How much gabapentin can I give my dog?

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant prescription medication that treats seizures, anxiety, and pain in humans and pets. The prescription drug is available in capsules, tablets, and liquid form. Veterinarians use gabapentin to treat pets, specifically dogs, with intervertebral disk disease, seizures, anxiety, or arthritis pain, but dosage depends on various factors.

How much gabapentin can I give my dog?

The standard gabapentin dosage for dogs is 5–30 mg/kg up to three times daily. However, gabapentin dosage varies greatly and depends not only on the dog’s weight but also on other factors, such as the condition being treated and other conditions the pet may have. Never give medications to your dog without veterinary guidance. Your vet will give you specific dosage instructions for gabapentin.

The following are the recommended doses for off-label use of gabapentin by condition.

Gabapentin for seizures

Seizures develop from conditions like low blood sugar, liver disease, toxins, brain tumors, brain trauma, congenital disease, and kidney disease. About 2% of all dogs will have at least one seizure in their life. The symptoms of seizures in dogs are:

• Temporary confusion

• Uncontrollable jerking movements in the arms and legs

• Loss of consciousness or awareness

• Staring spells

• Changes in emotions or cognitive functioning

“Seizures can be treated with gabapentin,” according to Ray Spragley, DVM, CVA, CCRT, the founder of Zen Dog Veterinary Care in New York. “It is commonly used as an adjunct medication in conjunction with other medications such as Keppra or phenobarbital to prevent seizures.”

A dosage of 10–20 mg/kg every eight hours orally is administered to manage seizures in dogs. Certain dogs may sometimes be given a higher dose to control seizures.

RELATED: How to treat seizures in dogs

Gabapentin for short-term treatment of anxiety

A veterinarian may prescribe gabapentin if a dog is experiencing forms of canine anxiety in stress-inducing situations. Dogs can develop separation anxiety, which arises when they are separated from their owners and left alone for longer periods. Symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs include:

• Urinating and defecating in the house

• Vocalization through barking and howling

• Chewing, digging, and destroying household items

• Escaping

• Pacing

• Coprophagia (eating feces)

Gabapentin may also be helpful for dogs in other stressful situations. “We see [gabapentin] commonly prescribed to give on its own or with trazodone to dogs who are scared to come to the vet, have their nails trimmed, or when fireworks are shot,” Dr. Cofer explains.

If the goal of treatment is to achieve anxiolysis, doses may reach up to 30–50 mg/kg one to two hours before a situation that could trigger a dog’s anxiety. Anxiolysis is the level of sedation where the dog is very relaxed and possibly awake.

RELATED: What’s important to know about treating dogs with anxiety

Gabapentin for intervertebral disk disease

Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) can cause back pain in dogs. The condition is more common among older adults but can also occur in younger dogs of certain breeds.

The following symptoms of IVDD include:

• Neck or back pain and stiffness

• Lowered head stance

• Arched back

• Touch sensitivity

• Lameness or paralysis in one or more limbs

• Ataxia (lack of coordination)

• Stilted or tentative gait

• Difficulties with urination

The severity of IVDD varies. Some dogs experience mild chronic pain and discomfort, while others can develop paralysis.

Gabapentin for neuropathic pain

“Gabapentin works well to relieve nerve pain,” Dr. Spragley states. Dog owners can give human gabapentin for pain relief, but it should be in tablet or capsule form or specifically formulated for dogs by a compounding pharmacy. Liquid gabapentin formulated for humans contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener that’s toxic to dogs.

“That is why it is important to never share medications with your dog and to fill your dog’s prescriptions at pharmacies with staff trained in the differences between dogs and people,” adds Caroline Cofer, DVM, the owner of Pet’s Favorite Vet in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The dosage of gabapentin for nerve pain may start at 5–15 mg/kg every 12 hours and gradually increase to 40 mg/kg every eight to 12 hours if necessary.

Gabapentin for arthritis

Arthritis is another medical condition for which a vet may prescribe gabapentin to treat dogs. Canine arthritis, or osteoarthritis, occurs when the cartilage of the joint is damaged. The condition can cause symptoms like:

• Stiffness

• Lameness

• Limping after rest

• Loss of appetite

• Unusual weight gain

• Physical inactivity

• Reluctance to walk

• House soiling

• Irritability

“We know that any dog with arthritic pain can experience a phenomenon called ‘wind up’ where the achy joint causes everything else in the body to hurt more,” Dr. Cofer explains.

“Given with or without a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, gabapentin reduces the perception of the dog’s mind of the pain coming from an arthritic joint and decreases the wind-up mechanism.”

Typically, gabapentin is not prescribed as a first-line treatment for arthritis. However, a research study has found it effective in reducing pain in knee arthritis in humans. With growing evidence to support the use of gabapentin for chronic pain, it is being used more often to treat arthritis in dogs.

RELATED: How to treat your pet’s pain

Gabapentin side effects in dogs

The most common side effects of gabapentin include sedation and ataxia, a neurological condition that causes a lack of coordination, leading to clumsy, involuntary movements and gait imbalance. More serious side effects include vomiting and diarrhea. If dog parents notice these possible side effects, they should schedule a veterinary visit.

What is the max gabapentin dose for dogs by weight?

Dr. Spragley states that 30 mg/kg is at the high end of the safe dosage of gabapentin for dogs. “At this range, there is a high likelihood of side effects such as sedation and ataxia,” he adds. However, it is important to note that the maximum dose of gabapentin for dogs can vary depending on several factors.

“Safe doses for gabapentin range widely and will be selected by your veterinarian to treat your dog’s particular problem best, taking into account things like other medications they are taking, their body fat percentage, and how often you are directed to administer it,” Dr. Cofer explains.

Can dogs overdose on gabapentin?

It’s uncommon for dogs to overdose on gabapentin. “They would need to ingest a large amount of gabapentin to have an overdose,” Dr. Spragley says. “Signs [of an overdose] would include severe lethargy, incoordination, diarrhea, and vomiting. If any of those signs are present, they should be taken to their veterinarian immediately.”

How often can I give my dog gabapentin?

Owners must follow the recommended dosage schedule for gabapentin. “Gabapentin is effective for around eight hours, so it is typically prescribed for three times daily,” Dr. Spragley reports. “Some dogs tolerate two times daily very well.”

By following your veterinarian’s dosing guidelines, gabapentin use in dogs should be safe and effective. Always watch for side effects, and call the veterinarian if any problems arise.

RELATED: Discount pet meds

Lea este artículo en español aquí.

• 10 facts about canine epilepsy revealed, Cunnings School of Veterinary Medicine (2019)

• Epilepsy in dogs, VCA Animal Hospitals

• Separation anxiety, ASPCA

• Anxiolysis, National Cancer Institute

• Intervertebral disc disease, Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center

• Overview of intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (2012)

• Paws off xylitol; It’s dangerous for dogs, Food and Drug Administration (2021)

• Efficacy of duloxetine and gabapentin in pain reduction in patients with knee osteoarthritis, Clinical Rheumatology (2019)

• Ataxia, StatPearls (2023)