{"id":627589,"date":"2024-03-28T18:10:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T22:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=627589"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:02:22","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:02:22","slug":"methocarbamol-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/methocarbamol-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Methocarbamol for dogs: Dosage and safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

Methocarbamol<\/span><\/a> is a <\/span>skeletal muscle relaxant<\/span><\/a> prescribed to dogs to relieve muscle spasms and pain due to <\/span>injuries, spinal disc problems, swelling, or poisoning<\/span><\/a>. Methocarbamol works indirectly on the muscles by affecting the central nervous system. Because of the way it works, methocarbamol reduces muscle rigidity without affecting muscle tone, which is a problem with other muscle relaxants. The brand name version of methocarbamol is Robaxin, but for animals, this is only available as an injectable called Robaxin-V.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Save up to 80% on methocarbamol<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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

As a skeletal muscle relaxant, methocarbamol relieves muscle tremors, muscle spasms, and muscle pain in dogs due to injury, inflammation, intervertebral disc disease, or certain types of poisons. <\/span><\/p>\n

Musculoskeletal injury<\/span><\/h3>\n

Veterinarians use injectable and oral methocarbamol for muscle pains and spasms <\/span>due to injuries<\/span><\/a> such as strains and sprains of the muscles or ligaments. Veterinarians also use it to calm muscle spasms before or after surgery and for spinal cord injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Intervertebral disc disease<\/span><\/h3>\n

Spinal column discs are fibrous tissues that help keep the spine’s bones aligned and provide cushioning between the bones. These discs can degrade, stiffen with calcium, or get injured, causing pain and loss of movement. Called intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), disc problems are the most common cause of <\/span>back pain in dogs<\/span><\/a>. IVDD mainly affects a dog’s back. About 65% of dogs with IVDD have back problems, while only 18% have problems solely in the neck. Medications such as methocarbamol can be used to control pain in the <\/span>early stages of IVDD<\/span><\/a>, but surgery may be required at some point. <\/span><\/p>\n

Poisoning<\/span><\/h3>\n

Methocarbamol is a drug of choice for treating strychnine poisoning, snail bait poisoning, and tetanus. It may also calm muscle tremors due to tremor-inducing fungal or guarana toxicity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Strychnine is a <\/span>common cause of dog poisoning<\/span><\/a>. It is a powerful poison commonly found in rat or gopher bait. Though malicious poisoning is also common, these rodent baits contain food that attracts dogs, who dig them up and eat them. Dogs who eat a strychnine-laced product will experience <\/span>muscle stiffness, tremors, and seizures<\/span><\/a>, which veterinarians will treat with methocarbamol and other anticonvulsants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Metaldehyde poisoning in dogs is <\/span>rare<\/span><\/a>. Metaldehyde is the toxin in snail bait, which is <\/span>usually flavored with molasses or bran<\/span><\/a> and attracts both snails and other animals, like pets. Shortly after a dog consumes metaldehyde, it will start twitching. This can worsen into severe twitching, seizures, and eventually death if the dog isn’t treated. Methocarbamol injections are a drug of choice to stop muscle spasms in a metaldehyde-poisoned dog.<\/span><\/p>\n

Methocarbamol is also the primary treatment for muscle rigidity due to tetanus, a bacterial infection that produces a poison that affects the muscles. Finally, some fungus poisons and herbal supplements containing <\/span>both guarana and ma huang<\/span><\/a> can cause uncontrolled muscle tremors in a dog. Again, methocarbamol is a treatment of choice to calm these muscle problems.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved methocarbamol as safe and effective for dogs. Like all drugs, it’s not 100% safe.<\/span><\/p>\n