What Is Tramadol? Tramadol For Dogs Explained
When it comes to fast-acting pain relief, there are few products that are as effective as Tramadol. We’ve all experienced pain before and know how much of a hassle it can be to go about your daily rituals with a throbbing headache or a general bodily pain. Unfortunately, our four-legged friends aren’t as lucky as us when it comes to pain relief. Many dogs suffer from both chronic and acute pain simply because we can’t understand that they are even in pain.
Because of this, it pays to have a painkiller on-hand that’s effective at treating most forms of pain quickly and with minimal side-effects. It might sound strange to try giving your dog a human painkiller, but Tramadol is quite popular among veterinarians for relieving pain in animals and may, therefore, be quite popular with your dog!
What Is Tramadol?
Tramadol for dogs is basically just a dog-friendly dosage of the drug. A 2009 study shows that tramadol is a synthetic opioid that works as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, which means that it suppresses pain by working on the opioid receptors in our brain. By increasing your brain’s norepinephrine levels, you actively reduce any levels of pain that you may be feeling as it’s (norepinephrine) a chemical ‘coping mechanism’ released by our brain when in stress.
By effectively blocking these receptors, Tramadol helps to relieve pain quickly and efficiently and has even been known to help treat issues like depression, as the previously mentioned study showd, as many of these opioid receptors are known for contributing to the proliferation of sadness and anxiety.
However, the exact mechanism of Tramadol is still unknown to us, and research is largely carried out based on the results that the drug produces. Because the drug is considered highly potent, it is generally only used in dogs to cure severe or chronic pain, such as that caused by postoperative pain.
What Are The Side-Effects Caused By Tramadol?
Here are just some of the most common side-effects caused by Tramadol:
- Change in walking and balance
- Difficult urination
- Dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position
- Indigestion
- Loss of memory
- Numbness and tingling of the face, fingers, or toes
- Severe redness, swelling, and itching of the skin
- Sweats
- Trouble performing routine tasks
- Weak or absent pulses in the legs
- Yellow eyes or skin
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Natural Alternatives To Tramadol For Dogs
There are a few techniques or ingredients you can try when it comes to natural pain relief that will be effective, but certainly not as powerful as drugs like Tramadol or paracetamol. However, it’s important that you discuss these natural alternatives with your vet beforehand to ensure that they’re safe for your dog to use. If you do start using them, be sure to monitor your dog closely to ensure they don’t have any adverse effects or allergic reactions.
I have 2 major ingredients that work as my personal favorites for mild pain relief. I generally rely on these before moving on to any stronger doses of medication if I don’t have success with either. These are turmeric and ginger, which can be used in recipes, drinks, or on their own to help relieve the symptoms of pain.
These are tasty and easy to use, plus they can be added to your dog’s food if they don’t like the taste of the raw herbs. They’ve also been known to help relieve the pain associated with headaches and joint pain and can even help treat nausea. I definitely recommend investigating them as either an addition to your dog’s medication or as a treatment on its own.
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Conclusion
To conclude, Tramadol is a highly effective pain reliever that can be helpful at easing any pain or suffering your dog may be experiencing. However, it’s important to note that it’s a highly potent drug and should be treated with the utmost care to ensure that there aren’t any unnecessary side-effects or health complications. I would also recommend that speak with your vet beforehand, monitoring your dog closely after giving them the drug, and don’t leave them at home for extended periods of time unsupervised.
Every dog is different and may react differently to the drug under the right circumstances. Be sure to give them lots of water and love as they’re probably going through a lot more than they can express.