What can I give my dog for arthritis pain?

Nothing from your own medicine cabinet. Human painkillers, including ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and aspirin, can cause stomach ulcers, kidney failure, liver failure and death in dogs. They must not be given unless a vet has specifically directed it for your dog.

The medicines that actually control arthritis pain are prescribed by a vet. Alongside them, there is a lot you can do at home today that genuinely helps and carries no drug risk. This page covers both, and is honest about the supplements in between.

Dog arthritis pain relief over the counter: why the answer is no

Dogs process drugs differently from people. An amount that eases a human headache can be enough to damage a dog's stomach lining or kidneys, and the margin for error is small, especially in an old dog whose organs are already working harder.

That leaves no over-the-counter painkiller that is suitable to give a dog on your own judgment. What is sold without a prescription for dog joints is supplements, which are covered below. They are not painkillers.

Aspirin for dog arthritis

Do not give it. Aspirin can cause stomach ulcers and bleeding in dogs, and that includes buffered, coated and low-strength versions and products labeled for dogs. It also gets in the way of proper treatment: a vet usually has to wait for it to clear before starting a dog-specific anti-inflammatory, which leaves your dog with less pain relief in the meantime.

If you have already given your dog any human painkiller, tell your vet today, even if the dog seems fine.

What vets prescribe for arthritis pain

Arthritis cannot be reversed, but the pain can usually be brought under good control. Most dogs end up on a combination. Which medicines, and at what dose, is decided by the vet for your dog, often after blood tests.

• Dog-specific anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). These are the mainstay. They are designed and tested for dogs, which human versions are not. They still carry risks to the stomach, kidneys and liver, so vets monitor dogs who take them long term.
• Other pain medicines. Added when an anti-inflammatory is not enough, or used when a dog cannot take one.
• The monthly antibody injection. See below.
• Joint injections. See below.

Never combine medicines, add a supplement or change how a prescription is given without asking the vet first. Some combinations are dangerous.

Gabapentin for dogs with arthritis

Gabapentin is a prescription medicine that vets often add for long-term pain, usually alongside an anti-inflammatory and not in place of one. The evidence for it in dog arthritis specifically is limited, and sleepiness and wobbliness are the commonly reported side effects.

Do not share your own prescription with your dog. The strength is wrong, and some human liquid versions are sweetened with xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs.

The dog arthritis shot

People usually mean one of two things. The first is a newer antibody injection that blocks a protein involved in sending arthritis pain signals. The vet gives it at the clinic, and it is often called the monthly arthritis shot. It can be an option for dogs who cannot take anti-inflammatories. It does not suit every dog and side effects have been reported, so the vet weighs it against your dog's other conditions.

The second is an injection into the joint itself, done under sedation, or a course of injections of a joint-protecting medicine. These are usually offered for one or two badly affected joints, sometimes by a referral vet.

What you can buy without a prescription, and how good the evidence is

Supplements are not regulated like medicines. What is in the tub does not always match the label, and quality varies widely between products. Clear any supplement with your vet before starting it, because some interact with prescription drugs or affect bleeding, and the vet sets the amount.

CBD oil for dogs with arthritis

The research is early and the results are mixed. The bigger problem is the product. CBD for pets is poorly regulated, and independent testing has repeatedly found products with much more or much less CBD than the label says. Some contain THC, which is toxic to dogs.

CBD can also raise liver values on blood tests and may interact with other medicines. Rules on what vets may say about it differ from place to place, but tell your vet if you are using it or thinking about it. Never give a product made for people.

Dog arthritis home remedies that actually help

These carry no drug risk, and the first one has the strongest evidence of anything on this page that does not need a prescription.

• Weight loss. In overweight arthritic dogs, even modest weight loss has been shown to improve lameness. Every extra pound loads sore joints. See weight management for senior pets, and ask the vet for a target.
• Traction on floors. Runners, rugs or yoga mats along the routes your dog uses. Slipping hurts and makes dogs afraid to move.
• Ramps and steps. For the car, the sofa and any short flight of stairs. Jumping down is the hardest thing on sore front legs.
• A supportive bed. Thick, firm foam that the dog does not sink through to the floor, low enough to step onto.
• Warmth. A warm room, a draft-free sleeping spot, a coat in cold weather. Use only gentle warmth, and only where the dog can move away from it.
• Short, frequent walks. Several easy outings are better than one long one. Rest makes joints stiffer, and weekend marathons leave dogs sore for days.
• Nail and paw-hair trims. Long nails change how the foot lands, and hair between the pads acts like socks on a wood floor.

Your vet may also suggest physical rehabilitation or hydrotherapy. For more on home changes, see managing arthritis in older pets.

Home remedies that come up often online, such as turmeric, apple cider vinegar and essential oils, have no good evidence for arthritis pain in dogs. Some essential oils and human muscle rubs are toxic if licked. Do not use them in place of a vet visit.

How to tell if it is working

Dogs rarely cry out with arthritis. They slow down, hesitate at stairs, lick a joint, pant at night or become short-tempered. The signs of pain in senior pets lists what to watch, and pain that keeps a dog up at night is easy to mistake for confusion, so compare with the dog dementia signs checklist.

Pick three everyday things, such as getting up from bed, climbing the steps and the length of the walk, and note them weekly. Take the notes to rechecks. For the condition itself, see arthritis in senior dogs.

When to call the vet today

• Your dog has swallowed any human painkiller. Call your vet, an emergency clinic or an animal poison control line now, before signs appear
• Vomiting, black or bloody stool, not eating, or drinking far more than usual in a dog on any pain medicine. Call before the next dose
• A leg the dog will not put any weight on
• Crying out, shaking or panting that does not settle
• Back legs that suddenly give way or drag
• A hot, swollen joint
• Pain that is clearly breaking through the current treatment

When nothing is enough anymore

Most arthritic dogs can be kept comfortable for a long time, and a plan that has stopped working can often be changed. Go back to the vet before you assume you have run out of options.

If your dog can no longer get up, is in pain despite everything, or has stopped enjoying the day, score things honestly with the quality-of-life scale for senior dogs and read when to euthanize a dog with arthritis. That decision is made with your vet, who is also the only person who should ever carry it out.

This article is general educational information about arthritis pain in dogs and is not veterinary advice. It does not recommend any drug, supplement, product or dose. Never give your dog a human medicine, a medicine prescribed for another animal, or a supplement without your veterinarian's direction, because many are toxic to dogs or interact with other treatments. Decisions about pain relief for your dog should be made with your veterinarian.