14/11/2025
I am beyond frustrated with the inappropriate and excessive use of this drug for dogs in my profession. No, it's not Librela, or Apoquel. Not metronidazole or other antibiotics. Not NSAIDS or prednisone.
I'm talking about gabapentin.
Gabapentin, commonly known as gaba, is labelled for treatment of seizures and for neuropathic pain. It's thought to help with anxiety, but there is no proof that it does. It provides sedation, which many owners mistake for anxiety relief. Yet it is being used for everything from post-operative pain to soft tissue injury, often without the addition of true pain medications. Yes, I support thoughtful use of NSAIDs as well as other pain management strategies such as herbs, PEMF, laser, acupuncture, etc. An individualized, multimodal approach. What I cannot support is giving an ineffective, unproven drug and thinking you're managing your dog's pain.
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