Gabapentin For Dogs - How It Works, The Dosage And Side Effects (2024)

Gabapentin for dogs is a prescribed drug that acts as an anticonvulsant and analgesic. Fascinatingly, the way that this popular seizure reducing and pain relieving drug works is not totally understood. But what we do know if that when orally administered it binds to calcium channels in the central nervous system, decreasing the release of neurotransmitters that create pain signals. This reduces the severity of seizures in epileptic dogs and helps with pain relief after surgery or in dogs suffering long term ailments like arthritis.

Gabapentin for dogs is given in varying dosages depending upon the condition it’s being used to treat. When on a course of Gabapentin your dog might be drowsy, unsteady on their feet and more sedate than usual. Withdrawal symptoms are common when this medication is stopped too, which is something you’ll need to consider with your veterinarian before you begin your dog’s treatment.

Contents

• How does Gabapentin for dogs work?
• Gabapentin for dogs dosage
• Side effects of Gabapentin on dogs
• Long term impact of canine Gabapentin

In this article we are going to help you get to know Gabapentin for dogs. We will look at the way it works, how effective it is, dosages and the potential side effects.

Is it an Approved Medicine?

In the US, the FDA has not approved gabapentin for use in animals. This isn’t cause for concern, though, as this is the case for many veterinary medicines. Use of gabapentin by vets is covered under the AMDUCA, an act allowing vets to use human drugs on animals where appropriate.

How Gabapentin for Dogs Works

There’s still an active discussion about exactly how gabapentin works. It is clear, though, that it blocks communication between certain nerves. This seems to have a beneficial effect when used to treat seizures, dog epilepsy and some kinds of pain.

Gabapentin for dogs has been shown to significantly reduce the severity and length of seizures, which benefits unwell dogs enormously.

At this point, gabapentin for dogs is widely prescribed for a range of issues. If your pup suffers from dog epilepsy, it’s very likely you’ll come into contact with this drug.

So what’s the standard gabapentin dosage for dogs? Does it differ from dog to dog, and based on what it’s being used to treat?

Gabapentin Dosage for Dogs

Ultimately, how much gabapentin your dog receives will be up to your vet. What the exact dosage should be depends a lot on what the vet is treating. Your dog’s size is also an important consideration.

Guidelines

We can look at the guidelines vets use for a rough idea of how much gabapentin we will be giving our dogs. It’s really important to only take a vet’s advice on this, though. They could be aware of extenuating circ*mstances that would restrict your dog’s ideal dosage.

Dosage Based on Size

One study reduced the symptoms of epilepsy in dogs significantly by administering 10mg (per kg of your dog’s weight) of gabapentin every eight hours. Under this protocol a 10kg dog with epilepsy would be given 100mg of gabapentin. A much larger pooch might be prescribed 300mg of gabapentin.

This regular dosage helps keep a steady level of gabapentin in your dog’s blood stream. Gabapentin for dogs is given every day, not just when seizures happen. Gabapentin takes 1 to 3 hours to reach its full strength in dogs, so needs to be consistently re-dosed.

Other Dosages of Gabapentin in Dogs

If your dog doesn’t have epilepsy but is in pain due to another condition like cancer, the gabapentin dosage will change accordingly. When it comes to post-operative pain, gabapentin seems to block some of the pain signals that the nervous system is creating. Gabapentin analgesia in dogs is widely documented, and it’s often considered by vets as a way to lower morphine intake.

Studies on This Use

One study found a single dose of 10mg/kg of gabapentin for a dog’s pain reliably reduced the amount of morphine needed after an operation. Similarly, with chronic pain, studies have found a single daily dose to be very effective.

This type of pain is often associated with cancer and other really nasty diseases. So, the dosage can differ hugely from dog to dog, depending on their medical situation.

My Dose Doesn’t Match these Guidelines

Don’t worry if your dog’s dose doesn’t appear to match any of the examples we’ve given. Vets use guidelines, but they treat each dog on a case-by-case basis. Guidelines are useful, but only your vet will know how much gabapentin your dog needs.

How Long Does Gabapentin Stay in Your Dog’s System?

The length of time a drug stays in an animal’s system is usually discussed in terms of its half-life. The half-life is the time it takes for the levels of a given drug in the blood to drop by half.

In gabapentin for dogs, the half-life is the same as in humans and rats — a period of 2 to 3 hours. This means gabapentin doesn’t hang around very long, but still long enough that regular dosing helps it have a cumulative effect.

How Long Can Your Dog Take Gabapentin?

Canine epilepsy can be a life-long condition. Gabapentin for dogs can be taken as long as your pup needs it, which can be months or even years.

There are some risks in long-term use of gabapentin in dogs, such as an increased risk of cancer. But a dog suffering from regular heavy seizures needs this relief, so the trade-off is usually worth it.

In the short term, when correctly prescribed, gabapentin doesn’t seem to cause any real issues. Except for a bit of dizziness, most dogs do absolutely fine on this medication. So how will gabapentin affect your dog? Lets take a look at gabapentin’s side effects in dogs.

Gabapentin Side Effects in Dogs

Few medications are without side effects, but their severity can differ a lot from drug to drug. Side effects of Gabapentin in dogs can also differ according to the individual dog, its general constitution and its medical history.

The most common side effects for dogs taking gabapentin involve a loss of coordination. Gabapentin use in dogs can cause them to appear unsteady on their feet. They may also experience drowsiness.

What to do If You See Side Effects

Even if the effects seem mild, it’s worth checking in with your vet. They’ll be able to determine if the symptoms are harmless, or if different medication should be considered.

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Even if Gabapentin side effects, for dogs, are severe, it’s very important that you don’t suddenly stop giving your dog their gabapentin. If you stop your dog’s gabapentin abruptly, they can experience some pretty nasty withdrawal symptoms, including heavy seizures. This can potentially harm your dog long-term.

Overdoses

So, how much gabapentin can my dog take? Overdoses actually seem to be fairly rare when it comes to gabapentin for dogs.

Will Gabapentin Hurt My Dog?

There’s a high margin of safety, and though a dog that’s had a little too much might be dizzy and sick, overdoses are very rarely fatal. With this being said, if you realize your dog has had too much gabapentin, get in touch with a vet right away. The exact amount that constitutes an overdose differs from dog to dog.