There are a number of measures owners can do to assist reduce discomfort for dogs prior to receiving treatment from a veterinarian, even though it’s challenging (and not advised) to address the root of tooth pain at home.
The majority of human drugs, particularly NSAIDs, which can be extremely harmful, should not be used on dogs. Stick to the following painkillers instead:
Human aspirin
When no natural cure is available, some owners will administer human aspirin as a temporary fix for their dog’s toothache. Dogs shouldn’t take aspirin since some animals may respond poorly to it. As a result, be cautious to watch your dog carefully and limit the amount of medication you give them to 10 milligrams per pound of bodyweight every twelve hours. Always with your veterinarian before starting an aspirin regimen.
Benadryl
Benadryl is another option for owners wanting to administer human medication. The most frequently prescribed human drugs for dogs are Benadryl and other antihistamines, which many veterinarians are pleased to administer. Although they don’t immediately reduce pain, antihistamines do have some minor sedative and anti-inflammatory properties. So, like CBD, they can assist your dog in managing oral pain until an antibiotic or other treatment is started.
How can I make my dog’s toothache go away?
By the time they are 3 years old, more than 80% of dogs exhibit signs of dental illness, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society. Although you would assume that dental illness is largely a cosmetic problem, pets can also experience pain from dental disease. Gum inflammation (gingivitis) can be bothersome on its own, but some pets may suffer from more severe conditions like shattered teeth, abscesses at the base of their teeth, and oral cancers.
What are the signs of dental pain in dogs?
Depending on the severity of the discomfort and the temperament of the dog, dental pain can manifest itself in a variety of ways.
An affected dog might not always display obvious signs of suffering. When your veterinarian or veterinary technician applies pressure around the tooth’s root with a dental probe during a veterinary examination, dental pain may only become obvious.
However, there are times when you can spot mouth discomfort symptoms at home. These indicators could be:
- less desire to consume dry food
- reduced desire for hard candy
- slower eating than usual
- food falling out of the mouth during eating
- excessive salivation
- gnashing of teeth
- resistance to having the face or lips touched has changed or gotten worse
Your dog might be in pain from his teeth if he exhibits any of these symptoms. Other markers of dental disease may also point to the possibility of dental discomfort in addition to these symptoms, which unmistakably represent pain. These symptoms could include foul breath, obviously loose teeth, or muzzle swelling.
What is the best treatment for dogs with dental pain?
Taking care of the dog’s underlying dental problems is the only way to effectively cure dental pain. Pain will persist until the underlying problem is resolved, even though painkillers may temporarily reduce pain levels.
“Treating the dog’s underlying dental illness is the only effective treatment for dental pain.”
Your veterinarian will probably advise having a thorough dental health examination and treatment done while the pet is sedated. In order to determine your dog’s general health before to anesthesia, your veterinarian will first do a pre-anesthetic examination and laboratory tests (usually a complete blood cell count and serum biochemistry). After that, your dog will be completely sedated to allow for a thorough oral examination and dental cleaning. Your dog’s teeth will have the tartar scaled removed so that the entire tooth can be seen. Additionally, dental radiographs (X-rays) may be taken to evaluate the tooth roots and any potential problems that may exist below the gum line. Additionally, your dog’s teeth and gum tissues will be meticulously examined during a thorough oral examination by your veterinarian.
Your dog’s dentist will create a treatment plan for any dental issues that are found after thoroughly cleaning and inspecting your dog’s teeth. Treatments for dental issues may involve root canals or the extraction of damaged teeth. The dental work may be done on the same day as the cleaning, but in complex situations, your veterinarian may spread it out across several visits to reduce your dog’s stress and the time spent under anesthesia. Your dog may also be given oral drugs (such as antibiotics or painkillers) by your veterinarian.
Can dental pain be prevented?
Making sure your dog receives routine dental care is the greatest approach to prevent dental pain. Dental care consists of two parts: veterinary care and home care.
Making sure your dog receives routine dental care is the greatest approach to prevent dental pain.
Brushing your dog’s teeth every day is the best form of at-home dental treatment. The purpose of brushing is to get rid of plaque, which is a fuzzy buildup of bacteria and food particles on teeth. It’s crucial to brush your dog’s teeth every day since plaque starts to harden into tartar after sitting on the teeth for around 24 hours. If your dog won’t accept brushing every day, your veterinarian might be able to give you some advice on how to make brushing more bearable. Alternately, your veterinarian may suggest medicated chews and/or mouth rinses to support your dog’s oral health.
Your dog’s oral health also requires routine veterinarian dental treatment. In general, most dogs should receive an anesthetic dental cleaning (complete oral health assessment and treatment) once a year. Depending on their hereditary dispositions and the success of your home care, young dogs may be able to wait a few years before their first dental cleaning, while older, small-breed dogs may require dental care as frequently as every six months.
Can I give Tylenol to my dog for a toothache?
This means that some drugs that are safe for humans may be harmful or even fatal to dogs. The most popular over-the-counter human painkillers should never be given to dogs: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) (Tylenol) Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
What home remedies can I use to treat my dog’s pain?
The ideal natural pain medication for your dog’s particular circumstances can be determined with the assistance of your family veterinarian or a competent holistic veterinarian. Additionally, a DVM can ensure that the all-natural treatment you select won’t conflict with any of your dog’s current prescription meds.
We advise introducing each method of natural pain management for dogs one at a time when you begin using them. You won’t be able to tell which holistic therapies are having positive impacts or negative ones if you combine several at once.
Watch for improvements in your dog’s energy level, activity level, and mood after using one remedy for a month. Keep an eye out for adverse effects like skin sensitivities or stomach distress. You can stop using a remedy if it is creating adverse effects, wait a few days for the bad effects to go away, and then try the next course of treatment. If a treatment is working after a month, you can keep using it and add another to see if it has any additional benefits.
Once you’ve identified the ideal combination of treatments for your dog, keep putting each solution to the test in this manner. Ask your veterinarian what natural pain relief techniques to combine.
Hot and Cold Therapy
You can use an ice pack or heat pack to assist your dog feel better if they have an injury or joint pain in a particular joint. For up to 20 minutes at a time, apply a heat pack to the area to ease discomfort from chronic disorders like hip dysplasia or arthritis. If your dog is harmed while playing or is recovering from surgery, apply an ice pack for up to 10 minutes at a time to relieve pain.
One of our favorite treatments, it efficiently reduces inflammation while having almost no adverse effects.
Ginger
This spice is a potent all-rounder. In both people and animals, ginger is frequently used to relieve upset stomachs, but studies have shown that it can also help reduce pain, particularly osteoarthritis pain. Antioxidants, which ginger is high in, assist to lower inflammation, which is the cause of both acute and chronic pain.
To give your dog the benefits, try grating some fresh ginger over their meal. To assist your dog’s taste buds and digestive system adjust to this spice, start with a modest amount.
Turmeric
Ginger and turmeric are related. It contains a lot of curcumin, a biochemical with natural anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, ibuprofen or acetaminophen were less efficient at relieving pain than turmeric in two separate tests.
Mix turmeric with a healthy lipid, such as olive oil or fish oil, and a dash of black pepper to make turmeric for dogs. The body of your dog will be able to absorb all the advantages of turmeric more readily as a result. With each meal, give your dog 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of the mixture (1/2 teaspoon for medium-sized dogs, 1 teaspoon for large dogs).
Boswellia
Indian Boswellia serrata trees are the source of boswellia extract. This extract is probably already known to you; it is frequently marketed under the name frankincense and is a typical component of lotions, fragrances, and candles.
Boswellia extract significantly reduced pain indicators including activity level in a trial on 29 dogs with joint illness. Look for boswellia in all-natural pet supplements to give this treatment a shot for your dog. When providing the supplement to your dog, follow the product’s guidelines.
Devil’s Claw
Devil’s claw is a blooming plant native to South Africa that has long been used as a traditional herbal pain reliever. Devil’s claw appears to lessen pain more than a placebo in tests, however all of the available research on the supplement is of low quality. Therefore, there isn’t enough data to conclusively state that it works as of yet.
Although it is okay for dogs, finding this supplement for horses is considerably simpler than finding it for our canine friends. Ask your vet for dosing instructions if you wish to try devil’s claw for dogs.
CBD Oil
The same plant that yields marijuana, the hemp plant, is the source of CBD oil. THC, the substance in marijuana that produces the psychoactive effects and “high” feeling, is not present in CBD oil. Pets should not use THC. It may result in convulsions and a coma. Never offer your dog any marijuana or items derived from hemp. Keep to CBD products designed particularly for pets.
In a trial using CBD oil on dogs with osteoarthritis, the dogs demonstrated a considerable reduction in pain with no adverse effects noted.
Acupuncture
Long, thin needles are inserted into the skin and left there for a predetermined amount of time in this traditional Chinese medicine procedure. Western research has demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture in recent decades.
The procedure itself is painless and works by activating the nerve system to lessen pain. Your dog won’t feel the needles as they enter the skin since they are so thin. Acupuncture for pets is now being offered by certain holistic vets. Your present veterinarian might be able to recommend a canine acupuncturist if they don’t currently provide the therapy.
How can I know if the tooth in my dog is hurting?
Dogs may express their pain in a variety of ways. Examples include the following:
- Drooling
- Whimpering
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- A behavioral shift or the exhibiting of defensive behavior
- avoiding pets for heads
- Adaptation of activity level
- decrease in appetite, slower or less frequent eating
- gums with red or swelling
I want to warn everyone who reads my site against presuming that just because your dog is eating regularly, they are pain-free. Despite having serious oral illness, many of our patients still eat and act normally at home when they see us.
What can I do at home to treat my dog’s dental infection?
After the initial examination, if your veterinarian suspects that your dog has a tooth root abscess, he or she will probably start your dog on antibiotics and perhaps painkillers. This can aid in controlling your dog’s symptoms until a dental surgery can be performed.
While your dog may feel better while taking these meds, it’s crucial to keep in mind that this is only a temporary “band aid.” To treat the abscessed tooth, your dog still requires dental work. If not, the signs and discomfort will return as soon as your dog stops taking the medication.
Your dog won’t get better from the pain or infection with a home remedy or medication. Some therapies might potentially be detrimental. Therefore, always heed the guidance of your veterinarian.
Two methods to address a tooth root abscess
In order to “bridge” your dog’s tooth root abscess symptoms until a dental surgery is arranged, antibiotics and painkillers are prescribed. It’s crucial to note that just one of the following two techniques can truly relieve your dog’s discomfort:
Extraction of the tooth
Your veterinarian will carefully remove the entire affected tooth in this situation. The contaminated material will then be completely removed from the tooth socket by the dentist. Your veterinarian will next sew the gums closed with sutures. Your dog’s gums will totally heal in 10 to 14 days thanks to the absorbable sutures (which don’t need to be removed). The majority of general practice veterinarians will be able to provide this as a choice.
Root canal therapy
Dog root canals are quite similar to human root canals. If you decide to go this route, your veterinarian will probably suggest that you take your dog to a veterinary dentist because performing a root canal takes specialized tools and training. The infected pulp tissue will be taken out by the veterinary dentist and replaced with dental material.
The largest and most functional teeth, such as the canine teeth or the large premolars and molars, are often the ones that receive root canal therapy from veterinary dentists. It is significant to remember that not all teeth, for a variety of reasons, are suitable for root canal therapy. Based on the extent of the tooth’s damage, the severity of the infection, and the tooth’s general condition, your veterinary dentist can advise you on the best course of action.
Can dogs consume Orajel?
Additionally, even though benzocaine is a powerful local anesthetic, it might be a little excessive.
Avoid using Orajel to open wounds and limit application to 10% or less concentrations. Additionally, do not use if you have a young puppy or small dog.
Why not obtain a prescription from your doctor? They’ll probably offer a pain comparable with less intensity.
