Yes, Benadryl is an anti-inflammatory for dogs. It can be used to treat a number of conditions, including allergies, anxiety, and motion sickness.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, help reduce swelling, stiffness, and joint pain in humans, and they can do the same for your dog. They can bring relief to a dog with arthritis or one who's just had surgery.
NSAIDS for Dogs
It is important to give your dog only NSAIDs that your vet has approved, and to work closely with your veterinarian while your dog is taking them. Some NSAIDs are available over the counter and others are by prescription.
Paracetamol is a very popular painkiller in humans, however it can be toxic or fatal in small animals. Dogs are less sensitive to paracetamol than cats. A 20kg dog would need to ingest over seven 500mg tablets in order to suffer toxic effects.
Many pain medications considered safe for people can be toxic or even fatal for dogs. Never give your dog aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or any other medication designed for humans without first consulting your vet.
Should your vet prescribe paracetamol for your dog, it's likely that it will be a dosage of 10mg per kilogram, and should only be given once a day for one or two days.
Ibuprofen is toxic to dogs and you should never give it to your pup. Just three to six ibuprofen capsules can be deadly for dogs, so keep the medicine in a safe place. There are canine-specific pain relievers that you can get from your vet or try natural options.
Naproxen (Aleve®)
Naproxen, commonly known as Aleve or Naprosyn, is used to alleviate pain and inflammation in dogs.
NSAIDS. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) play a major role in controlling dog joint pain and inflammation. Prescription medications such Galliprant, Carprofen, and Meloxicam are the safest options for controlling pain and inflammation compared to over-the-counter, non-veterinary products.
Some substances are naturally anti-inflammatory, including fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) and turmeric (curcumin). These naturally occurring substances reduce overall inflammation in the body and are safe for most pets.
Most OTC (over-the-counter) pain medications that are made for people, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, should never be given to dogs. Even at very small doses, they can cause life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers, liver failure, and/or kidney failure.
Cold therapy is often an effective, easy solution to routine soreness that may accompany exercise, injury or surgery. The application of cold can significantly help reduce swelling and inflammation (a.k.a. irritation) in your dog.
When a dog yelps for no apparent reason, it may be due to neck or back pain, which is common in canines. These issues could be a result of degenerative diseases, injuries, or infections. Dogs with neck or back pain may yelp when jumping, walking, or lying down.
A dog limping but not crying or showing other signs of pain should still be taken seriously. Dogs are tougher than you think, and just because your dog isn't howling in pain doesn't mean there isn't any pain. It would be best if you still got your dog to a vet for a check-up.
Hiding, panting, or shaking are also common signs of pain in dogs. Dogs rarely vocalize. They're seldom going to yelp unless you stepped on their toe and frightened them more than hurt them. For the most part, they're going to do things that would make them quieter, such as hiding and not behaving like themselves.
Ibuprofen (Nurofen) and naproxen are common and effective medications used to treat inflammation and pain in humans, but they should not be given to pets. These drugs can be toxic (poisonous) to dogs and cats, although cats are much more susceptible to this toxicity than dogs.
"It's important never to give paracetamol to your dog unless your vet tells you to - it can be very dangerous if it's given incorrectly."
A mild case of paracetamol poisoning can give your dog an upset stomach, and they may appear to be tired. Other symptoms can include laboured breathing, swelling on the face, neck or limbs, gums turning brownish-grey and jaundice. More serious cases can include signs of staggering, vomiting and restlessness.
Over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for humans, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can be toxic to dogs. Giving your dog these medicines can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers, severe bleeding, and even kidney or liver failure.
Ibuprofen is toxic to dogs because it blocks an enzyme called cyclooxygenase that, in addition to reducing inflammation, also has roles in promoting blood flow through the kidneys and producing protective prostaglandins for the mucosal lining of the stomach. Dogs are much more sensitive to the effects of ibuprofen.
While you can use human baby aspirin as recommended by your vet, aspirin made for dogs is typically a better option. Human aspirin has a coating on it that helps to protect the human stomach from irritation. Your dog cannot digest this coating, so the medication may not provide the desired effects.