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Just like humans, our dogs can experience aches and pains that can make their days challenging. Seeing your beloved companion in pain can be difficult, and we aren’t able to offer them standard pain relief as we might take. So are there any natural alternatives to pain relief for dogs?
In this article, we’ll discuss the common reasons behind pain in dogs and natural ways to help bring them comfort.
There are many reasons why a dog can experience minor discomfort or pain. Some of the most common reasons include:
Your dog will likely experience at least one of the above conditions throughout their life, so it’s best to be educated ahead of time on ways you can help your furry companion. Since our dogs can’t express their pain verbally, it’s up to us to know the subtle sign of pain.Pain symptoms in dogs often include Panting, lethargy, decrease in appetite, sleeping more often, slower to get up and down, disinterest in playtime, crying or wincing with movement, growling or snapping when painful areas are touched, and any other change in behavior. If you notice any of these changes in your dog, it’s best to see your veterinarian before starting any home care.
Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs or NSAIDS are one of the most common treatments for pain in the veterinary world. With their ability to relieve inflammation and soothe pain, they are often prescribed as the first line of defense. While NSAIDS do help significantly with pain, especially if your dog is recovering from surgery or any other major injury, they can cause an array of side effects.
Some of these side effects include:
Keep in mind that these side effects are usually only experienced with long term use. If your veterinarian is recommending NSAIDS for an acute painful injury for short term use, then your dog should be just fine with the addition of gastroprotectant medications while they are taking the NSAID. (Pepcid, omeprazole, etc). Though natural alternatives are great when dogs experience minor pain, extremely painful injuries and surgeries will require veterinary grade pain control.
Since chronic use of NSAIDS can lead to the above symptoms, it’s important to explore these natural alternatives if you have a dog with chronic pain of any kind.
When researching natural pain relief alternatives for your pup, you will likely come across these natural ingredients listed below:
Frankincense
Frankincense is considered the mother of all oils in the essential oilworld. Frankincense has an incredible ability to help soothe inflammation, relieve minor pain, and even help with the healing of scars and other discoloration.
Frankincense is an aromatic resin that was pulled from tree roots and has become well known in the holistic world for its natural abilities. By applying diluted frankincense oil to your pets achy joints, inflamed skin, or a scar from previous surgery, you will likely be blown away by the significant improvement you will see.
This oil is widely known for a reason and continues to impress the natural health world with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Comfrey
Comfrey is an impressive flowering plant that is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Comfrey is commonly used in holistic medicine to help relieve swelling, minor skin irritation, and chronic pain. Since humans have benefited from this plant’s natural relief, its use soon made its way into the world of holistic pet healing.
Many dog owners now use Comfrey to relieve their dog's chronic pain by applying the oil from the plant topically, or mixing the plant with their food.
Yucca
Yuccas are common garden plants that shouldn’t be confused with Yuca (which is a root vegetable commonly known as cassava). The Yucca plant has been incorporated into diets for years due to its natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties.
Yucca can be mixed in with your dog’s food by adding in the plant’s seeds or flowers or can be applied to the skin topically for treatment on-site. Yucca is so popular, that you can also purchase it in supplemental form.
Devil’s Claw
Devil’s Claw is a powerful plant that is native to South Africa. Devil’s Claw is known for its immediate pain relief when applied on the site of pain and is widely used in the world of holistic health care.
Devil’s Claw is often used to treat muscle pain, joint pain, spasms, minor skin injuries, and post-op pain. This plant is so appreciated, that you can often purchase supplements from a holistic veterinarian.
CBD Oil
CBD oilis a trending topic in the natural health care world. With how popular it has become in human care, it’s no wonder it has made its way into pet health as well. CBD oil is known for its incredible ability to soothe pain, relieve inflammation, and stabilize moods when dogs experience anxiety.
CBD has become so popular that you can find it in many forms for your pup to enjoy. You can offer CBD in the form of an oil, CBD treats, CBD creams, and more. CBD has become so appreciated in the animal world that it is considered one of the fastest-growing trends in the animal world currently.
Aside from CBD oil’s popularity in soothing pain and inflammation is how well it provides comfort for dogs with nervousness and anxiety. This is certainly a well-rounded alternative to several ailments that commonly require medication.
If you have a dog with chronic pain, you no longer have to rely on NSAIDS to keep them comfortable for the remainder of their life. Make sure to discuss any changes in medicine with your veterinarian, and your dog can be on their way to a more natural approach to pain control
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Meet The Author
Amber LaRock
Amber is a Licensed Vet Tech with a degree in Veterinary Technology. Recently she has specialized in veterinary and animal-related content creation and social media management. When she is not working she loves spending time with her furry friends exploring the outdoors.
