When a dog is in pain, it is our duty to ease their pain.

And among the various solutions available to dog owners, anti-inflammatories.

After an operation, because your dog is limping, is getting old, suffers from arthritis, etc. There are many reasons to use anti-inflammatories.

But be careful, anti-inflammatories certainly have advantages for our dogs but also many disadvantages.

Anti-inflammatories can indeed be dangerous, even fatal, for our dogs if we do not know how to use them correctly.

Do you want to use anti-inflammatories for your dog? Metacam ®? A natural anti-inflammatory? CBD ? Follow the guide.

 

WHAT IS AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY? AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR IN DOGS?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are a very broad class of medications that aim to block the formation of prostaglandins, which cause inflammation. These include ibuprofen, aspirin, and diclofenac (Voltaren®), which are widely used in humans.

There are also steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAIDs) or corticosteroids that contain cortisone derivatives .

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs have different properties:

• analgesics (against pain)
• antipyretics (against fever)
• anti-inflammatories (redness, swelling, etc.)

Widely used in humans, they can also be used in dogs.

A veterinarian may indeed prescribe an anti-inflammatory for your dog if he suffers from osteoarthritis or has just undergone surgery, for example.

Veterinarians often prescribe NSAIDs to dogs with osteoarthritis , a condition in which cartilage—the protective tissue that covers a joint—breaks down over time, causing bones to rub against each other. This rubbing can permanently damage the joint and cause pain, inflammation , and lameness.

Some NSAID anti-inflammatories are available only for dogs:

• carprofen (Rimadyl®)
• robenacoxib (Onsior®)
• firocoxib (Previcox®)
• meloxicam (Metacam®)

But all of them can have side effects and be dangerous for your dog if used incorrectly.

This is also why more and more dog owners prefer to use natural anti-inflammatories, such as CBD. We explain why below.

 

How do anti-inflammatories work?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs affect substances called prostaglandins that the body releases in response to irritation or injury.

When a cell is damaged, an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX) is activated.

Essential to all body functions, enzymes are very specific – each enzyme stimulates a specific reaction that causes a specific result.

In the case of the COX enzyme, it helps cells produce several substances, including prostaglandins, after those cells have been damaged. COX is present in most body tissues, including the digestive tract (stomach and intestines) and kidneys.

Prostaglandins are present throughout the body and have several important functions. These substances:

Contribute to pain, inflammation and fever
Protect the lining of the stomach and intestines
Help maintain blood flow to the kidneys
Support platelet function (platelets are found in the blood of all mammals and help blood clot)
Many anti-inflammatory drugs work by blocking COX, so less prostaglandins are produced. Other NSAIDs work by blocking some activity of certain prostaglandins.

By blocking COX or blocking some activity of certain prostaglandins, NSAIDs reduce persistent pain and inflammation in animals.

But because these drugs also interfere with the other positive functions of prostaglandins, they can cause side effects, some of them serious.

 

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS: THE DANGERS FOR MY DOG

Anti-inflammatories can be very dangerous and in some cases fatal for dogs, so it is important to be knowledgeable about them and know the risks before giving them to your dog.

Do not self-medicate to relieve your dog’s pain.

We can’t say it enough! Even if it may be tempting, do not give your dog an anti-inflammatory without the advice or recommendation of the veterinarian.

This is rule #1 that can save your companion.

Only your veterinarian knows the contraindications for your dog like the back of his hand.

• Perhaps your dog will not tolerate a molecule present in certain anti-inflammatories.
• Perhaps your dog is also taking medication that may interfere with traditional anti-inflammatories.
• Maybe your dog is allergic.
• Maybe his condition doesn’t allow it…

There may be many reasons why you should not give your dog anti-inflammatories.

Your veterinarian knows and understands your dog’s history. He or she will be able to judge which anti-inflammatory to prescribe to your dog, but also at what dose and for how long.

Do not give your dog human anti-inflammatory medications.

Warning! Just because you take anti-inflammatories doesn’t mean your dog can take them too. A dog is not a human. It is therefore important to offer them suitable solutions.

So if your dog is limping, don’t open your medicine cabinet and don’t give your pet any of your anti-inflammatory medications. Human medications can be toxic and fatal to dogs.

 

For example, aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol can:

• Slow down blood circulation
• Cause irreparable damage to the liver
• Create kidney failure
• Cause death

Be aware of contraindications of anti-inflammatory drugs in dogs

As you will have understood, anti-inflammatories can cause great damage in dogs, particularly if:

• Your dog is pregnant or nursing
• Your puppy is too young
• Your dog is taking another incompatible medication such as cortisone
• Your dog is suffering from digestive problems
• Your dog has ulcers
• Your dog suffers from certain kidney, liver or heart diseases

The Risks of Taking Anti-Inflammatories for Your Dog

Whether it’s an anti-inflammatory for dogs like Metacam® or an anti-inflammatory for humans like ibuprofen, there are always risks for your companion.

More and more studies are revealing the dangers of anti-inflammatories, as is the Medicines Agency, which regularly reminds us of the risks of this type of treatment.

Among the side effects, anti-inflammatories can cause:

• Diarrhea and vomiting
• Lethargy and loss of appetite
• A weakening of the dog’s stomach lining
• A weakening of the digestive system
• Ulcers in the intestine and stomach as well as perforations
• Liver dysfunction
• Kidney failure
• Liver failure
• The death

The side effects of NSAID anti-inflammatories are therefore mainly observed in the digestive tract, kidneys and liver.

How can anti-inflammatories disrupt my dog’s digestive tract (stomach and intestines)?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause side effects in the digestive tract, both directly and indirectly. Direct effects are related to the physical properties of the drugs. Many NSAIDs are trapped in the stomach and are slightly acidic. They then directly irritate the stomach lining.

Indirect effects are due to NSAIDs preventing the body from producing prostaglandins or blocking the protective activity of these substances. Remember that in addition to contributing to pain, inflammation, and fever, prostaglandins also protect the lining of the stomach and intestines.

When fewer prostaglandins are produced or some of their activity is blocked, the entire digestive tract becomes weakened. This can lead to ulcers and perforations in the stomach and intestines.

Giving an animal two NSAID anti-inflammatories at the same time, or an NSAID with a steroid such as prednisone, increases the risk of side effects in the digestive tract and should be avoided.

How can anti-inflammatories affect my dog’s kidneys?

During times of decreased blood flow to the kidneys, such as when an animal is dehydrated, under anesthesia, or has kidney disease, prostaglandins cause the arteries to the kidneys to dilate. This helps keep blood flowing to these vital organs.

Because anti-inflammatory drugs prevent the production of prostaglandins or block some of the prostaglandin activity, these medications can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, possibly causing kidney damage and leading to sudden kidney failure.

NSAIDs should be used with caution in animals that may already have kidney disease or other conditions that reduce blood flow to the kidneys, such as dehydration. If an NSAID is used at the time of surgery, intravenous infusions are recommended before, during, and after anesthesia to maintain blood flow to the kidneys, which is intended to reduce potential renal complications.

How can anti-inflammatories affect my dog’s liver?

The side effects of NSAIDs on the liver can be divided into two categories: dose-dependent toxicity and dose-independent toxicity.

As the name suggests, dose-dependent liver toxicity is related to the dose—the higher the dose of NSAIDs, the more severe the liver damage. Dose-dependent liver toxicity is usually caused by a massive overdose of NSAIDs, such as a dog eating an entire can of its owner’s ibuprofen.