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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale. Originally developed as an anticonvulsant (anti-seizure) medication for humans, gabapentin is commonly prescribed to dogs for pain relief, anxiety, or seizures.Like many human medications, it’s often used “off-label” (without FDA approval) for dogs. This is a common practice in veterinary medicine due to the huge costs to gain FDA approval for each species and treatment. However, it appears that gabapentin is safe and effective in dogs despite not having much dog-specific research.Gabapentin is sold under the brand names Neurontin, Aclonium, Equipax, Gantin, Gabarone, Gralise, Neurostil, Progresse, or as a generic.In humans, gabapentin is used to treat partial seizures, nerve pain, and restless leg syndrome. For dogs, it’s used to treat seizures, anxiety, and nerve pain. It works by blocking calcium channels in the brain to suppress overly stimulated neurons that cause anxiety, nerve pain, and seizures.Is Gabapentin Safe for Dogs?Don’t give gabapentin to your dog without first seeking a veterinarian’s advice. It’s not the most effective drug for many conditions, can interact with other drugs, and does have side effects.Overall, gabapentin is safe for dogs, but it’s important to follow certain precautions. Never give your dog liquid gabapentin made for humans. The reason isn’t the gabapentin, but the xylitol it’s usually mixed with. This artificial sweetener is safe for humans, but is toxic and even fatal to dogs.The most often reported side effects of gabapentin in dogs are sedation and loss of coordination, both of which can be worse the first time the dog takes the medicine. Both side effects generally go away within 24 hours. More rarely, vomiting and diarrhea have been reported.Although gabapentin is only metabolized through the kidneys in humans, research shows that in dogs it’s metabolized through both the kidneys and liver. So dogs with kidney or liver problems may have more prolonged side effects. Your veterinarian may want to monitor kidney and liver blood
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