{"id":630741,"date":"2024-12-13T20:09:59","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T01:09:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630741"},"modified":"2026-04-15T11:52:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:52:21","slug":"pregabalin-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/pregabalin-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Can dogs take pregabalin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Veterinarians use <\/span>pregabalin<\/span><\/a> in dogs to control seizures and manage chronic pain. It is not a first-choice drug for either condition but is added if first-line drug treatments don\u2019t work. <\/span>Pregabalin<\/span><\/a> is very similar to the drug <\/span>gabapentin<\/span><\/a>, which is also used for seizures and pain in dogs. Pregabalin is not approved for use in dogs, so its use in veterinary medicine is off-label.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregabalin is a long-term treatment in dogs that requires two or three daily doses, so pet parents need to take special measures to make sure the dog gets every dose of pregabalin that it needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Veterinarians use pregabalin as a second-line or add-on treatment for seizure disorders or chronic nerve pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seizure disorders<\/span><\/h3>\n

Pregabalin serves as an adjunct (\u201cadd-on\u201d) maintenance treatment of <\/span>seizure disorders in dogs<\/span><\/a>. Seizure disorders affect about <\/span>0.75%<\/span><\/a> of dogs in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

A seizure is a temporary neurologic event. It involves the simultaneous and synchronized overactivity of multiple nerve pathways. Not every seizure involves convulsions. Some can be as simple as \u201cblanking out\u201d for a few seconds. In veterinary medicine, seizure disorders are diagnosed when a dog has more than one seizure in six months, has several seizures in one day (\u201ccluster seizures\u201d), takes a long time to recover after a seizure, or has an especially severe or long-lasting seizure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A dog with a seizure disorder will be put on maintenance treatment involving daily doses of drugs called <\/span>anticonvulsants<\/span><\/a>. These do not stop active seizures but are intended to reduce seizure frequency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>preferred antiseizure medications<\/span><\/a> are <\/span>phenobarbital<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>potassium bromide<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>levetiracetam<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>zonisamide<\/span><\/a>. Veterinarians will use one of these drugs at the start of treatment without any add-on drugs. If the one drug doesn\u2019t provide sufficient seizure control, they will add other anticonvulsants, such as pregabalin, but the drug chosen will depend on the types of seizures the dog is having. Pregabalin works best with partial seizures and not others.<\/span><\/p>\n

While most anticonvulsants work by slowing nerves, pregabalin treatment stabilizes nerve activity. Healthcare professionals once thought that pregabalin worked by slowing down nerves by increasing a neurotransmitter, GABA, that shuts down nerves. We now know that pregabalin blocks calcium channels that shunt electrolytes into nerves to make them conductive. Its primary mechanism of action, then, is to reduce the electrical activity of nerves. This, in turn, reduces glutamate, a neurotransmitter that activates nearby nerves. In this way, pregabalin prevents the nervous system from becoming overexcited and cascading into a seizure.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

For chronic nerve <\/span>pain in dogs<\/span><\/a>, veterinarians use pregabalin as an <\/span>analgesic<\/span><\/a> (pain reliever). The goal of veterinary chronic pain management is to reduce pain and improve the dog\u2019s quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most <\/span>common cause of chronic pain<\/span><\/a> in pets is osteoarthritis. Veterinarians prefer to start treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (<\/span>NSAIDs<\/span><\/a>) or <\/span>opioids<\/span><\/a>, sometimes both together. Other alternatives include <\/span>corticosteroids<\/span><\/a>, gabapentin, or pregabalin.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second most common cause of chronic pain in dogs is cancer. Opioids are the treatment of choice, but many other drugs can be used depending on the cause. Cancer pain can be due to inflammation, the tumor, nerves, or a combination. Pregabalin and gabapentin work best at managing nerve pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, as in people, some dogs have nerve pain due to injury or disease such as diabetes, herniated disk, cancer, or syringomyelia. Gabapentin and pregabalin are <\/span>standard treatments<\/span><\/a>, but they are usually combined with other drugs. Some are traditional analgesics like NSAIDs or opioids, but some are less familiar pain drugs like <\/span>amantadine<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>dextromethorphan<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t

Save up to 80% on Pregabalin with SingleCare<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tPregabalin 75 mg (60 capsules)\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t23666 - Hampton, VA\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Kroger\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t$11.45\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Harris\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t$11.45\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tSee Pregabalin prices at all pharmacies<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n

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

Veterinarians consider pregabalin safe for dogs when given under the direction of a veterinary professional. There are very few reports of serious side effects in dogs other than hypersensitivity reactions. Pregabalin should never be given to dogs that have had any allergic reaction to pregabalin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregabalin is not 100% safe. Veterinarians use the drug with caution in dogs that are pregnant, nursing, or have:<\/span><\/p>\n