infection of the stomach or intestines caused by a puncture (chicken bone splinters and swallowed objects  are common culprits). A stomach virus, or enteritis, can also be to blame, caused by parasites and worms in dogs . Tumors and some types of cancer in dogs can also lead to stomach pain as the disease progresses, so catching cancer early is of utmost importance.

The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical diagnosis, condition, or treatment options.

Your best bet for a dog in pain? Take them to the vet. Healthy Paws processes hundreds of claims for pain – it was one of the most common claim for dogs in 2020 . Diagnostics can range anywhere from $150 to $4,500 while treatment varies just as widely, making pet insurance a sound investment for those unexpected accidents and illnesses.