Conclusion: Gabapentin and heavy breathing in dogs Gabapentin is a useful medication for managing seizures, pain, and anxiety in dogs, but it can cause side effects, including respiratory depression, in some cases. Heavy breathing, or panting, is a common physiological response in dogs, but can also be a sign of stress, pain, or illness. If your dog recently started taking gabapentin and you are wondering about the gabapentin side effects in dogs, this article is for you. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby discusses what side effects to watch for, and how those side effects can be minimized or managed. Plus, she answers seven gabapentin FAQs. Customer: My dog is experiencing the ataxia side effect of gabapentin. She is a 65 pound dog, about 10 years old. She started off with 200mg a day, (1) 100mg in the morning and (1) 100mg in the evening. Key takeaways Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug prescribed to treat pain, anxiety, and seizures in dogs. Gabapentin may cause a condition called ataxia, in which the dog experiences a loss of motor control, coordination, or balance. This could possibly cause hind leg weakness or trouble walking. If you notice your dog struggling to walk while on gabapentin, contact the vet for assistance It’s normal for gabapentin to cause some sedation (some pets experience this more so than others). Gabapentin is also very commonly used to treat pain in dogs because of how well it works. A known (and relatively common) side effect of gabapentin is ataxia. Stop the medication like your vet suggested and it should improve quickly. If it doesn't an emerg vet visit is warranted, as ataxia can be a serious symptom. I don't know if that dose is considered high or not for your dog's weight, but gabapentin can cause sedation/ataxia at high enough doses.. But.. I think it would be strange to totally go off the legs because of it. Gabapentin has become a staple in modern veterinary pain management and anxiety care, but with its growing use come growing concerns. Owners ask: Is it safe long-term? Is that wobble normal? Why is my dog sleeping so much? 🔑 Key Takeaways: Gabapentin Side Effects in Dogs – Quick Answers Does gabapentin cause grogginess? Yes, especially As discussed, gabapentin is an analogue of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. The most common side effects (sedation, sometimes ataxia) typically subside after repeated dosing, which it sounds like you're already seeing this. We've tried everything for our dog who has osteoarthritis in her front left shoulder. She's a border collie / akita mix and is 14 years old. We've done gabapentin, cosaquin, dasaquin, fish oil, acupuncture, laser therapy, massages. Nothing really made an outstanding difference. I was hopeful for the higher gabapentin dosing but it seemed to exacerbate his cognitive decline and ataxia, So we’ve reduced it. I’ve heard pretty mixed reviews ab tramadol for dogs, but have heard a few promising reviews and read a few promising studies On Amantadine. I work with humans. Two of the dogs stayed seizure-free long-term, ten of them remained on gabapentin indefinitely. There were no visible long-term side effects. The short-term side effects were hind limb ataxia and sedation. They cleared up within days, or after adjusting the bromide dose (the drug that was given in combination with gabapentin). We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Our dog takes gabapentin 600mg, but gets hers 300mg with breakfast 5:00/5:30am, and dinner 5:30/6:00pm. Species: Dog Age: 16 Sex: Male, unneutered Breed: Shiba inu Weight: 14lbs Short history: IVDD, Chronic Kidney Disease Relevant clinical signs: ataxia Length of time you have seen these changes: 12hrs My dog was prescribed gabapentin for pain-relief. He has IVDD and kidney disease. My dog is 14lbs and was prescribed 100mg every 12hrs. After taking the medication, he does not seem to be able to My dog is a border collie/aussie mix (15f). She developed ataxia a week and a couple days after surgery (tumor on eyelid removal) and her 1st dose of Librela. She is currently taking incurin, gabapentin, joint support chew, prednisone, eye support chews, and famotadine. She is better than she was, but she struggles with her back legs. My dog was prescribed Gabapentin (every 8 hours) along with Trazodone (addressed in another comment on this reddit) for IVDD recovery. Not at first, but over the course of several days of taking Gabapentin, my dog began developing tremors. What Are Potential Gabapentin Side Effects in Dogs? The most typical side effects of gabapentin in dogs include mild sedation and ataxia (a wobbly or drunken gait). Each dog will experience these symptoms differently, and it also depends on the dose. Dogs with sensitivity may experience extreme lethargy and sleepiness. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Dogs that receive high doses of gabapentin or take the medication for extended periods may be more likely to experience ataxia and weakness. The presence of underlying medical conditions, such as arthritis or neurological disorders, may increase the risk of hind leg weakness in dogs taking gabapentin.
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