While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually the first choice for pain management in dogs and and increasingly also for cats, they’re not always the best or only option. The drug tramadol may be a valuable alternative or addition to a pain protocol.

Some cats and dogs experience unacceptable side effects on NSAIDs, some of which can be life-threatening. Additionally, NSIADs alone don’t always fully control pain. Adding a drug that works in a different way to block the perception of pain can make all the difference for a pet after surgery or when suffering from severe chronic or acute pain.

One of those drugs is tramadol, a weak opiod that works differently from, and may be less sedating and cause fewer side effects than, other opiods.

A recent issue of Clinician’s Brief featured an overview of veterinary use of tramadol by Jane E. Quandt, DVM, MS, DACVAA, DACVECC, an associate professor of small animal medicine at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Quandt covers veterinary dosages, side effects, contraindications, mechanism of action and benefits of tramadol, noting, “Tramadol-mediated analgesia is improved when administered in conjunction with NSAIDs, especially in patients with chronic pain conditions.”

To read the complete article, you may need to register with Clinician’s Brief, however, registration is free and gives access to a number of other valuable resources.