Usage | Side Effects | Dosage | Drug Interactions
These days, dogs and cats are often considered members of the family. Many people are surprised to find out that pets can experience many of the same health issues we do, such as seizures, pain, and anxiety. When we see that our pets have pain or discomfort, it is natural for us to want to help them feel better with the best treatment we can find.
As a pet owner, you know your pet, and you know when they are in pain or not feeling well. In instances like these, your vet may recommend a prescription medication called Gabapentin to help ease your dog’s pain. If you’ve been prescribed Gabapentin for your pet, you may be wondering what it is and how it works.
What Is Gabapentin for Dogs?
If your dog is prescribed this medication, you may well wonder, “what is Gabapentin for dogs,” especially if you know it is a human medicine. And you may wonder if it is okay for your dog to take it. Or you may be familiar with Gabapentin as a pain medicine for dogs and not have realized that humans can also take it. There are many human medicines that dogs can take and many they cannot. Never give your dog human medicine without speaking with your veterinarian.
Gabapentin is a human medication that veterinarians often prescribe for dogs. It is an analgesic and anticonvulsant drug that is used by veterinarians to treat anxiety, pain (primarily nerve pain), and seizures in dogs. Although commonly prescribed for dogs, it is not FDA-approved for use in pets, therefore prescribing it for dogs is considered “off-label” or “extra-label.” This is a common practice for some drugs and is entirely legal.
What Is Gabapentin Used for in Dogs?
Gabapentin has a wide range of important uses in canines, and one of the main ones is helping alleviate chronic pain caused by conditions such as arthritis. It can also be used to help with seizures and anxiety in dogs.
In some instances, veterinarians will prescribe Gabapentin to be used in combination with other medications like Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids when treating seizures and chronic pain. Some common conditions treated with Gabapentin are chronic arthritis, hip dysplasia, pain associated with cancer, post-surgery pain, and epilepsy. It is also sometimes used to relieve anxiety when other anti-anxiety drugs haven’t proven effective for some dogs and cats.
Seizure Prevention
Gabapentin’s anticonvulsant properties make it beneficial for adjunctive therapy for dogs suffering from seizures that happen so frequently that they prevent your dog from leading a normal life. It is also used in instances when the current medication regime is no longer as effective as it was.
Pain Relief
Gabapentin can also provide pain relief for chronic pain and, unlike many analgesics, also relieves neuropathic pain. It is most often prescribed to alleviate the chronic pain associated caused by degenerative joint disease and hip dysplasia.
Anxiety Relief
While traditionally used for seizures and pain, Gabapentin is becoming more popular to use for anxiety relief in dogs, either on its own or in combination with other drugs.
How Does Gabapentin for Dogs Work?
So how does Gabapentin for dogs work? As with a lot of drugs used in veterinary medicine today, veterinarians understand generally how Gabapentin works in the body. However, there is ongoing research to determine the specific mechanisms of its astounding effects.
Pain is a complicated process in the body, and veterinarians have, over time, changed their approach to pain management for their patients. Veterinarians prefer to treat dogs and cats using their professional judgment and training to assess the situation and the condition that may be causing pain, arthritis, or post-surgical pain, for example. They use this information instead of outward signs of pain your pet may be expressing.
Gabapentin Structure
Gabapentin works differently than many pain relievers. Rather than having a direct impact on pain, it is thought to act as a kind of nervous system dampener. Its structure is similar to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters aid in cell-to-cell communications in the nervous system and bind to receptors to transmit messages. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means it blocks neurotransmission. GABA also relaxes the nervous system. Despite having a similar structure to GABA, it doesn’t bind to GABA receptors.
Gabapentin Mechanism of Action
Although not completely understood, a potential mechanism of action might be that Gabapentin attaches to calcium channels, specifically ones that release neurotransmitters that communicate excitement. These are the neurotransmitters stimulated during seizures and are present when dogs feel neuropathic pain. Gabapentin represses these responses, effectively controlling seizures and pain.
The connections in the brain that control the pain response, seizures, and anxiety are or dampened. This means that it doesn’t actually keep pain signals from reaching the brain but rather quiets the nervous system, allowing the effects of other pain relievers used for chronic pain to be amplified. This is the reason why Gabapentin is often prescribed in combination with opioids and NSAIDs to treat neuropathic pain.
What Are the Side Effects of Gabapentin in Dogs?
The side effect most often seen with Gabapentin is sedation. The level of sleepiness varies from dog to dog. Veterinarians will generally prescribe a beginning dose. If the dog becomes too sedated, the veterinarian will adjust the dose until it has the desired effect. It is essential to administer Gabapentin as instructed by your veterinarian and watch for any side effects, such as:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Loss of muscle control and loss of coordination
If you notice any of these side effects in your dog, tell your veterinarian as they may need to tweak the dosage. If you know or suspect that your dog has had an overdose, it could be fatal. Contact your veterinarian immediately or take your dog to an emergency vet clinic.
Signs of an overdose include:
- Excessive sleepiness
- Reduced activity
- Depression
- Loss of balance
- Pale or dark gums
If your dog misses a dose of Gabapentin, give them their regular dose as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for their next dose, skip the dose they missed and give them their next dose according to their regular schedule. DO NOT give them two doses at the same time.
Do not stop using Gabapentin without consulting your veterinarian. Abruptly stopping this medication may lead to severe withdrawal issues. Your veterinarian will instruct you on how to do it, and, if necessary, they will prescribe an alternative medicine.
As with all medications, there is a slight chance that your dog may be allergic to Gabapentin. If your dog has an allergic reaction to this medication, alert your veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic and follow their advice. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, skin rash, fever, or difficulty breathing.
When Not to Give Gabapentin to Your Dog
Discuss with your veterinarian any ongoing health issues your dog has and any supplements or medications they take regularly or temporarily. Gabapentin should not be given to:
- Dogs with kidney issues and kidney disease.
- Dogs that are pregnant or lactating.
- Dogs on medications like hydrocodone, antacids, and morphine.
What’s the Gabapentin Dosage for Dogs?
The Gabapentin dosage range varies widely. It depends on what condition the drug is being used to treat and your dog’s weight. This drug should be used with caution in dogs that have kidney or liver disease. These conditions can delay the metabolism of the drug.
Gabapentin is available in several forms that are formulated for humans:
- 100 mg (capsules/tablets)
- 300 mg (capsules/tablets)
- 400 mg (capsules/tablets)
In addition, there is an oral solution. However, this solution sometimes contains xylitol. Xylitol is often used as a sugar substitute, and while harmless for humans, it is toxic to dogs. Your veterinarian can help you find this medication in a form safe for your pet.
The drug is most often given orally with or without food. Your veterinarian will provide you with the correct dosage and how often to administer it. It should start to work pretty quickly, within about one to two hours after you have given it to your dog. The drug is short-acting, so the effects will last about 24 hours. If your dog has kidney or liver issues, it may last longer.
Gabapentin should not be stopped suddenly, especially when treating dogs with seizures, as it may cause withdrawal seizures. Never discontinue a medication without consulting your veterinarian.
Gabapentin Drug Interactions
Discuss with your veterinarian any drugs and supplements your dog is taking and any other ailments or issue they may have. This helps you understand what to expect and allows them to prescribe a treatment that adjusts to the needs of your pet.
Antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum can keep Gabapentin from working as well as it could. To make sure antacids don’t interfere with Gabapentin, do not give the drug within two hours of giving your pet antacid.
Can You Use Gabapentin and Trazodone Together for Dogs?
Trazadone is often prescribed to relieve anxiety in dogs and can be used safely with Gabapentin. This combination of drugs is often used to help with anxiety issues.
Can Dogs Take Gabapentin and Rimadyl Together?
Rimadyl is an NSAID often prescribed for pain relief in dogs. Never give your dog a human NSAID – ibuprofen, aspirin, Aleve, and others – or any human medicine unless directed by your veterinarian. Some human medications are toxic and even deadly for pets. Often, veterinarians will prescribe Gabapentin to augment the effectiveness of Rimadyl to control pain in dogs.
Can Dogs Take Gabapentin and Tramadol Together?
Tramadol, an opioid, is another human medicine used by veterinarians to control severe pain in dogs. Many veterinarians also prescribe Gabapentin with Tramadol to offer optimal relief for acute or chronic pain. Some veterinarians combine Gabapentin and Tramadol with a dog-appropriate NSAID in cases of severe pain.
Can Dogs Take CBD and Gabapentin?
As CBD use for dogs is becoming more popular, many pet parents ask if dogs can take CBD oil and Gabapentin together. This is not recommended because the combination increases the risk of sedation. Always talk to your veterinarian before giving your dog any additional supplements or medications that were not originally prescribed. They may cause adverse effects or interfere with the effectiveness of your dog’s current treatment program.
Gabapentin is used mainly to help control chronic pain management and to treat epilepsy or seizures, either on its own or to augment the effectiveness of other drugs. The right combination can prevent seizures entirely or lengthen the amount of time between seizures. The drug is also given to cats, primarily to reduce their anxiety due to stress, and generally not as pain medicine for cats.
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