As our dogs age, they are more likely to develop degenerative joint pain and osteoarthritis. Your veterinarian may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve your dog’s body pain. While these pain killers for dogs are tested for safety, they are not without a range of unwanted side effects. Traditional dog pain relievers include the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and inflammation drugs like Rimadyl, Metacam, Previcox and Deramaxx.
Here are some side effects of NSAIDs that can cause your dog:
- Digestive upset, gastritis or peptic ulcers
- Liver damage
- Kidney toxicity
- Chronic dry eye – even blindness
- Joint damage (meaning NSAIDs can make your dog’s arthritis worse!)
So more and more dog parents are looking for a gentler and safer way to give their dog’s pain relief. There are many herbs with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. These herbs are effective at keeping your dog comfortable while being safer than NSAIDs.
Here are 10 of the most effective herbs to deal with your dog’s joint pain. But before you start giving your dog these herbs, be sure to consult your veterinarian about the dosage your dog needs.
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Top 10 Herbs For Natural Pain Relief
When you need to manage joint pain in your dog, turn to one of these proven herbs for pain and inflammation relief. Many of these herbs are also contained in ready-made herbal pain or arthritis blends made for dogs.
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Main healing effects of comfrey come from allantoin, a compound that speeds cell reproduction. Rosmarinic acid and other compounds in comfrey also deliver the anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties that make it so effective in managing joint pain.
Comfrey tea can be safely applied as a rinse or poultice to inflamed joints or sore spines. Alcohol-based comfrey tincture can be applied to sore joints, injuries, muscle strains, and other painful areas.
Caution: The roots contain 10 times more PA than the leaves, so be sure to use only comfrey leaf (not the root) internally. Don’t use in pregnant or lactating dogs or for dogs with pre-existing liver disease.
Boswellia (Boswellia serrata)
Boswellia, or frankincense, is a resin extracted from tree bark. Boswellia may help alleviate pain and improve range of motion within a week of daily use, and may slow the progression of cartilage damage. In Ayurvedic medicine is often combined with turmeric.
It should be noted that when using it, you need to pay attention to controlling the dosage according to the weight of the dog. If using boswellia alone, give it with food, using a daily dose of 5 to 10 mg of boswellia per lb of your dog’s weight.
Generally speaking, there are no side effects of using boswellia, and if they do occur, are usually in the form of mild diarrhea or flatulence.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Many studies have confirmed that licorice is a fast acting and effective anti-inflammatory agent. Contains anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce joint pain and other arthritis symptoms while improving digestion and respiratory function. In small amounts, licorice root has no adverse side effects. So you need to ask a herbalist or holistic vet about the appropriate dose before use.
Caution: Use for periods of 2 weeks at a time only. Don’t use for diabetic, pregnant or nursing dogs.
Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)
The main constituent of devil’s claw is harpagoside, which can decrease pain quickly and reduce inflammation, This makes it a good choice for arthritis and muscle pain.
Caution: Don’t use for diabetic, pregnant or lactating dogs. Devil’s Claw may interact with some pharmaceutical drugs (especially cardiac and hyper- or hypo-tensive drugs) so consult your vet before you give it to your dog.
Ginger (Zhinger officinalis)
Ginger does this by stopping the immune system from producing leukotrienes, which cause inflammation. Ginger can also increase circulation for older dogs who lack mobility.
Caution: Ginger can thin the blood, so avoid it before any surgery or if your dog’s on anticoagulant drugs.
Yucca (Yucca schidigera)
The primary constituents of yucca are steroidal saponins, which have been shown to provide safe and effective relief from joint pain and inflammation in human arthritis patients.
Many holistic vets and other natural health professionals claim yucca has a 50% to 80% success rate in easing osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. For arthritis, yucca combines well with licorice, dandelion and alfalfa.
Cautions: Yucca can irritate the digestive system when given over long periods of time and can cause vomiting. So you can choose to feed the herb to your dog four to five days a week.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Alfalfa offers a wide range of nutritional benefits and it’s also one of the best treatments for arthritis. It’s safe to give it daily as a food supplement over the long term to ease arthritis and help older dogs. It combines well with dandelion, yucca and licorice.
Cautions: Don’t use the seeds – they contain l-canavanine, which can cause blood disorders. Side effects are rare but alfalfa can cause an allergic reaction if your pet is allergic to pollen.
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Horsetail can help heal joint and bone injuries as well as post-surgical trauma. For joint injuries it combines well with comfrey or nettle, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.
Using tincture, give dogs ¼ tsp daily per 20 lbs of body weight.
Cautions: Don’t use horsetail for animals with hypertension or cardiac disease. It may also cause breast milk to change flavor so avoid it for lactating dogs.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Turmeric is highly effective in relieving pain and also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
You can buy the whole root in a grocery store and grate some into your dog’s food. Or your dog will absorb turmeric better if you feed it along with some fat and black pepper.
Caution: Give ¼ tsp day of paste per 10 lbs of your dog’s weight. When buying turmeric, buy a health food store product, not grocery store or cooking turmeric. Also turmeric will stain anything it touches bright yellow, so avoid using it near light colored carpeting or clothing.
Cayenne (Capsicum spp)
Cayenne comes from a hot chili pepper. Its main compound, capsaicin, can block pain and increase circulation to connective tissues and joints. This makes it very effective as a pain reliever.
Cautions: You may want to avoid it if your dog has a sensitive digestive system.
