Tramadol For Dogs Calculator
Table of contents
Can dogs take tramadol?What is tramadol for dogs?What is tramadol used for in dogs?How to calculate tramadol dosage for dogs?FAQsTramadol for dogs calculator will not only alleviate your dog's pain but will also ease your stress about your beloved pet. 🐶
Keep on scrolling and find out how to check and calculate the safe tramadol dosage for dogs, how to notice & recognize dangerous side effects of this pain medication for dogs and humans.
We'll also take you for a quick tour of tramadol's properties and typical uses. 🔆
Can dogs take tramadol?
The answer's both: yes and no — human drugs should be only given to pets when prescribed by a veterinarian, and only for specific indications (reasons to treat).
This medication can be taken by mouth, either with or without food.
Tramadol is considered a relatively safe medicine for dogs and cats — it has a lower chance of tiresome, dangerous, or even lethal side effects than, for example, morphine (tramadol is ten times weaker).
💣 Tramadol side effects in dogs include:
- Dizziness;
- Sedation (sleepiness, slower reaction rate, etc.);
- Dysphoria (state of unhappiness) sometimes characterized by:
- Dogs whining on tramadol
- Unease
- Crying
- Barking
- Constipation, vomiting;
- Withdrawal syndrome — when the drug intake is stopped too quickly;
- Addiction is also possible when tramadol is used for a prolonger period of time in large doses; and
- Increased risk of seizures, agitation, fast heartbeat, extreme sleepiness — in case of these events, contact your vet immediately!
Most of these side effects occur when the tramadol dosage is too high for a given dog — that's why proper dosing is so important! Take this opportunity and double-check it using the
⏰ Are you wondering how long does it take for tramadol to kick in?
It usually takes 1-2 h for the tramadol to start working in dogs. The effect wears off entirely after 24 hours.
What is tramadol for dogs?
Tramadol is used as a pain relief for dogs, cats and humans. Tramadol is useful in cases of mild-to-moderate pain — we can also mix this medication with other kinds of analgesic drugs.
Tramadol belongs to the group of opioid drugs — as the name suggests, its primary mechanism of action depends on activating the opioid receptors; it also increases the amount of stimulating substances in the brain.
With all these powers combined, tramadol makes a wonderful drug for alleviating pain, with a lower chance of addiction and breathing insufficiency. 💊
What does tramadol look like?
Tramadol is sold as a white pill with the number 377 carved into it. When it comes to tablet strength, we usually use the tramadol 50mg for dogs. Unfortunately, that is the lowest possible dosage — it may cause problems when assessing an adequate portion of the medication in smaller dogs.
🍖 Hungry for knowledge? Consider consuming news from our other dog-related tools:
What is tramadol used for in dogs?
Tramadol is used in both acute and chronic pain.
-
Acute pain indications:
- Surgery
- Invasive medical procedures (e.g., biopsy, fracture setting)
-
Chronic pain indications:
- Tramadol for dog's arthritis
- Canine cancer
💡 The painkilling effect of tramadol might only be visible after days or weeks after start of the treatment of chronic pain. Use of other analgesic drugs is highly recommended.
- Others:
- Tramadol for dog's anxiety (mild effect — Benadryl is used more often in this indication)
How to calculate tramadol dosage for dogs?
There's no specific tramadol dosage chart for dogs — the proper dose should be assessed by your pooch's weight.
Our tramadol for dogs calculator uses the following equations:
For the imperial system: 🇺🇸 🇬🇧
Dose − lower limit (mg) = 0.9 × Your dog's weight (lb)
Dose − upper limit (mg) = 2.25 × Your dog's weight (lb)
Maximum dose allowed:
Max dose = 4.54 × Your dog's weight (lb)
For the metric system: 🌎
Dose − lower limit (mg) = 2 × Your dog's weight (kg)
Dose − upper limit (mg) = 5 × Your dog's weight (kg)
Maximum dose allowed:
Max dose (mg) = 10 × Your dog's weight (kg)
💡 We use the recommendations established by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA). 🐶🐱
💡 You may also compare it to the recommended human tramadol dosage using our tramadol dosage calculator.
How many mg of tramadol for dogs do we really need? Let's check it out with a quick example — let's calculate the tramadol dosage for a 20-pound dog.
-
Lower limit of the recommended dose:
Dose − lower limit = 0.9 × 20 lb = 18 mg -
Upper limit of the recommended dose:
Dose − upper limit = 2.25 × 20 lb = 45 mg -
Maximum dose allowed:
Max dose = 4.54 × 20 lb = 90.8 mg
This dog's weight doesn't allow for a simple tablet dosing — ask your veterinarian for the specific scheme that's safe for your dog. ⚕️
How long does it take for dogs to feel the effects of tramadol?
It usually takes around 1-2 hours for tramadol to start working in dogs. The drug's effect may be detectable for up to 24 hours.
Why do we give dogs tramadol?
There are plenty of reasons tramadol might be given to dogs. Some of the include:
- Post-surgery pain;
- Pain after invasive medical procedures (e.g., biopsy, fracture setting);
- Arthritis;
- Chronic pain associated with canine cancer; and
- Mild anxiety.
Which pill has the number 337 on it?
Tramadol is sold as white pill with the number 377 engraved in it.
What's the tramadol dosage for a 20 lb dog?
The upper limit of tramadol you can give to a 20 lb dog is 45 mg. Though this is not the maximum dose allowed, make sure to always consult your veterinarian first before increasing the dose. This value is found by multiplying the dog's weight in pounds by 2.25. This gives you the result in mg.