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Stay away from giving your dog human pain medications which are toxic to pets.
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Each of them work slightly differently but at the end of the day all three of them reduce inflammation which is probably the most important aspect of treating arthritis. there is no definitive answer to your question, each dog respond differently to pain medications, some dogs will benefit more from one over the other two. i would probably advise starting with Meloxicam first.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to give the dose information for any drug without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. You need to take Demi into the vet who can prescribe Meloxicam to him and can give him the correct dose.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
There are a few more medications that can be given such as tramadol and gabapentin, both are prescription only, you can get them from your normal vet. the most important factor for good recovery is cage rest for at least two weeks, in most cases neither MRI nor surgery are needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Dogs can experience pain from a variety of health conditions, including [osteoarthritis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/arthritis-1/),[ dental disease](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/dental-disease/), [urinary tract infections](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/utis-in-dogs/) or traumatic injuries, among many others. While it is extremely difficult to see our four-legged friends in pain, there are no safe and effective over-the-counter medications for managing pain in dogs (or cats). Over the counter pain relievers for humans, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol) and naproxen (Aleve) are all toxic to animals. Aspirin should also not be given to dogs because it causes significant irritation and potential ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract, and it inhibits a dog’s ability to clot blood. If you think that your dog is in pain, your best bet is to take him to your veterinarian. After performing a [physical exam](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-does-your-veterinarian-look-for-during-a-physical-exam/), your veterinarian will be able to prescribe safe and effective medication. Only give pain medication to the pet for which it was prescribed due to risks with drug interactions, improper doses or contraindications with certain medical conditions. ### Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. Galliprant is a registered trademark of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
I am sorry to hear about your dog! Unfortunately a veterinarian cannot legally prescribe you pain medication without examining your dog within the past year, so we cannot prescribe any medication through our online service. I would look into finding out if there is a low cost option for veterinary services in your area, such as a humane society or APL/APA. You can look for more resources on affording veterinary care at https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/having-trouble-affording-veterinary-care
Updated on September 24th, 2025