Home Remedies For Dog Pain
Will you let your dog suffer in silence? Its whimpers and its shivers could be signs of inflammation or joint discomfort. Do your pet’s hushed whines break your heart? More often than not, even dedicated pet owners, like yourself, may miss the subtle signs of dog pain. Limping and stiffness are some of the most obvious symptoms of injury, organ swelling, or sore paws.
As stated in a 2018 study by Reid J. et al., hundreds of thousands of pets are brought to US veterinarians annually for evaluation due to a painful disease. If your beloved pet is suffering from an injury or an inflammatory illness, how can you help it? Surgery isn’t always the right answer, and at times, it can be difficult to tell when your dog is in pain.
To treat your dog, you must know the right symptoms and home remedies for its condition. If you think your pet has a painful health condition, don’t think twice about treating it with a proven homeopathic method. From diagnosis to prevention, you can use this comprehensive article about dog pain. As a guide, this paper can help you choose the right home remedy for your pet.
To give your dog the right dosage of CBD oil, please refer to the last section.
Defining Dog Pain
Some symptoms of this condition are fairly easy to spot, while others are hard to identify. Obvious limping and repeated licking of the affected area are clear signs of pain in dogs, which could likely be a result of pancreatitis, joint issues, or internal bleeding. When your once boisterous dog becomes lethargic or aggressive, it may be suffering from an inflammatory illness.
A change in your pet’s behavior is the most common symptom of dog pain. If the condition isn’t given enough attention, symptoms may worsen. This was stated in a report released by the National Research Council (US) Committee on Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals. Many physical and behavioral changes can indicate that your dog is probably unwell and is hiding its pain.
As man’s best friends get ill or age, they develop various aches and chronic illnesses. Dogs suffering from an injury or any painful condition can benefit from drug treatments and home remedies. The application of hemp oil, ice, or bandage can reduce swelling and relieve pain. In addition, combining a form of home remedy with a nutritious diet may likely treat underlying conditions.
As observed by J. Wakshlag et al. in their 2014 study on the efficacy of CBD treatment in dogs with joint discomfort, the subjects with OA exhibited increased activity and comfort after being treated with hemp oil. Some of the elderly pets even showed interest in playing with their owners again after months of exhibiting lethargy. Naturally, dogs suffer in silence.
They have evolved to hide their pain that is due to infirmity or injury, according to Stanley Coren, Ph.D., a seasoned writer, and ethologist. They do that to conceal their weaknesses and exhibit dominance. However, with this inborn instinct, pet owners, like yourself, face difficulties in knowing whether your pet is in pain or not. In the next section, the numerous symptoms of the said condition are categorized.
Symptoms of Dog Pain
As a pet owner, you are responsible for the health of your dog. When your pet whimpers, you can’t easily determine what that action implies. Usually, dogs in pain exhibit 2 or more symptoms of an underlying health condition.
Other signs are so subtle that you won’t spot them unless your pet exhibits mobility issues. Also, if its behavior changed, it could indeed be in discomfort and needs a remedy, fast. Pain in dogs can become evident through behavioral changes and physical symptoms.
Changes in behavior
- Restlessness
- Aggression
- Excessive licking
- Pressing its head against a wall
- Excessive whimpering or vocalization
- Snarling
- Not wanting to be touched
- Anxiety
- Changes in personality and sleeping habits
- Withdrawn behavior
- Mobility issues
- Limping
- Hesitation to go to higher grounds
- Inability to get up or lie down
- Reluctance to jump
- Refusal to walk
- Lethargy
- Physical symptoms
- Trembling
- Weight loss
- Lack of grooming
- Arched back
- Lethargy
- Twitching or tight muscles
- Holding their head below their forepaws
- Panting
- Excessive eating or drinking
Causes of Pain in Dogs
In pets, there are two types of pain: chronic and acute. This was mentioned by W. Raffaeli in his 2017 review on related studies covering pain as a disease. Illnesses and injuries can cause acute pain, whereas dental diseases and joint issues result in chronic pain. According to the Italian Physician, pain is a meaningful tool for diagnosing inflammatory and chronic diseases.
- Surgeries
- Damaged joints or bones
- Strains
- Soft tissue injuries
- Sprains
- Abscesses
- Bite wounds
- Dental disease
- Back problems
- Urinary, ear, and skin infections
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Pancreatitis
- Fatty liver
- Kidney and bladder stones
- Internal inflammation
How to Prevent Dog Pain
In the wild, the injured and sickly animals become prey for predators. This is the main reason dogs are good at hiding their sickness. More often than not, they will not show any sign of weakness to anyone. If your pet exhibits any of the aforementioned symptoms, don’t wait until its symptoms worsen. Keep in mind the tips below so that you can keep your dog healthy and pain-free.
- If it shows restlessness, confine it in a safe environment.
- Provide three healthy meals a day and plenty of drinking water.
- Don’t stop giving it medications early.
- After surgery, puppy-proof your home.
- Provide adequate nutrition, vitamins, and minerals.
- Take it on a walk. Let it enjoy what mother nature has to offer at least three times a week.
- Once a day, mix 1 mg of CBD oil to its meal.
Natural Home Remedies for Dog Pain
Here are the top three homeopathic treatments for dog pain.
1) Cannabidiol (CBD) - Hemp Oil
Numerous reviews of related studies have proven the efficacy of CBD in helping dogs, cats, and other furry pets in dealing with a variety of ailments and chronic conditions. As a phytocannabinoid, Cannabidiol interacts with endocannabinoid receptors in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
The endocannabinoid receptor system positively affects pain modulation and the reduction of inflammation. In just 15 to 30 minutes, your pet can be relieved from the pain it has been feeling by taking a droplet or two of CBD oil.
2) Yucca
Yucca is a famous herb in South America. It has been used by shamans and pet owners to relieve pain and reduce inflammation for centuries. The leaves from this perennial shrub contain saponins. Saponins are compounds that function like mefenamic acid. It can decrease external and internal inflammations and soothe painful muscles and joints.
Additionally, it also contains natural antioxidants that protect cells and tissues from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can cause painful symptoms to manifest in pets.
3) Comfrey
Comfrey contains anti-inflammatory compounds such as rosmarinic acid. For hundreds of years, humans have used this flowering plant to alleviate rheumatic pain. For dogs, one teaspoon of comfrey oil given once a day for four weeks can decrease inflammation and ease its discomfort.
Hemp Oil for Dog Pain
In general, pain management includes strong prescription medications like opioids. Although they’re often effective, they cause serious adverse effects, including liver damage, lethal overdose, and chemical dependence. By contrast, Hemp oil products, tested in multiple animal trials, have been proven effective in reducing chronic and acute pain.
Aside from maintaining body equilibrium and keeping your pet’s body in a healthy state, hemp oil provides substantial relief in dogs with OA, joint issues, and other inflammatory diseases. When given twice daily at appropriate doses (2 mg/kg), it can keep your dog pain-free for 4 to 6 hours.
Final Words
For injured and distressed dogs, adding a drop or two of Hemp oil may help relieve its pains. Pain management is crucial to maintaining your pet’s quality of life. Whether the symptoms are caused by an injury or a progressive disease, it’s best to treat it with effective homeopathic medicine.