Yesterday, I was looking at the different painkillers that are available for dogs. I feel bad because my dog Moose is obviously experiencing discomfort from his hip dysplasia — and all the other things I’ve done don’t seem to be helping enough.
Then I got to wondering: if natural painkillers work in humans, do they work in dogs, too? Maybe there are some non-medical things I can do to ease Moose’s discomfort. Because the prescription painkillers for dogs seem to all run the risk of liver issues when used for a long time. I’d rather not trade one problem (Moose’s pain) for another (liver disease) if at all possible.
So what natural options are out there for managing pain in dogs? Here are a few options that I found:
- Acupuncture. There are five different types of veterinary acupuncture. Dry needle acupuncture (the traditional thin needles used at pressure points) is a popular choice for pain management.
- Massage. I don’t know if this will be a good choice for Moose — while he loves being petted and brushed, he’s very sensitive to having his hips touched when he’s feeling sore. Even the lightest touch causes him to yelp.
- Herbal supplements like bromelain, willow bark, and yucca. These can help relieve inflammation and reduce pain. However, different supplements that I’ve seen have different amounts of these ingredients. What’s the optimum amount? It may depend on the size of the dog and how severe the pain is. My tendency is to start at the low end and work my way up.
One thing to note — while willow bark is safe for dogs, it is NOT safe for cats.
Ideally, I’d like to find a joint supplement with glucosamine, chondroitin, and some kind of natural pain reliever all in one. Moose is pretty good about taking medicine when it’s mixed into his meals — so if I could get an all-in-one product, I think that’d be easiest for both of us.