Gabapentin is a generic drug and belongs to a class of drugs called ‘Gamma-aminobutyric acid analogs’ or ‘GABA analogs’. The drugs of this class are administered to individuals who have difficulties with GABA in their brains. Problems with GABA lead to stress, panic, restlessness, etc. Although gabapentin is usually prescribed for humans, some veterinarians administer this medicine to dogs. If you want to know What Does Gabapentin Do For Dogs with its pros and cons that will help you to give a better life to your pets. So, you have to read the blog carefully till the end.
It is FDA-approved for human use, but not for animals. Hence, it is an ‘off-label’ medicine for use in pets. In dogs, this medication drug reaches its maximum efficiency 2 or 3 hours after ingestion. The effects wear off in 24 hours if the liver and kidney of the dog are healthy. To know more about gabapentin for dogs, let’s start the blog!
Can Dogs Get Anxiety?
Yes, just like humans, dogs can also get affected with anxiety. Also like humans, if dog anxiety is left untreated, it may lead to behavioral changes. Common causes for anxiety in dogs are aging, separation and fear. A dog may be suffering from panic disorders, if he/she is showing symptoms like aggression, releasing fecal matter in the house, sadness, excessive barking etc.
What Does Gabapentin Do For Dogs: Effects
Gabapentin for dogs can help reduce seizures, pain and situational anxiety. It is important to note that the doses mentioned below will scale with the weight of the dog. In this section of the blog, we will see what effects gabapentin has on dogs:
(1) Reducing Pain
Gabapentin is often used as a pain relief medicine for dogs by veterinarians. This is so because this medication drug is an analgesic. Using this medication on your dogs can provide them relief from chronic pain and neuropathic pain.
For reducing neuropathic pain, the initial dose is 5 to 15 mg/kg every 12 hours. The efficacy of this medicine increases when it is used with certain other pain medicines like carprofen.
(2) Managing Anxiety
Veterinarians may also prescribe this medicine to dogs, for controlling their anxiety. It is believed that this medication drug reduces the releasing of excitatory neurotransmitters. Gabapentin is to be used as a mild sedative and can prevent anxiety build-up during thunderstorms or before a veterinary visit.
The doctors will prescribe a dosage of gabapentin for dogs of 30-50 mg/kg for controlling situational-anxiety. The dose is given one to six hours before an event that can cause the dog to be anxious.
(3) Seizure Control
Brain tumors, brain trauma etc., can cause seizures in dogs. Gabapentin has anticonvulsant properties, and it can be used as a medicine to ward-off seizures. For seizures, the dosage of 10 to 20 mg per kilogram in every eight hours.
Please note that all the doses mentioned above are initial doses. The Veterinarian can regulate the quantity of medicine to be taken per dose. They may also change the interval between two doses.
Gabapentin Dosage:
Gabapentin is available in various dosages of oral tablets, oral capsules and oral solution.
(i) Oral Tablets:
Oral tablets of strengths 300 mg and 600 mg are available with the brand name ‘Gralise’. 600 and 800 mg tablets are of the brand name ‘Neurontin’ and can also be purchased in generic form.
(ii) Oral Capsules:
Gabapentin 100 mg, 300 mg, and 400 mg capsules can be purchased. They have the brand name of ‘Neurontin’, and generic gabapentin of these strengths is also available.
(iii) Oral Solution:
A branded variant, Neurontin, and a generic variant, both are available in the strength 50 mg per mL.
Gabapentin for Dogs Side Effects:
As is the case with all medications, gabapentin also has side effects. Gabapentin when administered to dogs has the following adverse effects:
- If the dog is new to this medication drug, he/she may get lethargic in the earlier stages of the treatment. Often, dogs become tolerant to this side effect in time.
- Gabapentin can also cause the dog to be uncoordinated. However, if the dosage is continued, the dog will most probably develop resistance to this effect.
- In some cases, a dog may show signs of allergy after administration of this drug. In such cases this medication course of this drug is ceased.
Precautions:
- Gabapentin can only be purchased with a certified doctor’s prescription letter.
- Antacids, hydrocodone and morphine can interact with gabapentin. So if your dog is taking any of these, be sure to inform the veterinary doctor.
- The oral liquid form of gabapentin contains a substance called ‘xylitol’. Xylitol is toxic for dogs, hence, oral liquid form of this medication should not be given to dogs.
- In case you forget to give a dose to your dog, give it when you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, the previous dose must be skipped. Do not give an extra dose to make up for the missed dose.
- Suddenly stopping the dosage of this drug, in dogs with epilepsy, can cause withdrawal seizures.
- Gabapentin capsules must be stored away from moisture and, at room temperature (77°F).
Conclusion:
Gabapentin is a prescription-only medicine and should only be given to your pet after consultation with a veterinary doctor. In the end, we have understood that What Does Gabapentin Do For Dogs actually with its pros and cons. This blog is composed of information regarding gabapentin and the effects it has on dogs. Some side effects and precautions are also mentioned. We hope you found valuable information in the blog.
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