What can I give my dog for inflammation?

While veterinary care, lots of love, and a healthy lifestyle is the absolute best way to keep your pet feeling great, all dogs will experience at least some form of injury or illness in their lifetime. Did you know that there are many over-the-counter human medications that can be safe and effective for dogs, when used correctly? Benadryl, or another branded antihistamine, can be incredibly useful for treating allergies, bug bites, or other causes of itchy skin. Buffered aspirin is an excellent anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. Even Dramamine can be used for dogs with motion sickness, and Immodium can treat diarrhea. However, dosages for dogs are much different than for humans. Always check with your veterinarian that understands your pet’s health and history before giving any medications.

Human non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs - like Advil, Aleve, etc.) can are toxic to dogs. You should never give them these medications. Buffered aspirin is ok, but you have to make sure you're giving the correct dose, because it comes with potential side effects and is not recommended for dogs with certain medical issues. Benadryl is a very safe medication for minor reactions, but won't do anything for pain. Fish oil is a great natural anti-inflammatory, but it's more of a supplemental aid to prescription medication and doesn't do a whole lot on it's own. It's really best to see your veterinarian to get a prescription medication if you feel like your dog is in pain. There are some relatively affordable, effective and safe anti-inflammatories available for dogs.