Here's what to expect if your vet has prescribed this medication for seizures or pain.
If your dog experiences seizures, anxiety, or chronic pain, it might feel like you're always at your veterinarian's office for a new test or treatment. These conditions can be difficult to manage, and your vet might need to try a few different things in order to help your dog feel better.
In recent years, veterinarians have begun prescribing gabapentin for dogs more and more often. This drug has a several uses in both human and veterinary medicine and can help some dogs with seizures, pain, or anxiety. Depending on your dog's diagnosis, gabapentin might just end up being the right choice for your pet.
What Is Gabapentin Used For in Dogs?
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug that is used in humans and some animals to treat seizures, neuropathic pain, and anxiety. The primary mechanism of action is not known, but the drug is structurally similar to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for communication in the central nervous system. GABA blocks signals associated with seizures, pain, and anxiety. Gabapentin appears to work in a similar manner to the body's natural GABA.
Pain ManagementVeterinarians most commonly prescribe gabapentin for dogs to manage chronic pain, usually in conjunction with other pain medications (particularly NSAIDs like carprofen). Gabapentin works best on nervous system pain, but it can be effective against pain from conditions like osteoarthritis due to the way chronic pain changes pain pathways in the brain. Gabapentin is not as effective for acute pain because of the way it works in the brain.
Seizure ControlGabapentin is sometimes used as an adjunct to other seizure control drugs in dogs with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. Although it may be used alone, it is typically less effective than other anticonvulsants.
RELATED: Signs Your Dog Might Be Having a Seizure
Anxiety ReductionIn recent years, veterinary behaviorists have begun using gabapentin to ease anxiety, either alone or along with drugs like trazodone.
What Are Potential Gabapentin Side Effects in Dogs?
Mild sedation and ataxia (wobbly or drunken gait) are the most common side effects of gabapentin in dogs. The severity of these signs will vary from dog to dog and also depend on the dose. Dogs with sensitivity may experience extreme lethargy and sleepiness. Contact your vet if your dog seems too sedated or "drunk" while taking gabapentin; your vet may adjust the dose or change to a different drug. Though uncommon, some dogs may develop diarrhea while on this medication.
Gabapentin Dosage for Dogs
The dosage of gabapentin will vary depending on the condition being treated and any other drugs in concurrent use. For seizure control, most dogs are dosed at 10 to 20 milligrams per kilogram of body mass every 6-12 hours.
Lower doses are typically used for pain management, often ranging from 5 to 10 milligrams per kilogram of body mass every 6-12 hours. For ease of administration, most vets prescribe gabapentin to be given every 8 hours.
Can Dogs Overdose on Gabapentin?
It's possible for dogs to overdose on gabapentin, but serious complications are unlikely. In most cases, gabapentin overdose causes diarrhea, extreme sedation, lethargy, and ataxia. Although overdose is typically not serious, dogs still need veterinary attention. Contact your vet for advice—you may be instructed to induce vomiting or bring your dog to the clinic for supportive care.
How to Give a Dog Gabapentin
Gabapentin is given orally as a capsule, tablet, or liquid solution. It may be given with or without food. Many dog parents find it helpful to hide the tablet or capsule in something like a Pill Pocket. If you mix gabapentin with food, watch your dog to ensure it's all consumed. Try to give gabapentin as close as possible to the prescribed intervals (often every 8 hours). If you miss a dose, give it right away and continue the schedule as directed.
It's important to note that the commercially-available solution may contain xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs. If your dog needs a low dose of gabapentin, your vet may send you to a compounding pharmacy to have a safe suspension made.
RELATED: CBD for Dogs: What It Is and How It Might Help With Your Dog's Pain or Anxiety
How Long Does It Take for Gabapentin to Work in Dogs?
For most dogs, gabapentin will start to work within an hour or two of dosing. It typically lasts about six hours. However, each dog is different. Talk to your vet if gabapentin does not seem to be helping your dog.
Gabapentin Drug Interactions and Warnings
Gabapentin is safe to use along with many other prescription drugs. It should be used carefully along with hydrocodone and morphine because each can change the way the other drug works in the body. Antacids may decrease the efficacy of gabapentin, so dosing of gabapentin should be given at least two hours apart from antacid doses.
No, there is no specific maximum time. Some older dogs are on this medication for life as part of a management plan for arthritis or other issues, with no apparent ill effects.
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Nali Macklin - June 17th, 2020
Accuracy Review & Edit: Nicole Wanner, DVM - May 26th 2021
For dog owners living with a dog suffering from neurological disorders, pain, or anxiety, daily life can be scary, unpredictable, and heartbreaking. Not only knowing that your dog is in chronic pain, but the uncertainty of when the next seizure or epileptic fit will come is a sad reality that many owners face.
Today we will specifically look at a drug called Gabapentin for dogs; what it does, how safe it is, its possible side effects, as well as take a look at some natural alternatives.
Gabapentin is a type of anticonvulsant drug that is usually given to increase the effectiveness of other seizure medications in dogs, but it can also be used for pain and anxiety. It is a common drug for humans, but can also be effective for dogs, cats, and other animals. Seizures occur when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Scientists aren’t sure exactly how Gabapentin works, but it has been shown to help calm this electrical activity and change levels of certain neurotransmitters, like serotonin.Gabapentin has a similar chemical structure to the neurotransmitter GABA. This neurotransmitter helps calm down brain activity.Gabapentin is a generic drug. Brand names for this drug include Aclonium®, Equipax®, Gabarone®, Gantin®, Gralise®, Neurontin®, Neurostil®, and Progresse®.
Because it does take a while for Gabapentin to have full effect, this drug is likely more commonly prescribed for chronic pain rather than temporary pain.
What is Gabapentin used for in dogs?
Gabapentin is often prescribed to treat:
- Anxiety – Gabapentin can be an option for managing stress in dogs if therapies alone are not enough. It can be effective for both sudden (i.e., fireworks, thunderstorms) and predictable (i.e., car rides, vet visits) stressful events.
- Pain - Veterinarians will, in some cases, prescribe Gabapentin to dogs suffering from chronic pain, especially when it is associated with the nervous system.
- Seizures – Gabapentin is sometimes prescribed for dogs with seizures who are not responding well to the main epilepsy medications. Combining these drugs with Gabapentin can sometimes help them work better.
Safety of Gabapentin for dogs
Gabapentin is currently not FDA approved for veterinary use, but it is commonly accepted and prescribed by vets. It is generally speaking a safe drug and appears to have few side effects, even when an overdose happens.However, one study showed that high doses of Gabapentin caused pancreatic cancer in mice. A larger study in humans found that Gabapentin did not increase risk for this cancer, though, and no studies have been done in dogs. Still, you might want to ask your veterinarian if your dog’s breed is susceptible to this disease (e.g., Airedale Terriers, Boxers, Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels).
Also, because this drug passes through the kidneys, it may not be suitable for dogs that have kidney disease.
Gabapentin Dosage for dogs
Your vet will determine the dosage of gabapentin for your dog as its a prescription drug. The following are the generally prescribed dose ranges:
- Seizures: 4.5 to 13.6 mg per pound of your dog’s weight, every 8-12 hours.
- Pain: 1.4 - 5 mg per pound of your dog’s weight, every 8-12 hours.
Side effects of Gabapentin in dogs
The most common side effects of Gabapentin include the following:
- Sedation or lethargy
- Wobbliness and incoordination
You should gradually increase the medication over time until you reach the recommended dosage to alleviate these side effects.Other more serious side effects may occur. If you notice the following symptoms, you should contact your vet:
- Difficulty breathing
- Blue tongue or gums
- Swelling of the face/muzzle
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive drooling
As with any prescription drug, your vet will consider how your dog’s other medications might interact before prescribing Gabapentin.
Price of Gabapentin
According to one popular online pet pharmacy, the following are prices sold per capsule depending on the dosage.
| $0.24 | $0.29 | $0.34 |
Natural Alternatives to Gabapentin for dogs
Further research is needed to fully draw a conclusion on CBD for anxiety, pain, and seizures in dogs. However, tens of thousands of small studies and anecdotal evidence from pet parents have proven that it has great potential. If you consider using CBD for your dog we suggest doing so in coordination with your vet, as only they are qualified to diagnose and treat health problems in dogs. Drug interactions are also possible, in fact, CBD can interact with Gabapentin, potentially causing increased drowsiness.Another issue you’ll likely run into is the lack of standardized dosage and quality control in dog CBD products. We suggest broad spectrum CBD, as it maximizes the benefits of the hemp plant while eliminating psychoactive side effects; something most pet parents want to avoid. With CBD oil placed in your dog’s mouth, we suggest a starting dose of 0.45mg/lb (1mg/kg) twice daily, with a gradual increase to 0.9mg/lb (2mg/kg) if necessary. If your dog won’t allow you to place a dropper in their mouth, then CBD dog treats are a great option. With CBD treats we recommend a higher dosage of 1.3– 2.7mg/lb (3-6mg/kg) twice daily, as less CBD makes it to the bloodstream after it’s digested.
While CBD dosage isn’t an exact science, you have a much higher chance of success when using a weight-based dosage method. If that all sounds a bit complicated, our CBD dog treats and oils come with a dosing table printed right on the bottle, which is easy to use and will provide the above amount of CBD for your dog.
Biscuit's Story
To say Biscuit lived an active life would be an understatement. Unfortunately, at the age of 10, she started to limp after trips to the dog park. It broke my heart to see her in pain doing what she loved the most. I started feeding her a raw food diet and added high-quality supplements to ensure her nutritional needs were met. Unfortunately, while she loved the food, the limping persisted. I decided to go to the vet. They quickly diagnosed her with osteoarthritis and prescribed a drug to help. Her limping stopped, and she was in less visible pain. For the first week, it seemed that this was the solution.
A few days later, it was to my absolute shock that she...
Read Her StoryWhat Is The Best CBD Oil For Dog Seizures?
Finding the best CBD oil for dogs with seizures could significantly change your dogs' life and yours. Choosing the right product could help your dog live a healthier life.
Fortunately, there is research on CBD for dogs. This article breaks it down and draws from our decades of experience to help you find the best CBD for dogs with seizures.
Accuracy Review by:
Dr. Nicole Wanner is a veterinarian and published scientific researcher. She studies the effects of CBD as a Ph.D. candidate.
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