Pet pain can’t be treated like human pain
A little change in direction today at Help My Hurt - purely for selfish reasons.
This is Dee, my 9 year old retired greyhound. 
We don’t know anything about her medical history other than she had three litters over the past few years. She came into her first and forever home this past November, so she’s been a happy member of the clan for 4 months now.
Unfortunately, Dee suffered a bad break in her right hind leg at some point in her life and this has developed into a nasty osteoarthritis. She also damaged the tendon in the same leg, so she is having a good amount of pain.
I know that some people reach for their own pain medication of choice to give their animals when they’re hurting, but that can do more harm than good. For example, Tylenol (acetaminophen) should not be given to a dog because of 
the dangerous effect on the liver. Other human non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may sometimes be given to dogs, but usually there are preferred canine-friendly and approved medications for pain. If you want to use what you have on hand, be sure to check with your vet first.
I’ll address pain later on again as for many of us, our pets are part of the family and when they hurt, we do.
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Photos: Marijke Vroomen-Durning
Tags: , acetaminophen, ba break, greyhound, non-steroidal-anti-inflammatories, NSAIDs, Osteoarthritis, pet pain, pets, tylenolRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Fun stuff and "just stuff"
6 opinions for Pet pain can’t be treated like human pain
The Quick Pet Stop » Pet pain can’t be treated like human pain
Mar 15, 2008 at 1:43 am
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Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Mar 15, 2008 at 5:31 pm
My vet’s office has offered me (well, not me exactly, haha) pain medication each time I’ve taken a pet to be spayed or neutered. I don’t think it was an anti-inflammatory, because they simply referred to it as pain medicine, but I could be wrong.
Anyway, the thought never crossed my mind to offer any of my pet’s human medicine. I don’t know why, but lucky for my pets, huh? Haha. I once heard someone suggest giving a cat Pepto for her upset stomach, but I quickly vetoed that. I don’t know if it would help, hurt, or have no effect at all, but it just didn’t seem wise.
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Mar 15, 2008 at 5:32 pm
pee ess - cute pup!
Marijke Durning, RN
Mar 16, 2008 at 11:41 am
aww… thanks. I think she’s rather gorgeous myself. :-)
D'sMom
Mar 25, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Can I give my 75# lab anything? He is shaking and wont jump up or run but he eats well still, but cowers otherwise; It’s only been a day, my vet did not have time to take him (even though I waited for an hour or more to sqeeze in). He is about 8, a rescue of course!! Thx.
Marijke Durning, RN
Mar 25, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Hi D’s Mom,
I wish I could advise you but I can’t - I really don’t have the knowledge or the ability to recommend anything. Do you have any idea what is causing the pain? Is there an emergency vet you can call to ask what types of pain medications you can give?
It’s so hard when an animal you love is in pain - please let me know what you end up doing and how your sweetie is.
Marijke
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