Pain treatment is an unfortunate reality many dog owners must face at some point. It’s sad, but it’s also scary. Your dog is already sick and suffering, you feel everything you do for them is of the utmost importance. Is the treatment enough? Will it make them worse somehow?
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Why Vets Choose Tramadol for Dogs
2. How Tramadol Works
3. Tramadol Dosage for Dogs
4. Side Effects of Tramadol for Dogs
5. Concerns about Tramadol for Dogs
6. Tramadol Warnings Before Use
7. Alternatives to Tramadol for Dogs
Is it safe? Whether your dog has cancer or arthritis, has been injured, or has just had surgery, your vet is likely to prescribe Tramadol for dogs. You want to know everything there is to know about it and if there are other alternatives should you decide you don’t like the idea of giving this particular medication to your pet.
Why Vets Choose Tramadol for Dogs
Tramadol is a powerful, synthetic opioid painkiller that can be used for treating mild to moderate pain alone, and severe pain in conjunction with other medications. Veterinarians choose to prescribe it for both acute and chronic conditions, meaning dogs can take it both short and long term.
As an opioid, Tramadol does more than just treat pain. It also impacts mood and may be prescribed for anxiety.
Tramadol is one of the most popular pain killers prescribed for dogs because the side effects from Tramadol are usually mild and veterinarians usually hold that the risk of addiction is less than with comparable medications, though there is some debate on how true that is.
For chronic pain, it may take weeks for the effects to become noticeable. For this reason, and if Tramadol is not enough to provide therapeutic relief for your dog, other painkillers may be prescribed along with it.