{"id":626651,"date":"2024-02-08T12:11:15","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T17:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626651"},"modified":"2026-04-01T17:47:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T21:47:11","slug":"gabapentin-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/gabapentin-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"How do you use gabapentin for dogs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gabapentin<\/span><\/a> is used in humans to manage seizures and nerve pain. For dogs, veterinarians prescribe it <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> to control seizures, manage chronic pain or nerve pain, and control <\/span>anxiety<\/span><\/a>. Gabapentin is not usually a veterinarian\u2019s 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. Dosages vary among practitioners, but pet owners can expect to give their pet gabapentin 2 or 3 times a day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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What is gabapentin used for in dogs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Veterinary professionals use gabapentin in dogs primarily to treat seizures, chronic pain, or nerve pain. Veterinarians may also use gabapentin to relieve canine anxiety or phobias.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gabapentin is not FDA-approved for use in dogs, so all veterinary use of this drug is off-label.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seizures<\/span><\/h3>\n

Veterinarians use gabapentin as an adjunct therapy for the maintenance treatment of <\/span>seizures or epilepsy in dogs<\/span><\/a>. Seizure symptoms can vary depending on the type of seizure disorder. <\/span>Many other conditions <\/span><\/a>can be mistaken for seizures, so if you suspect a dog is having seizures, record them on video and see a veterinarian.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The preferred antiseizure medications<\/span><\/a> are <\/span>phenobarbital<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>potassium bromide<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>levetiracetam<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>zonisamide<\/span><\/a>. If these preferred treatments do not work sufficiently well at controlling seizures, a veterinarian may add gabapentin or another drug to the treatment. Doses are given daily.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pain<\/span><\/h3>\n

Veterinarians use gabapentin as an <\/span>analgesic<\/span><\/a> for nerve pain or chronic <\/span>pain in dogs<\/span><\/a>. The most common cause of chronic pain in pets is osteoarthritis. <\/span>Signs of chronic pain<\/span><\/a> in a dog include lameness, limping, difficulty moving, and behavior changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For chronic pain management, veterinarians typically prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (<\/span>NSAIDs<\/span><\/a>) or <\/span>opioids<\/span><\/a> as their first choice, sometimes both at the same time. A <\/span>corticosteroid<\/span><\/a> may be used for <\/span>osteoarthritis<\/span><\/a>. Gabapentin is an alternative treatment or may be added to the treatment regimen. Doses are given daily.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety<\/span><\/h3>\n

Veterinarians also may use gabapentin as an adjunct medication to treat <\/span>anxiety<\/span><\/a>. Anxiety symptoms in the dog are behavioral, like anxious, fearful, aggressive, compulsive, or impulsive behaviors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first-line treatments<\/span><\/a> 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 (<\/span>SSRIs<\/span><\/a>), like <\/span>fluoxetine<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>tricyclic antidepressants<\/span><\/a>, like <\/span>clomipramine<\/span><\/a>. If these don\u2019t 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 them before a stressful event.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is gabapentin safe for dogs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Gabapentin is considered safe for dogs. There have been no reports of<\/span> serious problems in dogs<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

High doses can cause sedation and loss of coordination (ataxia), so the dog may need to be <\/span>confined<\/span><\/a> or carefully observed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gabapentin should not be given to dogs who are allergic to the drug. The prescribing veterinarian may adjust the dosage of gabapentin in dogs with liver disease or kidney disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For most dogs, <\/span>human formulations<\/span><\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dogs should never receive gabapentin oral solution formulated for humans, such as the brand-name <\/span>Neurontin<\/span><\/a>. These formulations may contain xylitol, a sweetener that <\/span>rapidly lowers blood sugar<\/span><\/a> in a dog, causing severe hypoglycemia and possibly liver damage. If an oral solution is needed, it should be prepared by a veterinary compounding pharmacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects of gabapentin in dogs<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sleepiness and coordination problems, such as a wobbly gait, are the side effects dogs experience most often 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most common side effects of gabapentin in dogs are:<\/span><\/p>\n