Whether you are looking for dog hip pain relief or to soothe your pup after elbow surgery, there are many different options that can help in the short term or be used on a regular basis. Some treatments are expensive and require a veterinary specialist, but many others are affordable and as close as your own home.
This is an overview of some of the medications, manual therapies, rehabilitation therapies, supplements, and joint injections available to treat joint pain in dogs. You and your veterinarian can work together to determine which options make the most sense for you and your dog.
What Can I Give My Dog for Immediate Pain Relief?
First thingโs first: take a deep breath, and step away from the medicine cabinet. I know your dog is hurting but most of the medications we use daily for ourselves are toxic to dogs, donโt work very well for dogs, or donโt play nice with dog-specific meds. Wait to give any medications until you have met with your veterinarian, as she will have the best options that are both safe for your pup and most likely to help.
That said, there are things you can do right now!
Heat and Cryotherapy
If your dog is in pain due to an acute injury, such as hurting his leg chasing a ball, ice is your friend. Gently palpate your dogโs limbs to figure out where he is hurting, then apply an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel for 10-20 minutes (the longer the better). The ice will provide pain relief and combat inflammation.
No ice pack? A bag of frozen vegetables works just fine.
Not sure where exactly your dog is sore? You can run a cold hose or cold shower over your dogโs entire leg. Be sure to use a timer, as this method is effective but feels like an eternity.
If your dogโs joint pain is more of a chronic issue, heat is your friend. Heat a warm pack in your microwave and then allow it to cool to the point that it is comfortable to touch. Then apply the warm pack to your dogโs sore joint for 5-10 minutes. The heat will provide pain relief, increase circulation in the area to promote healing, and loosen tissues so that movement is easier and more comfortable.
Massage
Gentle massage improves circulation and can provide pain relief. If your dog is too sore in a particular spot, massage the muscles nearby instead. Also pay some attention to your dogโs back and the opposite leg from the injured one, as those muscles do extra work and get tight from compensating for the injured leg.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF)
If you have a PEMF device such as an Assisi Loop or a bed from Respond Systems, follow product instructions and repeat treatments as often as every two hours. PEMF is extremely safe and has virtually no side effects, plus it is easy to do at home. The device generates a magnetic field that interacts with pain signaling and reduces inflammation.
Caution: avoid PEMF if your dog has a pacemaker.
TENS
TENS units use a weak electrical current to provide pain relief. Basic TENS units are inexpensive and come with gel electrodes that can be applied to your dogโs skin. There are two primary ways to provide relief. Electrodes can be placed to either side of the painful area, or they can be applied to your dogโs back in the region where the relevant nerves enter the spinal cord.
If you have never used TENS before, wait to try it on your dog until youโve been given guidance by a veterinary professional. He or she can show you where to apply the electrodes and help you determine the best settings for your dog. Most dogs find the gentle buzz soothing or donโt notice it, but others may not tolerate this therapy.
Weight Loss and Dog Pain Relief
Less weight equals less pressure on your dogโs joints. If your pup suffers from obesity, start a gradual weight loss plan to get him to his ideal weight. This takes time but may be the only treatment your dog needs for joint pain.
Low Impact Exercise Can Help Prevent Chronic Pain in Dogs
Keeping joints moving is the best way to preserve mobility and comfort. Exercise also builds muscle, which helps to support the joints. Walking and swimming are ideal as they maximize motion while minimizing force. Start with short outings and build over time โ your dog can be tired after exercise but should not be sore the next day.
Supplements for Dog Joint Pain
Supplements can be given at home and are usually safe with few side effects. Product quality varies widely, and it can take several weeks before you see improvement.
- Omega-3 fatty acids from marine sources have the most evidence for helping our dogs with joint pain. I have been really happy with the product Welactin from Nutramax, and my dogs enjoy it too. As well as supporting your dogโs joints, it is also great for skin and coat health. If you only want to choose one supplement, this is the one I would reach for.
- Glucosamine and chondroitin are longtime favorites for many dog lovers. Dasuquin, Cosequin, and GlycoFlex are just a few of the products available.
- CBD is becoming popular in dog supplements. Dosing, quality control, and bioavailability vary widely. Personally I prefer the oil from ElleVet, as this product has the most research behind it proving efficacy. CBD can impact your dogโs liver, and it is important to talk to your vet before combining CBD with NSAID or steroid medications.
There are many more products out there that may be helpful for your dog, including undenatured type-II collagen inhibitors, green-lipped mussel, and MSM.
Medications for Joint Pain Relief in Dogs
The medications discussed here are all available by prescription from your vet. Pain meds get your dog comfortable quickly and may be able to be decreased or discontinued entirely over time as you enact other therapies.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the rockstars of joint pain relief for dogs. These drugs work quickly and decrease inflammation and discomfort. NSAIDs can impact the liver over time, and cause stomach upset in some dogs.
Dog-safe NSAIDs include:
- Carprofen (Rimadyl)
- Meloxicam (Metacam)
- Deracoxib (Deramaxx)
- Grapiprant (Galliprant)
Gabapentin and pregabalin tackle pain from a different angle, focusing on nerve pain. These drugs can be helpful for some dogs on their own or can be combined with other medications.
Steroids such as prednisone provide extensive inflammation control. These drugs are usually reserved for extreme or unique cases, as giving a steroid for most joint pain scenarios is like bringing a machine gun to a knife fight. While steroids do their job very well, they also come with a variety of side effects.
PSGAG (Adequan) is an injectable medication that helps to lubricate joints and promotes growth of healthy cartilage. Depending on the protocol your vet uses, injections may be given twice a week initially and then decreased to once a month. You can learn to give the injection yourself. Adequan injections take time to show effect but are safe and have few side effects.
Anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) monoclonal antibody products like Librela block pain signaling so that your dog feels more comfortable. This is usually considered a last resort option because it does not stop inflammation or help to treat the underlying cause of your dogโs pain. In rare cases it can also make arthritis worse. Librela is given via injection once a month at your vetโs office.
Rehabilitation Therapy Options for Canine Joint Pain Relief
Rehab is like physical therapy for dogs. Your regular vet may offer some rehab options or may refer you to a rehab facility.
Therapies that can be used for joint pain include:
- Tailored exercise plan with exercises you can do at home
- Underwater treadmill therapy
- Therapeutic laser
- Acupuncture
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
- Shockwave therapy
Some of these treatments require visits once or twice a week, while others are less frequent or can be done at home.
Injections for Dog Joint Pain
Vets can do additional training to learn how to inject substances directly into your dogโs painful joint. Depending on the product, it may provide pain relief or it may help to heal damage in the joint.
Options for joint injections include:
- Steroids โ pain relief, inexpensive
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) โ lubricate the joint, short acting
- Polyacrylamide hydrogel โ coats the inside of the joint capsule
- Platelet rich plasma (PRP) โ mediates inflammation and helps with pain relief
- Mesenchymal stem cells โ enhances healing
- Radiosynoviorthesis (RSO) โ radioactive isotope destroys inflamed tissue inside the joint
Steroid and HA joint injections may be available from your regular vet, but the other therapies often require a specialist. Degree of relief and how long each injection lasts varies with the product(s) used and your dogโs condition.
