Just like people, your dog can experience pain for a number of reasons, including trauma, illness, infection, allergies, and chronic conditions. It is also possible for them to get headaches, earaches, joint pain, stomachaches, and other pains we are familiar with. As a pet parent, you can look to natural pain relief remedies if your dog is experiencing lower levels of pain or needs long-term pain management. In this article, we’re going to explore natural pain relief remedies you can try at home, along with prevention tips to help keep those pains away.
Your vet or a qualified holistic veterinarian can help you choose the best natural pain relief for your dog and make sure it won’t interact with any of their current medications. Once you get the green light from your veterinarian, here’s how to proceed:
1. Start with one remedy at a time. You should observe improvements in your dog’s energy level, activity level, and mood after trying one remedy for a month.
2. Watch for side effects, like an upset belly or skin allergies. If you spot side effects, discontinue the remedy until they subside, then try a new one.
3. If you see benefits after a month, continue that therapy and add in a second one to see if it helps even more.
4. Continue to test each remedy. Soon enough, you’ll discover your dog’s best mix of therapies. Check with your vet to confirm that you’ve found the perfect solution.
4 Dog- Safe Pain Relief Remedies To Consider
1. Hot and Cold Therapy
If your dog has an injury or achy joints, you can apply a heat pack or an ice pack to help ease the pain. You should never directly apply heat or ice to your dog’s skin; use a second layer of protective clothing, such as a thin towel. Apply an ice pack for up to 10 minutes to alleviate pain from short-term injuries, such as if your dog gets hurt playing or after surgery. Apply a heat pack for up to 20 minutes to relieve pain from hip dysplasia or arthritis.
2. Ginger
In addition to treating upset bellies in both people and pups, this holistic powerhouse can help alleviate pain. There is no doubt that ginger contains a lot of antioxidants, which helps to reduce inflammation, the primary cause of acute as well as chronic pain. Try grating a little bit of fresh ginger over your dog’s food so they can reap the health benefits.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric offers natural anti-inflammatory properties and has been proven to relieve pain in people. Mix turmeric with a healthy fat, like omega oil, and add a tiny pinch of black pepper. The recommended mixture dosage is a quarter teaspoon for small dogs, a half teaspoon for medium-sized dogs, and one teaspoon for larger dogs.
4. Acupuncture
Acupuncture reduces pain by stimulating your dog’s nervous system. During acupuncture, a vet inserts long, thin needles into your dog’s skin and leaves them in for a set period. Don’t worry; the needles are so thin your dog won’t even feel them. If your vet doesn’t offer this, they may be able to refer you to a canine acupuncturist.
Natural Joint Pain Prevention For Dogs
As your dog ages, joint pain becomes more common. These natural joint pain prevention remedies can help your pup stay spunky and active well into their senior years.
Fish Oil
Fish oil made from wild-caught cold-water fish, like pollock and salmon, is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids that can help protect the joints and prevent pain. You can add omega-3 to your dog’s food with an omega-oil supplement.
Green-lipped Mussels
This powerful protein contains three different nutrients that can protect your dog’s joints and ease arthritis: omega-3s, glucosamine, and chondroitin. Add green-lipped mussels to your dog’s diet by giving them Relief Chews that feature them as the first ingredient.
Diet
Obesity in dogs can lead to joint pain and a variety of other painful, chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and chronic inflammation. Keep your dog’s body weight in check by following the feeding guidelines on their food and limiting their treats to less than 10% of their total calorie consumption per day. If your dog is overweight, work with your veterinarian to develop an individualized weight loss plan.
Exercise
Low-impact exercise, like walking and swimming, will help maintain your pup’s joint health and may prevent chronic conditions that cause pain.
Now that you know natural pain relief for dogs can be an essential part of their wellness plan, talk to your vet about the best remedies for relief. Of course, one of the best ways to manage pain is to prevent it altogether. Help your dog maintain a healthy body weight with diet and exercise, and support their daily well-being with proven natural supplements.
