{"id":626656,"date":"2024-02-08T12:13:01","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T17:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626656"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:10:15","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:10:15","slug":"tramadol-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/tramadol-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"What is tramadol used for in dogs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tramadol<\/span><\/a> (Ultram) is an <\/span>opioid pain reliever<\/span><\/a> commonly used for chronic pain relief in dogs. Although it’s approved for use in humans, its veterinary use is <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a>, that is, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved tramadol for veterinary medicine. In dogs, veterinarians primarily use tramadol and other drugs to relieve chronic or arthritic pain. It’s rarely used for surgical pain and can be prescribed to relieve coughing, but this is also a rare use of the drug. <\/span><\/p>\n

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

Tramadol for dogs is primarily used for pain relief. It is usually <\/span>combined with another medication<\/span><\/a>, such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (<\/span>NSAID<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>gabapentin<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>amantadine<\/span><\/a>. Other uses are possible but not very common.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chronic pain<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most pet owners will encounter tramadol as an analgesic for chronic pain, usually osteoarthritis, <\/span>the most common cause of chronic pain in dogs<\/span><\/a>. It’s usually prescribed with other pain relievers like NSAIDs unless the pain is mild. <\/span>Research suggests that tramadol is not effective<\/span><\/a> as a chronic pain medication in pets, but it may increase the effectiveness of other treatments, such as NSAIDs. <\/span><\/p>\n

Because dogs can’t tell their owners they’re in pain, pet parents should look for <\/span>signs<\/span><\/a> of chronic pain such as limping, excessive licking of joints, lameness, reluctance to move, and behavior changes like aggression or lethargy. Tramadol works like other opioids, which block pain signals by attaching to mu opioid receptors on nerves. However, tramadol is a weak mu opioid receptor agonist compared to other opioids. It may take up to 14 days for there to be a noticeable improvement in the dog’s movements or mood. <\/span><\/p>\n

Surgical pain<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tramadol is not effective at treating acute pain. However, it’s possible but not likely a veterinarian will prescribe tramadol after a veterinary procedure. Tramadol was once commonly used to manage pain after animal surgeries, but it’s fallen out of favor. Other opioids, <\/span>NSAIDs<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>alpha2 agonists<\/span><\/a> usually handle post-surgical pain management.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cough<\/span><\/h3>\n

Treating a dog’s cough is another suggested use of tramadol in human and veterinary medicine. <\/span>It is effective<\/span><\/a> as a cough suppressant, but veterinarians are unlikely to use it since there are proven and common alternatives such as <\/span>dextromethorphan<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>codeine<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Tramadol is safe for dogs if prescribed by a veterinarian and all dosing instructions are followed.<\/span><\/p>\n