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Gabapentin is what’s called an “anticonvulsant” medication for people, and it can be prescribed for dogs with seizures, too. It’s also a relatively safe and effective option for treating chronic pain and anxiety in dogs. However, it’s not safe to give your dog a drug made for humans. Gabapentin for dogs has its own dosages and treatment plans to follow. Learn how gabapentin works and how it might benefit your dog.
In This Article
What Is Gabapentin Used for in Dogs?
Gabapentin was originally developed to treat seizures in humans. In dogs, it has multiple uses. Dr. Zoe Daniels is a Resident Veterinarian in Neurology & Neurosurgery at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. While gabapentin can be used for seizure management in dogs, Dr. Daniels says it hasn’t been shown to be strongly effective. Instead, it’s more commonly used to treat chronic nerve-related pain or anxiety.
It can be hard to know when your dog is in pain. Pain that is nerve-related, called “neuropathic” pain, is caused by injury to or malfunction of the nervous system. For example, intervertebral disc disease or other conditions that cause pinched nerves will respond to gabapentin.
The drug is also effective for anxiety. That might be situational anxiety like a fear of fireworks or stress at a vet visit, or chronic anxiety that your dog suffers from all the time.
How Gabapentin Works in Dogs
Gabapentin is similar in chemical structure to the body’s messengers, known as neurotransmitters. They’re similar to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitters in the body.
GABA has a calming effect in the body. It blocks specific signals in the brain associated with pain and anxiety, so the less those signals fire, the less pain and anxiety a dog will experience.
Because gabapentin is chemically similar to GABA, it acts in a similar way. But gabapentin is different in that it binds to calcium channels in nerve cells, rather than the GABA receptors. Dr. Daniels says that as a result, “gabapentin’s calcium-related mechanism is unique compared to other pain and anxiety medications, making it a good choice of drug to combine with other pain or anxiety drugs.”
How to Give Gabapentin to Your Dog
To get gabapentin for your dog, you’ll need a prescription from your vet. Dr. Daniels adds that it’s considered a controlled substance in some states, so there may be extra steps in its prescription. Since it’s the same drug for humans and dogs, prescriptions can be filled at local pharmacies. The medication is available in both tablet and liquid form.
But Dr. Daniels says to be careful giving liquid gabapentin for humans to dogs. “This product often contains xylitol which is toxic to pets. Gabapentin can instead be compounded into a liquid formulation for ease of administration.” It could be deadly for your dog.
Gabapentin is given to your dog by mouth, and the dosage will depend on a few different things. Why it’s been prescribed, your dog’s health and weight, and their individual response. It may take some experimenting to find the optimal amount.
Gabapentin for dogs is also administered at different times, depending on the condition. For situational anxiety, Dr. Daniels recommends giving a dose the night before and then a dose one to two hours before the stressful event, such as travel or a vet visit.
For the best treatment of nerve-related pain, your vet will likely recommend giving gabapentin to your dog three times a day. Dr. Daniels says, “We often advise clients to give this medication in the morning, either midday or when they come home from work, and right before bedtime.”
What Is the ‘Chill Protocol’ for Dogs?
If your dog is reactive, anxious, or fearful about vet visits, your veterinarian might suggest the “Chill Protocol.” This is a multi-modal drug approach that gets your dog through vet visits with less stress. It also helps protect the vet from possible injury.
The Chill Protocol includes gabapentin, as well as melatonin and acepromazine. Melatonin is a hormone the body produces naturally to regulate sleep/wake cycles. Using it makes your dog sleepier. Acepromazine is a tranquilizer that can be given by mouth or injected at the vet’s office. Sometimes, a calming medication called trazodone is added to help with anxiety. Most of the drugs in the protocol have lenient dose ranges, so your vet can customize the combination based on your dog’s response.
A study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that the Chill Protocol worked to significantly lower dogs’ stress and raise sedation. Dr. Daniels emphasizes that reducing situational fear and anxiety allows vets to perform more thorough physical examinations. “Fear and anxiety can become a major hindrance to examination and can ultimately lead to suboptimal patient care,” she says.
What Are the Side Effects and Risks of Gabapentin for Dogs?
Dr. Daniels says the most common side effects of gabapentin for dogs are sedation and loss of coordination. However, these side effects are typically temporary. Gabapentin also has a very wide dose-safety-margin. That allows your vet to titrate the dose upwards to optimal effect without worrying about life-threatening side effects.
In addition, gabapentin doesn’t have adverse interactions, so it’s generally safe to use with other medications. But if any of those medications have sedating side effects, then increased sedation may be seen when gabapentin is added in. Medications like opioids, including tramadol, antihistamines, or other anxiety-reducing medications, are among these. It’s generally safe to use gabapentin before a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia. Dogs on gabapentin need less inhaled anesthesia, so your vet may temporarily reduce your dog’s gabapentin dose beforehand.
Despite its overall safety, it’s not recommended to use gabapentin in pregnant dogs as the medication can cross the placenta and enter the unborn puppies. For dogs with kidney disease, your vet may prescribe gabapentin at a lower dose. Gabapentin is eliminated from the body through the kidneys, so lowering the dose can decrease side effects.
Are There Alternatives to Gabapentin for Dogs?
Although gabapentin is a relatively safe and effective medication, there are alternatives. For chronic nerve-related pain, Dr. Daniels says, “Gabapentin is one of the better treatment options. Pregabalin is a chemically similar medication compared to gabapentin but is more expensive.”
Depending on whether your dog’s anxiety is chronic or situational, she says alternative medications may be helpful, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), acepromazine, transmucosal dexmedetomidine, and trazodone. Trazodone can be safely combined with gabapentin for additional anxiety reduction, although gabapentin can be less sedating than trazodone with fewer drug interactions. All these medications can help with conditions such as separation anxiety or noise aversion. Of course, behavioral interventions for anxiety are often important components of treatment, too.
Key Takeaways
- Gabapentin is most commonly prescribed in dogs for nerve-related pain and anxiety, rather than seizure control.
- The medication works by affecting calcium channels in nerve cells, helping reduce pain and anxious behaviors.
- Sedation and loss of coordination are the most common side effects and are typically temporary.
- Human liquid formulations may contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs and should never be given without veterinary approval.
- Alternatives for pain and anxiety are available, but treatment choices should be tailored to each dog’s needs by a veterinarian.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How long does it take gabapentin to work in dogs?
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For situational anxiety, veterinarians often recommend giving gabapentin one to two hours before a stressful event. The timing and effectiveness can vary depending on the dog and the condition being treated.
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Can gabapentin make dogs sleepy?
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Yes. Sedation is one of the most common side effects of gabapentin in dogs. Most cases are mild and temporary, especially after the body adjusts to the medication.
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Is gabapentin safe to combine with other medications?
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Gabapentin is generally considered safe to use with many other medications. However, combining it with drugs that also cause sedation may increase drowsiness, so veterinary supervision is important. -
Can dogs take human gabapentin?
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The active medication is the same, but some human formulations, especially liquid products, may contain ingredients that are dangerous for dogs. Always use a veterinarian-prescribed product.
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What conditions is gabapentin most commonly prescribed for?
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Veterinarians most often prescribe gabapentin for neuropathic pain and anxiety. It may also be used as part of a treatment plan for certain neurological or behavioral conditions.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.