Many dogs with arthritis need pain medicine to stay comfortable and active. One common type of pain medicine is called an NSAID, which stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
This article by Innes et al (link at bottom of post), looked at an important question: is it safe and helpful for dogs with arthritis to take NSAIDs for a long time?
What Are NSAIDs?
NSAIDs are medicines that reduce pain and swelling. In dogs, common NSAIDs include:
- Carprofen
- Meloxicam
- Firocoxib
- Deracoxib
These medicines are often used to help dogs with arthritis walk, run, and enjoy daily life with less pain.
What the Researchers Reviewed
The authors carefully reviewed 15 scientific studies that looked at dogs taking NSAIDs for 28 days or longer. Some dogs were treated for weeks, and others for several months.
They focused on two main questions:
- Do dogs feel and move better with long-term NSAID use?
- Does using NSAIDs longer increase the risk of serious side effects?
What They Found About Pain Relief
Most of the studies showed that dogs improved more when NSAIDs were used long-term instead of just for a short time.
Key findings:
- Dogs often showed better movement after 4 weeks than after just 1–2 weeks
- Some dogs continued to improve over several months
- Long-term treatment helped reduce limping and stiffness
This suggests that arthritis pain is not always best treated with short, on-and-off use.
What They Found About Safety
Safety is a big concern for pet owners. The review found that:
- Serious side effects were rare
- Most dogs tolerated long-term NSAIDs well
- There was no clear link between longer use and more side effects
Across all studies, only one serious reaction was reported, and that dog recovered.
The authors also noted that large, long-term safety studies are still limited.
Why Long-Term Treatment May Help
Arthritis pain can affect the brain and nervous system over time. This is called pain sensitization. Long-term NSAID use may help:
- Calm pain signals over time
- Improve comfort beyond the first few weeks
- Allow dogs to move more, which helps muscles and joints
Better movement may also slow down loss of muscle strength.
What This Means for Dog Owners
This review suggests that for many dogs:
- Long-term NSAID use can provide better pain control
- Stopping and starting pain medicine may not work as well
- Regular monitoring by a veterinarian is important
Blood tests, check-ups, and watching for changes in appetite, vomiting, or energy help keep dogs safe.
The Takeaway
For dogs with chronic arthritis:
- Long-term NSAID use often works better than short-term use
- Serious side effects appear uncommon
- Pain control should be ongoing, not just occasional
NSAIDs are not a cure for arthritis, but when used carefully, they can greatly improve a dog’s comfort and quality of life.
Here is a link to the article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20173106/
drbrunke 
Leave a comment