Are you wondering if Tramadol is safe for reducing your dog’s aches and pains?
You’ll be happy to hear that animals are commonly given this prescription opioid for all sorts of pain.
With that being said, Tramadol should not be given to your dog without a vet’s detailed guidance.
Going it alone is too risky! Some side effects can be quite serious.
Dogs Can Take Tramadol
Though not FDA-approved for canines, vets do frequently prescribe it off label.
Why Dogs Are Given Tramadol
This popular medication is typically used for post-operative or injury-related pain. Tramadol can also make sense for dogs with the following medical conditions:
- Non surgical intervertebral disc disease
- Cancer
- Osteoarthritis
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Anxiety
But, again, Tramadol has potential to harm. After all, it is a narcotic. To minimize risks, you want to at least be sure it’s the right treatment.
The point is this:
While the drug is a possibility, Rimadyl and other pain killers could be better for your dog’s particular situation. Only a veterinarian should decide!
Tramadol is a Good Choice
Many dogs, especially geriatrics, suffer from lingering pain with a major culprit being arthritis.
It’s obviously super frustrating. You want to help!
Despite the caution required, Tramadol has an excellent reputation in world of veterinary medicine.
Not only is it affordable and not addictive, but it tends to be very effective as well.
Tramadol can also be combined with certain NSAIDs as well as joint pain medicines.
Be Familiar With Side Effects
Your dog may exhibit symptoms upon taking Tramadol.
Some negative side effects include:
- Upset stomach
- Panting
- Constipation
- Reduced heart rate
- Lethargy
- Dizziness
- Constriction of the pupils
- Behavioral changes
More serious is the possibility of a seizure.
Warning: Your dog’s liver or kidneys could suffer permanent damage from Tramadol misuse.
Dosing Tramadol For Your K9
Each and every year thousands of dogs die from pain medications.
Your veterinarian must advise you about a correct Tramadol dose.
The following is for reference only:
Standard Tramadol dosage is 0.5mg to 1.5mg per pound of a dog’s body weight (provided twice daily – with or without food).
Tramadol Compared to NSAIDs
Whether you should give your dog an NSAID (Carprofen) or an opioid like Tramadol is not a decision to take lightly.
It’s important to understand that Tramadol is not an anti-inflammatory. Rather, it is a fast acting serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI).
Get a Vet’s Consultation
You need a professional’s assessment of exactly what’s wrong with your dog.
They’ll address the issue in the most optimal way.
In fact, pain solutions tend to be a specialty. Vets see lots of dogs that require similar meds.
The Bottom Line
Tramadol is generally a good option for dogs suffering with pain.
The drug has an established track record for helping pets.
Of course, Tramadol can also have side effects (some of which may be serious).
Be sure to get a vet’s expert assistance. It could be that an entirely different type of treatment is what your dog needs.
I have an 11 year old Terrier-mix (around 21 pounds) diagnosed with pancreatic carcinoma. He has had dramatic weight loss in just a couple of months. Nausea is a continuous problem, along with not eating very much.
A vet has prescribed Tramadol, Gabapentin, Ranitidine syrup, Metoclopramide along with a B-12 shot (his B-12 count was very low) and a Cerenia shot. I am worried that this is just too much since he is already having stomach problems.
After reading about Tramadol, I am concerned as to whether he should even take it. Is it safe for him to be taking so many medications?
My German Shepherd is 12 years and is on 100mg of Tramadol – 3 times daily. I think the dose is too much as she is panting quite a lot.
My lovely 14 year old mixed breed had an x-ray and it turns out she has a tumor on her spleen. She has been prescribed Tramadol. It’s so difficult to tell how much pain she is in.
My 12 pound Pomeranian was still going pretty strong at 15 years. Eventually, I asked the vet for something because he would be restless at night and would bark for a majority of the night. I couldn’t get any sleep. The veterinarian prescribed Tramadol and he immediately went from a pretty strong elderly dog to sleeping almost 24/7.
He would not eat much but suddenly ate a lot on day 4, so I thought he was coming back to normal. But then he stopped eating again and his face started to swell up. I never gave him anymore than that one quarter of a pill. The dosage should have been 12mg according to the vet. One week later he was dead. The vet claims Tramadol does not cause face swelling but it’s all over the internet that it can.
I feel that Tramadol killed my dog after only one week and by just taking one quarter of a pill. Be careful! I would not give your dog any Tramadol.
I had the same thing happen. My Lab was on it for 2 weeks and wouldn’t eat. 3 days later he passed away.
Kim thank you for your reply. I am so sorry for your loss. If you want to provide any contact information, let me know. We are trying to reach out to those that have had a similar horrible experience with Tramadol.
Ditto. My 42 pound dog was prescribed 100mg of Tramadol 3 times per day. He died the next evening.
My mixed breed dog has lupus and arthritis. Tramadol (50mg) should be given as per weight, just like giving children medication. You can break it up. I give her 15mg; 1/2 a tablet because she is 33 kilos. Never give a dog or cat any meds unless they are weighed first.
My Maltese-mix was run over by a car in October. I took him to the emergency room. He ended up having a broken pelvic bone on the left side. It has to heal naturally while he’s confined to a cage for 4-5 weeks to restrict movement.
The vet prescribed him 50mg Tramadol tablets for pain. He is to take (half) 1/2 a tablet every 8 hours. He weighs 18 pounds. It’s been 3 days now and he seems to be fine and the meds are helping with his pain. He’s alert, not sleepy.
Our rescue mix was prescribed Tramadol and an antidepressant. After several weeks, we stopped providing the drug due to lethargy.