How do you use gabapentin for dogs?

Gabapentin is used in humans to manage seizures and nerve pain. For dogs, veterinarians prescribe it off-label to control seizures, manage chronic pain or nerve pain, and control anxiety. Gabapentin is not usually a first-choice drug except for nerve pain. Instead, veterinarians typically prescribe gabapentin as an add-on or alternative treatment when preferred therapies do not work well enough.

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What is gabapentin used for in dogs?

Veterinary professionals use gabapentin in dogs primarily to treat seizures, chronic pain, or nerve pain in dogs. Veterinarians may also use gabapentin to relieve anxiety or phobias in dogs. Gabapentin is not FDA-approved for use in dogs, so all uses are off-label uses. 

Seizures

Veterinarians use gabapentin as an adjunct therapy for the maintenance treatment of seizures or epilepsy in dogs. Seizure symptoms can vary depending on the type of seizure disorder. Many other conditions can be mistaken for seizures, so if you suspect a dog is having seizures, record them on a smartphone and see a veterinarian. The preferred antiseizure medications are phenobarbital, potassium bromide, levetiracetam, or zonisamide. If these preferred treatments do not work sufficiently well at controlling seizures, a veterinarian may add gabapentin or another drug to the treatment. 

Pain

Veterinarians use gabapentin as an analgesic for nerve pain or chronic pain in dogs. The most common cause of chronic pain in pets is osteoarthritis. Signs of chronic pain in a dog include lameness, limping, difficulty moving, and behavior changes. For chronic pain management, veterinarians typically prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or opioids as their first choice. They’re often prescribed together. A corticosteroid may be used for osteoarthritis. Gabapentin is an alternative treatment or may be added to the treatment regimen. For pain relief, owners will need to give the dog daily doses.

Anxiety

Veterinarians also may use gabapentin as an adjunct medication to treat anxiety. See a veterinarian if you notice anxious, fearful, aggressive, compulsive, or impulsive behaviors in a dog. The first-line treatments are environmental changes and behavior modification. If a dog is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, the veterinarian will add medications to the treatment. The first choices are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine or tricyclic antidepressants like clomipramine. If these don’t work well, daily doses of gabapentin or another drug may be added to the treatment regimen. For phobias, dogs can be prescribed a single dose of gabapentin to calm the dog before stressful events such as veterinary visits. 

Is gabapentin safe for dogs?

Gabapentin is prescribed off-label for dogs. That means the FDA has not approved its use in dogs. Veterinarians consider it safe because there have been no reports of serious problems in dogs. 

High doses can cause sedation and loss of coordination (ataxia), so the dog may need to be confined or carefully observed. 

Gabapentin should not be given to dogs who are allergic to the drug. In dogs, gabapentin is removed by the liver and kidneys. The prescribing veterinarian may adjust the dosage of gabapentin in dogs with liver disease or kidney disease. 

For most dogs, human formulations of gabapentin can be used if approved by the prescribing veterinarian. For small dogs, however, a 100 mg capsule may be too large a dose, so the prescription will need to be prepared by a compounding pharmacy.

Dogs should never receive an oral solution of gabapentin formulated for humans like Neurontin. These formulations may contain xylitol which rapidly lowers blood sugar in a dog, causing severe hypoglycemia and possibly liver damage. If an oral solution is needed, it should be prepared by a compounding pharmacy.

Side effects of gabapentin in dogs

Sleepiness and problems with coordination are the side effects dogs experience the most when given gabapentin. These are dose-dependent effects, so the larger the dose, the more sleepy and uncoordinated the dog gets. These side effects are usually most prominent with the first doses and may improve after a few days.

The most common side effects of gabapentin in dogs are:

• Sedation
• Loss of coordination (ataxia)
• Loss of appetite

Extreme drowsiness or coordination problems may be the worst side effect pet owners see. These can be managed with confinement and monitoring.

Interactions of gabapentin with other pet meds

There are no dangerous gabapentin drug interactions, but some drugs either decrease or increase the effects of gabapentin.

• Antacids can interfere with the dog’s absorption of gabapentin, making it less effective. Do not give the dog gabapentin within two hours of an antacid.
• Opioids increase the effects of gabapentin. 
• Gabapentin decreases the effectiveness of the opioid hydrocodone.
• When gabapentin is taken with drugs that cause sleepiness or sedation, those side effects could be worsened. Be careful when giving a dog gabapentin along with antihistamines, benzodiazepines, opioids, or CBD (cannabidiol)

Gabapentin dosage for dogs

Gabapentin dosages for dogs have not been standardized. In the veterinary literature, the recommended gabapentin dosage for dogs is around 10 to 20 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of body weight (4.5–9 mg/pound) taken twice to three times daily. However, recommended dosages vary widely in the veterinary literature. A veterinarian will prescribe the dose they believe will be most effective and safe for the dog given its current health and other drugs being taken. 

In many cases, owners can use gabapentin capsules which come in dosage strengths of 100 mg, 300 mg, and 400 mg. Tablets come in larger doses of 600 mg and 800 mg. Commercially available oral solutions of gabapentin should not be used in dogs. For smaller dogs, a compounding pharmacy may provide appropriately dosed tablets or an oral solution safe for dogs to take. 

• Standard gabapentin dosage in dogs for nerve pain: 3–20 mg/kg taken by mouth two or three times a day but doses can be as high as 50 mg/kg 
• Standard gabapentin dosage in dogs as a maintenance treatment for epilepsy: 10–15 mg/kg taken by mouth three times a day but can go as high as 30–50 mg/kg taken three to four times a day
• Standard gabapentin dosage in dogs as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety: 5–30 mg/kg taken by mouth three times a day.
• Standard gabapentin dosage in dogs as an as-needed treatment for anxiety or phobias: 30–60 mg/kg taken by mouth two hours before an event that will stress or panic the dog.

Can dogs overdose on gabapentin?

An overdose in dogs can cause marked side effects but is not known to be fatal. Symptoms of an overdose include lethargy, loss of coordination, vomiting, and sleepiness. If you think a dog has overdosed on gabapentin, call a veterinarian or take the dog to an emergency veterinary hospital. 

Can I give my dog gabapentin every day?

Gabapentin is usually given daily to treat chronic pain, nerve pain, seizures, and anxiety. There are no reports of serious side effects in dogs on long-term gabapentin therapy. Sometimes, a veterinarian will prescribe gabapentin as a one-time-only dose to calm dogs with phobias before an anxiety-inducing event like a thunderstorm or veterinary visit. 

How to give your dog gabapentin

Gabapentin is given by mouth as either a capsule, tablet, or oral solution. Generic capsules and tablets can be purchased in human dosages at a veterinary clinic or pharmacy. Smaller doses or liquid gabapentin will need to be formulated by a compounding pharmacy.

• Give this medication as instructed.
• Give this medication by mouth with or without food. 
• The dog should swallow the capsule or tablet whole. A veterinary professional will demonstrate the proper procedure.
• If the dog vomits the tablet or medicine, combine it with a treat. 
• If a dose is missed, give it when remembered unless it’s almost time for the next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and give the next dose as scheduled.
• Never give the dog two doses at once.

If a liquid form of gabapentin is required, the prescribing veterinarian will have it in stock or send the pet owner to a compounding pharmacy. Never give a dog human formulations of gabapentin oral solution.

If a dog is taking gabapentin for seizures, do not stop giving the dog doses until consulting with a veterinarian. The sudden discontinuation of gabapentin could bring on seizures. To quit dosing the dog with gabapentin, the veterinarian will steadily decrease the dose. 

Gabapentin alternatives for dogs

Gabapentin is not usually a preferred drug for any of the conditions it’s used for except for neuropathic pain like a nerve injury or back pain. It’s generally prescribed as an add-on treatment or alternative treatment when first-line treatments for pain, seizures, or anxiety don’t work well enough. 

For chronic pain management, veterinarians typically rely on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as carprofen or deracoxib) and opioids (such as tramadol), depending on the cause of the pain. Veterinarians may add gabapentin or amantadine to the treatment plan if NSAIDs or opioids do not provide sufficient pain relief. 

For seizure control, veterinarians usually prescribe phenobarbital or potassium bromide as their first choice. Other preferred anti-seizure medications include zonisamide and levitiracetam. Gabapentin is prescribed as an add-on medication when preferred treatments don’t work. Alternative adjunct treatments include:

• Valproic acid
• Felbamate
• Primidone
• Clonazepam
• Mephenytoin

Alternative treatments for dogs with seizure disorders have not been shown effective, but treatment options include:

• Special diets
• Cannabidiol (CBD)
• Acupuncture
• Vagal nerve stimulation

The first-line treatments for anxiety in dogs are environmental changes and behavior modification. If medication is required, veterinarians use SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants. Gabapentin may be used as an add-on treatment. For many anxiety problems, alternatives to gabapentin include:

• Fluoxetine
• Clomipramine
• Buspirone
• Amitriptyline
• Paroxetine
• Sertraline

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For fears or phobias, alternatives to gabapentin as a one-dose sedative include:

• Trazodone
• Clonidine
• Clonazepam
• Alprazolam
• Dexmedetomidine

Natural but unproven treatments for dog anxiety include:

• Pheromone therapy
• L-theanine supplements
• L-tryptophan supplements
• Alpha-capsazepine
• Herbal supplements

Summary

Gabapentin for dogs is considered a safe but not always an effective treatment for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, seizures, and anxiety. However, it is not usually the first choice but is often prescribed along with other drugs. The only major safety issues are sleepiness and loss of coordination, which can be managed by watching over the dog or confinement.