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.
Anytime you start giving your dog a new medication like gabapentin, the potential for side effects can weigh on your mind. Then when you notice something different about your dog, it’s normal to wonder:
Is that a side effect of the gabapentin?
Or is it just a fluke that this change occurred around the time my dog started taking the gabapentin?
That’s why I want to clear up any misconceptions about the side effects of gabapentin for dogs and discuss what to do if you notice them.
What is gabapentin?
Gabapentin is a medication that is FDA-approved for use in humans. Like many medications in the veterinary world, vets use gabapentin “off-label” in dogs.
Vets most commonly prescribe gabapentin to treat chronic pain in dogs (especially neuropathic pain—pain that arises from nerve damage or dysfunction). They may recommend it by itself or in combination with another pain medication.
(However, in the interest of being transparent, you should know that the veterinary literature supporting gabapentin’s use as a pain medication is sparse. Some studies indicate it may be effective while other studies did not find that it significantly decreased pain. Still, my experience as a veterinarian prescribing it for my canine patients has made me a believer in its usefulness and efficacy.)
In addition to helping control pain, gabapentin can also be used in veterinary medicine to treat seizures in dogs (usually in conjunction with other anti-convulsant medications). Plus, it may help decrease anxiety in dogs.
(To learn more about the uses of gabapentin, check out my other article on gabapentin for dogs.)
What are the gabapentin side effects in dogs?
One of the benefits of gabapentin is that many dogs experience no side effects or only mild transient side effects. The three most common potential side effects listed in the drug handbooks (and corroborated by my personal experience) are sedation, loss of coordination, and GI upset. Let’s take a look at each side effect in more detail.
Sedation and drowsiness
Especially at first, gabapentin can cause your dog to be a bit more sedate and sleepy than normal. You may notice that he or she isn’t as excited as usual about a walk or playing. Or your dog may elect to keep snoozing in the bed rather than getting up and interacting with you. And your dog’s reaction time might be a bit slower than usual or he or she may seem like a lethargic dog.
Sedation is even more common in dogs who are also on other medications that cause sedation, such as:
- Antihistamines (e.g. Benadryl for dogs)
- Opioids (e.g. tramadol for dogs)
- CBD supplements for dogs
What to do if your dog is too sedate or sleepy
If you notice that your dog is a bit drowsier or more sedate than normal, don’t panic. Instead, ask yourself how significant the change is. If your dog is just slightly more subdued, all you may need to do is give him or her a few days to adjust to the gabapentin. Usually, that’s all it takes for your dog to get back to normal levels of wakefulness and energy.
Alternatively, if your dog seems more significantly sedate, please check in with your veterinarian. Sometimes your vet will suggest giving the gabapentin only at bedtime for a few days to give your dog time to adjust to it. That way, the sedation is happening when your dog is sleeping anyway. Then, once your dog adjusts, you can go back to the typical every 8 to 12 hour dosing.
Or, in other situations, the vet may recommend decreasing to a lower dose of gabapentin initially. And then you can gradually increase back to the full dose after your dog has adjusted to the gabapentin.
Both approaches (giving every 24 hours at bedtime or using a lower dose) do have the disadvantage of not providing as much pain control at first. But once you get your dog back up to the full dose for a few days, you should have a better idea of how well the gabapentin is working.
Ataxia, loss of coordination, or unsteady gait
Sometimes, gabapentin can also cause a dog to have an unsteady gait or loss of coordination. The veterinary term for this is “ataxia.” You may notice that your dog is wobbly and off balance or your dog’s back legs are collapsing. Dogs who first start taking gabapentin might have more trouble navigating stairs or jumping on or off furniture. Or dogs might occasionally stumble or even fall over when walking.
What to do if your dog is wobbly or uncoordinated
It can certainly be distressing if your dog can’t walk or is unsteady. So the best thing you can do if you notice ataxia is to check with your vet.
Chances are good that it could be from the gabapentin, especially if your dog wasn’t having any issues with an unsteady or uncoordinated gait before starting the gabapentin. But if your dog was experiencing some ataxia before the gabapentin, or has a history of neurological diseases such as IVDD in dogs, it is also possible that worsening of your dog’s condition, not the gabapentin, is to blame for the ataxia.
Since your vet knows your dog’s history, he or she is the best person to advise you in these situations. The vet may recommend giving it a few days. Or he or she may suggest lowering the dose or only giving gabapentin at night, like we discussed in the sedation section. But if there is concern that your dog’s condition could be worsening, the vet may recommend a recheck exam.
Sedation is commonly seen with dogs starting on gabapentin. Discuss with your vet if it is too excessive.
Gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea or lack of appetite)
Just like many other medications, gabapentin can occasionally cause some GI upset. Your dog may have a decreased appetite for a few days, or he or she might experience mild vomiting or diarrhea.
What do to if your dog has GI upset
Depending on the severity of the GI upset, you may be able to manage it by giving the gabapentin with a meal. Or you could try feeding a bland diet for dogs and waiting a few days to see if the GI upset subsides. But if the vomiting or diarrhea is severe, or if your dog isn’t eating, it is best to check in with your vet. He or she may want you bring your dog in for an exam to ensure something else isn’t causing these symptoms.
Less common side effects of gabapentin in dogs
While they don’t tend to show up in the drug handbooks, there are some other side effects that are debatably associated with gabapentin use in dogs.
Increased appetite and weight gain
Anecdotally, it seems like the occasional dog on gabapentin will have an increased appetite. The dog may be counter-surfing, begging for food, or eating more. As a result of the increased caloric intake, the dog can gain weight.
By monitoring your dog’s body condition score (BCS) and taking steps to help your dog lose weight (if necessary) you can combat weight gain and increased appetite. But if you have concerns, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to your vet.
Agitation or behavioral changes
Some veterinarians have noticed that rarely a dog on gabapentin seems to have a paradoxical reaction. In other words, they get agitated or excited rather than sedate. Or the dog might experience behavior changes. Studies have reported this sort of reaction in children who take gabapentin. Therefore, it is possible that agitation and behavior changes could be associated with gabapentin use in dogs too. But the link isn’t clear at this point.
If your dog’s behavior changes suddenly, reach out to your vet for guidance. He or she can advise you on the best course of action.
Changes in urination
Gabapentin might slightly increase urine retention in dogs, but this hasn’t been well studied at this point. Occasionally, it also seems that urinary incontinence in dogs has improved on gabapentin. But it is unclear if this can be attributed to gabapentin or other factors.
If you are worried about changes in your dog’s urination volume or frequency, contact your veterinarian for advice. Since many factors can influence urination, the gabapentin may or may not have anything to do with what you are noticing.
Signs of an allergic reaction (hives or difficulty breathing)
Allergic reactions to gabapentin are possible, just like with any other drug. Dogs who are having an allergic reaction to gabapentin may have hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing. Severe allergic reactions can be life-threatening, so you should make an emergency vet visit ASAP if you notice these symptoms.
How long do the side effects of gabapentin usually last in dogs?
The good news is that, with the exception of allergic reactions, which aren’t really side effects anyway, the side effects we discussed above are generally mild and short-lived. This is true in part because gabapentin has a short half-life.
The half-life is the time it takes for the body to metabolize (i.e. break down) and excrete (i.e. eliminate from the body) half of the dose of medication. It helps give an indication of how long we can expect the effects of the medication to last.
For medications with long half-lives (meaning they remain active in the body for a long time after each dose), side effects may be more concerning. This is because it takes longer for the medication to wear off.
Gabapentin, however, is not one of those drugs. It has a short half-life (3.3 to 3.4 hours in a study of the pharmacokinetics of oral gabapentin in Greyhound dogs). This means the body has broken down and eliminated half of the dose in about 3.5 hours. So the good news is that any side effects should wear off fairly quickly.
Plus, the average dog’s body adjusts to gabapentin after being on it for several days. Therefore, typically, in a week or so, the dog will no longer get significantly sedate or ataxic on gabapentin.
Do I need to stop giving my dog gabapentin if I notice side effects?
Even knowing gabapentin’s side effects are mild and usually subside quickly, I understand that it can be concerning to see your dog wobbling around the house or acting sedate. As discussed, the best thing you can do is contact your vet if you think you might be seeing side effects of gabapentin in your dog. Your vet can provide reassurance and advice on how to proceed.
Occasionally, there are situations where the severity of the side effects may prompt your vet to switch your dog to a different medication. Thankfully, this is fairly uncommon. Most of the time, the strategies we talked about will be enough to get your dog through the initial side effects.
Side effects of stopping gabapentin in dogs
It is important to note that if your vet does want to take your dog off gabapentin, he or she may recommend gradually decreasing the dose rather than stopping cold turkey. Rapidly stopping gabapentin can cause increased seizure activity if your dog is taking gabapentin as an anti-seizure medication. And abruptly withdrawing gabapentin can also cause rebound pain in dogs who are using it for pain control.
Thus, it is best to consult your vet before you stop giving your dog the gabapentin. This is especially true if your dog has been on it awhile, has a history of seizures, or has significant pain. The exception to this would be if your dog is having an allergic reaction, where continuing to give gabapentin could be life-threatening.
What are the symptoms of a gabapentin overdose in dogs?
While we are on the topic of side effects, I also wanted to briefly talk about gabapentin overdoses. Thankfully, because gabapentin has a wide margin of safety and a wide therapeutic range, true overdoses are uncommon. In reported cases of accidental overdose, most of the time the dog showed a more severe versions of the side effects we already discussed.
Overall, the signs of a gabapentin overdose were mostly ataxia (i.e. a wobbly or unsteady gait), sedation or drowsiness, and vomiting. Since there is so much overlap between the expected side effects and the signs of an overdose, the best course of action is to talk to your veterinarian or a pet poison control center (e.g. ASCPA Animal Poison Control Center) if you are concerned. They can advise you about the safest way to proceed for your dog.
7 Gabapentin FAQs
Now that you hopefully have a better understanding of the gabapentin side effects in dogs, I want to address a few other gabapentin frequently asked questions I tend to get from my clients.
FAQ #1: What is the dose of gabapentin for dogs?
As mentioned, gabapentin has a wide therapeutic range. This means vets can safely prescribe it at a wide range of doses for the same size dog. It’s available in 100 mg, 300 mg, and 400 mg capsules and 300 mg, 600 mg, and 800 mg tablets. Plus, it comes in a liquid formulation that vets sometimes use for very small dogs.
As a word of caution, the liquid form of gabapentin often prescribed for humans (trade name Neurontin®), can contain xylitol. This is an artificial sweetener commonly found in human medications, sugar-free gum, and many other products. Unfortunately, xylitol is toxic to dogs.
When vets prescribe liquid gabapentin for dogs, they must check with the pharmacist to ensure the product the pharmacy carries does not contain xylitol. If the human pharmacy doesn’t have a xylitol-free formulation available, your vet may need to order one from a compounding pharmacy.
Typically, dogs take gabapentin every 8 to 12 hours for best efficacy. But sometimes your vet may start out with once-a-day dosing at bedtime until your dog gets used to the medication.
The dose of gabapentin that your dog will take depends on his or her size and the severity of the pain, anxiety, or seizures. Your veterinarian will decide on the best starting dose for your dog. And then he or she will make adjustments along the way based on how your dog responds.
FAQ #2: How does the body get rid of gabapentin?
Like many medications, gabapentin is excreted primarily by the kidneys via the urine. Because of this, sometimes vets need to make dose adjustments in cases of severe kidney failure in dogs. This may involve prescribing a lower dose of gabapentin for that dog compared to a dog of the same size who has healthy kidneys.
However, unlike many medications, the liver only slightly metabolizes gabapentin. Therefore, dogs with liver disease in dogs may not need significant dose adjustments.
FAQ #3: Are there situations where gabapentin could hurt my dog?
As we have discussed, gabapentin is overall a very safe medication. Vets do, however, try to avoid using it in pregnant dogs unless absolutely necessary. This is primarily out of an abundance of caution since, like many medications, the effects of gabapentin on the fetus have not been fully characterized in dogs.
Also, as already mentioned, your vet may also need to adjust the dose for dogs with kidney dysfunction.
Remember too that liquid gabapentin can contain the artificial sweetener, xylitol. Unfortunately, xylitol toxicity in dogs can be fatal in some cases. So it is very important to ensure your dog’s gabapentin does not contain xylitol.
FAQ#4: Are there any long-term side effects of gabapentin for dogs?
Dogs may be prescribed gabapentin long-term for pain control or seizures. But thankfully at this point, it does not appear that there are any concerns with using gabapentin for weeks, months, or even years. Overall, gabapentin seems to be less hard on the body than some other pain medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs).
It is possible that over time a dog may develop a tolerance to gabapentin and require higher doses. However, this has not yet been conclusively demonstrated to be the case.
FAQ #5: How do gabapentin’s side effects compare to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)?
Vets commonly prescribe NSAIDs when they notice signs a dog is in pain. So, it would make sense to compare the side effects of NSAIDS (e.g. carprofen for dogs) to gabapentin since both are used as pain relievers.
NSAIDs are popular because they’re very effective at decreasing pain and inflammation. And they can also relieve arthritis pain in dogs to dramatically improve quality of life. However, the side effects of NSAIDs include vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stool, GI ulcers, and lack of appetite.
Additionally, NSAIDs can negatively impact kidney function. Thus, vets must use them sparingly in dogs with kidney issues. Since many dogs who need daily medication to manage joint pain are seniors, this population is also more likely to have pre-existing kidney disease.
Gabapentin is an attractive alternative for pain management in these dogs. Although dogs with kidney disease may need a lower dose due to slower excretion, gabapentin does not seem to have adverse effects on the kidneys like NSAIDs do.
One of the drawbacks to gabapentin as a pain medication, however, is that it does not have anti-inflammatory effects like NSAIDs do. This may make it less effective for conditions where inflammation is contributing to the degree of pain.
FAQ #6: How do gabapentin’s side effects compare to those of trazodone for dogs?
Trazodone for dogs is a popular anti-anxiety medication. And gabapentin also has some use in controlling anxiety. Therefore, it also makes sense to compare the side effects of trazodone vs gabapentin.
Interestingly, they have several side effects in common. Both can cause some sedation and GI upset. Plus, trazodone can cause agitation, aggression, and increased appetite, which debatably also occur with gabapentin.
One of the big differences, though, is the fact that administering trazodone with many other anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications runs the risk of the dog developing a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome. And there is a list of other medications that trazodone doesn’t interact well with. However, gabapentin can safely be combined with trazodone and most other medications.
At the end of the day, though, the vet will select the medication that best fits the particular situation. There are a variety of potential anxiety-reducing medications. So the goal is to find the one or ones that work best for your dog.
FAQ # 7: How do the side effects of tramadol and gabapentin compare?
Another medication that gabapentin sometimes gets compared with is tramadol for dogs. Tramadol is an oral opioid medication, which means it provides pain relief. But like gabapentin, it does not have anti-inflammatory properties.
Vets sometimes use tramadol and gabapentin together. Or they may combine either one with an NSAID to provide better pain control.
When looking at side effects in dogs, the list for tramadol includes sedation, GI upset, constipation, panting, and dilated pupils. As is the case for gabapentin, these tramadol side effects are uncommon and tend to be mild.
Both tramadol and gabapentin lack enough evidence in the literature to prove their efficacy. But I do believe that they do a great job of helping decrease pain in dogs, especially when combined with another pain reliever. It is up to your vet to decide if gabapentin, tramadol, or both, is right for your dog.
Don’t let the concern about side effects of gabapentin keep you (and your dog) down
We all want what is best for our dogs and hate to see them experience any medication side effects. But the good news is that, as far as side effects go, gabapentin’s really aren’t so bad. They are unlikely to be harmful and usually go away within a week or so.
That doesn’t mean that it isn’t concerning to see your dog acting wobbly or sleepy. But it does mean that you can take some comfort in knowing that these side effects are par for the course and pretty easy to manage.
If your dog is experiencing side effects from gabapentin, please talk to your vet. Don’t let the short-term side effects make you think you should throw in the towel on gabapentin. Often the long term benefits that your dog will reap from being on gabapentin will far eclipse the stress and worry about the side effects. In the end, gabapentin may give your dog more good days, which is always a win in my book!
Hi
My daughter in law is a vet and prescribed GABA for extreme anxiety. Since my other dog passed a couple years ago he has to be by my side. When I try leaving him he bark and howls for hours til I come back. I can’t leave him cause I’m in an apartment and neighbors aren’t pleased. He had him first dose tonight of 300 mg and after a couple hours he went to get up and his back legs gave out. I’m sitting with him while he sleeps it off I hope. I couldn’t get ahold of my daughter cause they are out. But I think I should cut his dose to half. He only gets it two hours before I leave but she wanted me to try it when I’m home to keep an eye out. I hope he sleeps it off.
Hi Debra,
I agree that reducing the dose of gabapentin initially may be a good idea. I hope you were able to get in touch with your daughter in law and discuss your concerns. Praying your sweet boy is feeling better and anxiety free. How are things now?
Dr Buzby: Thank you VERY much for this page, helpful info, and your personal responses. We have Jack, a 15+ year old male Labradoodle, about 51 lbs now, quite elderly, rear hips not great. We just moved to NC, so new environment, hotter temps and higher humidity. New local Vet put him on Doxycycline (for long-established Lyme exposure) and 300 mg Gabapentin 2x/day for his arthritis. First doses given with dinner tonight, and very quickly Jack got lethargic and weak – unable to get himself up. Walked a bit loopy, like he was drunk. During tonight’s late walk, he frequently laid down and would not get up. Even when I lifted him onto his feet, he took a few unsteady steps, and laid back down. Very disconcerting! But he didn’t seem to be in any discomfort. But he hasn’t peed or pooped since this morning. Reading your article helped alleviate most of our concerns; we will check with the Vet in the morning, maybe reduce the dosage or make it evenings only. THANK YOU for your care and sharing.
Hi Tom,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. This is exactly what other readers need to see to help them through a similar situation. Also, I really appreciate all the kind words about the article and my comments! I agree that this new weakness in your senior guy does sound like side effects from the Gabapentin. I think you have a good idea about how to proceed and I hope your big boy is back to feeling his best in no time. I wish you both the best with your new life in North Carolina.
Hey there, your post has been reassuring as I’m having a bit of a hard time with my dog’s condition. Our 10 year old medium sized rescued terrier mix recently experienced lethargy and difficulty with stairs. It was a Sunday night so we took her to the emergency vet; turns out she has a herniated disc in her vertebrae. The vet prescribed her gabapentin and galliprant for pain relief. The day after beginning her medications, her hind legs began to get worse. She’s very wobbly when she walks, she crisscrosses her hind legs and can’t support much of her weight when she pees and poops. Everything else seems to be fine with her, she eats regularly, no diarrhea, no vomiting, etc. After two days, we called the vet again and she said it’s a bit hard to say if it’s the side effects from the meds or some of the symptoms of the herniated disc/IVDD. We’re just now a bit anxious and patiently waiting to see if she adjusts to the gabapentin medication since we don’t want the herniated disc/IVDD to get worse. The vet said to give it a couple more days and see how she does, but any advice would be great! Thanks.
Hi Frank,
I know how worried you must be about your senior girl and these scary symptoms. I agree with your vet and would have given you the same advice. As long as you aren’t noticing worsening symptoms then I would give it a few more days. You can always talk with a veterinary neurologist in your area if you have any lingering concerns or need additional advice or information. Praying your girl will continue to heal and make a full recovery. Wishing you both the best!
My 9 yr old Boston terrier has been having seizures for the past two years; a couple of months ago our vet put her on Kepra and gabapentin (phenobarbital was not working for her); she started having these skin issues with big sores that dry up and skin starts peeling. We are giving her 300mg gabapentin once a day and I read the skin issues may be due to the gabapentin. Is this something that should be of big concern? I don’t want her having seizures either so I am trying to figure out what to do. Thank you!
Hi Nicole,
The skin issues you are describing do not sound like a typical side effect of gabapentin. Since I haven’t examined your pup myself, it is difficult to make specific conclusions and recommendations. I think it would be best for you to call your vet and let them examine your dog. They can let you know if you need to discontinue the gabapentin or if there is a treatment for your dog’s specific skin condition. Anytime new symptoms or issues pop up, it is always a good idea to stay in contact with your vet. I hope you can find the answers you need to get this condition resolved. Wishing you and your sweet girl many happy days ahead.
Thank you very much for this article, I found it very helpful when my bulldog was prescribed gabapentin a couple of weeks ago for arthritis pain. I have to say that I was still a little concerned after reading the comments and stories about gabapentin from others, and did start at a lower dose than what was prescribed. However, my dog responded very well and he had no side effects. He seems to be more comfortable and has been walking further. Very happy that he was prescribed this medication.
Hi Kate,
I am glad the Gabapentin has improved your dog’s quality of life and is allowing him to be more active. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Just as a side note, make sure your vet is aware of the dosage change. Little things like that can be very important. Best wishes to you and your bulldog boy!
I’ve found the information on this page extremely helpful. I have an 8 month rottie pup, Mabel, who has recently had 2 elbow arthroscopies to flush out dysplacia and an external fixator fitted to her back left hock in an effort to correct tarsal osteochondrosis. Everything went well with the op, and Mabel was coping really well. Two weeks post-op she started limping – three separate times, each time on a different limb. X-rays have revealed she’s suffering with growing pains, panosteitis. It’s just been one knock after another. Vet has prescribed gabapentin, which she has been taking now for 5 days. Since starting the medication my pup is extremely lethargic, almost zombie-like, off her food and not drinking much water. I want to give the gabapentin enough time to work, but hate to see her the polar opposite to her normal self. How do I know when it’s no longer side effects that are causing her to be like this?
Hi Julie,
I am incredibly sorry Mabel has been through so many difficulties in her short life. She is lucky to have someone like you to keep advocating for her health and wellbeing. I think it would be a good idea to go ahead and call your vet. Let them know about the severity of these side effects and how lethargic your pup has been. Your vet may decide to lower the dosage of the gabapentin for a few days and then gradually increase the dosage again to see if she tolerates it better. Also, this may be a medication that just doesn’t work well for your girl and your vet may end up discontinuing it and trying something else. I still feel like what you are describing is just side effects that will eventually resolve but I have seen it take 2-3 weeks for the body to adjust. It may not be worth it to wait it out since your girl is so severely affected. I hope you can find a treatment that works best for you both. Best wishes for a healthy and smooth sailing future.
Hi, My dog has a torn acl and she was percribed Gabapentin 300mgx2 every 8-12 hours and not long after the 1st dose she started having diarrhea. She’s only had 2 doses. She seems restless and pacing now as well. Any in sight into this?
Hi Lynn,
The symptoms you are describing may resolve on their own with time as your pup adjusts to the medication. With that being said, I highly recommend you talk to your vet and let them know what you are seeing at home. They may decide to adjust the Gabapentin dosage or discontinue the medication all together. I hope you can find a solution that minimizes the side effects but still offers great pain control for your sweet girl. Wishing you the best of luck!
Hello! My dog Charlie is a 13 year old pit bull / Aussie mix. He has bad arthritis and the vet prescribed 300mg of Gabapentin every 12 hours for 2 weeks. Is it OK if he stops after the 2 weeks? We are starting the Adequan injections so I’m hoping once those kick in he’ll start to feel better. I’ve been seeing a lot of stuff about not stopping the Gabapentin abruptly, but is 2 weeks that long ? I’m worried!!
Hi Mia,
I understand your concern about abruptly stopping the gabapentin. Two weeks really isn’t very long in the grand scheme of things, but each situation is different and comes with its own special considerations. My best advice is to talk to your vet and let them know about your concerns. They can let you know if a taper is needed, and any medication changes should be made under the supervision of your vet to avoid possible complications. I hope you can find the right combination of mediations to keep your boy pain free and comfortable. Wishing you both the best of luck and many happy days ahead.
My 12 year old pit became very confused panting pacing and bumping into things. I actually thought she was going to die. She is resting and I am praying this medication wears off. I gave it to her at 2 pm it is now 12 am and she is settling down. I am very scared and am going by later this am she will be okay. This is the healthiest dog usually and I agreed to the gabapentin over novox because I thought it would be safer for her age. This is a terrible drug for her. I am praying to God she is ok through the rest of the early am hours. This is terrifying.
Hi Cheri,
I am sorry for the scary night you had with your girl yesterday. The symptoms you are describing do not sound typical for what we usually see after Gabapentin administration. I hope your dog is doing better today and is back to her normal self. I highly recommend you call your vet and let them know what you experienced yesterday. They may need to do some more testing or change the medication dosage. They might even discontinue the Gabapentin all together and try a different treatment. Hoping for a positive outcome. Best wishes to you both!
My nearly 2 year old Akita was prescribed Gabapentin for a neck muscle injury. He has been on the medication for 4 days, and has increasingly gotten more and more wobbly. As of this evening he is walking into things and is most def having trouble with his vision (as well as his motor skills). My vet is closed (Saturday) and the emergency vet is on an 8 hour wait, and would not even consult with a vet tech re: my situation. I am stopping the administration of this drug immediately and hoping with it’s short half-life, he improves. This incredibly nerve-wracking. From everything I have read re: gabapentin (other websites), it has extremely mixed results at the very best. Neither of my pups will EVER be given this drug again.
Hi Brooke,
I am sorry your Akita is struggling with these worsening symptoms. Have you noticed any improvement since you discontinued the medication? I hope you will be able to talk to your vet tomorrow and figure out a new course of treatment. I am slightly worried that what you are describing could be due to the original injury and not related to the medication, but since I haven’t personally examined your pup, I cannot say for sure. Praying your sweet boy is feeling better soon and will make a full recovery.
As a word of caution, I learned the hard way that Gabapentin can be taxing (and harmful?) to dogs with kidney damage. My dog had CKD and was prescribed Gabapentin after dental extractions. He seemed to be very sensitive to it and had trouble walking or standing after getting the Gabapentin, and also would be extremely sleepy. I read this post and figured the side effects were normal. He was a 60lb dog and was only taking 100 mg once to twice a day. Well it turned out that he had suffered an acute kidney injury from the dental anesthesia. I fear the Gabapentin may have taxed his kidneys further, or caused him to be so tired he did not eat and drink as much as he might otherwise have. I also wonder if there is a chance that the Gabapentin itself caused the kidney injury rather than the anesthesia. Is that unlikely? A few days after the dental I had new bloodwork done, which revealed the kidney values had all crashed. He died the next day despite IV fluids. At a minimum maybe it reduced his pain during those final days?
Hi Tim,
My heart aches for you with the tragic loss of your dog. You were trying to do what was best and get his dental issues resolved. While Gabapentin is primarily eliminated by the kidneys, it is considered to be much safer for the kidneys than other medications commonly used for post-operative pain. Since I did not examine your boy myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. I would suspect the anesthesia was more to blame for the acute kidney injury rather than the Gabapentin. Acute kidney injury is an unfortunate risk of anesthesia even if pre-operative lab work has been performed and every caution is taken to prevent complications. I am sorry your pup was not able to recover, but I do think the Gabapentin probably helped relieve any discomfort he may have had during those final days. Thank you for sharing your story with our readers. I hope the memories of the good days will be a blessing and a comfort as you continue on life’s journey.
I’m sorry to hear about your loss. My dog Max who is older(rescue so age is unknown, has to be over 10 for sure) has arthritis, and has started to be weak in the back leg. He slips every once in a while. Now on gabapentin he is always panting and slips constantly throughout the day and can’t get up alone. He gets the dosage twice a day. I know before he had elevated kidney count of something that I can’t remember. Next week he is getting blood work before a dental cleaning. I’m pretty worried now after reading this. He is also taking rimadyl and apoquel. I think I should stop the gaba for now. Thank you for posting your experience despite your horrible loss.
Hi Harley,
I understand your concern about anesthesia and your senior pup. I am glad your vet has recommended lab work prior to the dental procedure to try and prevent possible complications. Gabapentin is considered very safe for dogs and does not affect the kidneys like most other pain medications do. Of the medications you listed, I would be much more concerned about the rimadyl than the Gabapentin. I highly recommend you talk to your vet about your concerns. Any changes to medications should be made under the supervision of your vet to prevent unwanted side effects. I hope Max’s dental procedure goes smoothly and he has an uneventful recovery. Best wishes to you both!