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!
I’m seeing a reoccurring side effect of the heavy panting which . Is still being referred to by the author as unusual and is still not listed on the medication itself . Two of my dogs now have been prescribe gabapentin and the worse thing about this particular side effect is that is a worse version of the symptom they already suffer with so I find it hard to know if the drugs aren’t working and my dogs are panting because of pain or if they are easing the pain but causing more distress . I’m great full for the comments that have reassured me that it’s not been in my head .
Hi Chantal,
I understand your concern with this increased panting in both of your dog’s since starting the gabapentin. Since I have not personally examined your dogs, I can’t make specific conclusions about whether this symptom is due to pain or related to the medication. I looked through every research article I could find and read over discussion panels from internal medicine experts and could not find a link between gabapentin and panting in dogs. The only mention of respiratory issues with this drug that I did find, was in a statement released from the FDA in 2019. The statement was about humans who are taking the medication and it warned about combining it with other CNS depressants. If combined with other depressant medications, it was causing a decrease in breathing in humans. Some studies have shown that dogs are much less sensitive to the respiratory side effects of gabapentin than humans are. But if a dog were to show the same symptoms as humans, it would be a decrease in breathing instead of an increase like panting. I can’t deny that several readers have experienced this same panting issue as you describe. I am not sure what the cause could be. I highly recommend you let your vet know about this change so they can decide if this medication is right for your pups. This might be a good topic for further research in the future. Maybe your vet can pass along this info to the drug manufacturers so they are aware and can investigate. I hope you can find the treatment that works best for both of your dogs. Best wishes!
My 10.5 year old bulldog gets excited when we have company to the point he has trouble breathing (also has COPD which he’s on Terbutaline to treat). I gave him a 300 mg Gabapentin to see how well it works so I know if I need to give it to him 2 or 3 times a day when our guests arrive next week. He did really well, sleepy and relaxed. Once it wore off, the rest of the day he seemed very clingy to me. Every time I got up and moved, he jumped up and followed me around the house. Is this something that will happen until he gets adjusted to the meds? Part of the time he will be on Gaba I will be at work.
Hi Jill,
I am glad the gabapentin is helping to keep your senior guy calm and prevent breathing issues. I am not familiar with clinginess being a side effect of this medication. It is common for gabapentin to cause ataxia (wobbling) and weakness of the limbs when first starting the medication. Maybe being clingy is your dog’s way of dealing with feeling a bit wobbly and weak? I do think it would be a good idea to let your vet know about these symptoms you are noticing. If nothing else, they can monitor the situation and will be aware of possible issues if the dosage should need to be increased at any point in the future. I am hopeful that you will notice a decrease in these side effects as your dog’s body adjusts to the gabapentin. If not, your vet may decide to try a different medication to help reduce anxiety. Wishing you both the best and good luck!
Very helpful article, thank you for posting! My 80 lb Lab was started on gabapentin a few days ago at a dose of 200 mg 2x/day for a new episode of limping/pain in her front leg (she also takes Galliprant for hind-end arthritis). X-rays only showed very mild arthritis in her elbow, so waiting to do more diagnostics. So far I’d say her limping has improved about 40% on the gabapentin which is great – but she is also showing a multitude of mild to moderate side effects. She is both drowsy and sort of wired, and more distracted/unsatisfied/less responsive to me. Does she want more activity/attention, or less — I can’t tell! Also on the more charming side – she is rolling on her back in the grass WAY more than usual and has suddenly become that sort of dog that makes the funny face and kicks her leg when you scratch her – possibly because it affects the nerves? In any case – I believe its helping her pain but I also want my dog’s regular amazing personality back! I’m glad to know that these side effects may go away soon as she adjusts. Unfortunately my vet just left town so I can’t ask his opinion on this, but we need to leave her home with our dog sitter next week and I’m trying to decide whether it would be better for her to stay on her 2 doses a day for pain relief, or maybe try switching to just the evening dose as suggested in this post, so she might feel more secure like her usual self while we’re away. Thoughts?
Hi Melanie,
I am glad you have noticed an improvement in your dog’s pain level since starting the gabapentin. I understand how worrisome these side effects can be, especially when thinking about having to leave her with a sitter for several days. As long as the symptoms are manageable, and your sitter has no concerns, I think it would be best to continue the twice daily dosing. If you decide to reduce the dosage next week then the side effects may subside. But when you increase the dosage back to twice a day, the side effects will probably return, and you will start the “adjustment period” all over again. I hope these issues will resolve quickly and am hopeful that you may return from your travels to find a more normal pup waiting for you. Wishing you both the best and good luck!
Hi I have a 12 year old malti poo and we took her to the vet and they think she has a pinched nerve so they gave us two different pills and liquid gabapentin. We have to give her the gabapentin every 12 hours along with the pills. Well she takes the pills just fine but she absolutely refuses to take the gabapentin by the syringe she’ll growl and start yelping she’s never done this before with other oral medications. Also i’m unsure if this is a side effect but is it normal for dogs to breathe really heavy on gabapentin? The reason i’m asking is because it’s the weekend and our vet is closed and we won’t be able to contact them til Monday. I don’t know if we should take her off it for the weekend or not because of the difficulty of giving it to her and her breathing heavy.
Hi Patrick,
You are right to be concerned about the changes to your dog’s breathing. I have had a few other readers experience something similar with their dogs, but I do not have any personal experience with this issue in my patients. The behavioral issues with taking the gabapentin are probably due to its taste. If you think the breathing heavy is any form of respiratory distress, then yes, I would stop the medication until you can talk to your vet tomorrow. I hope your girl is stable and feeling better today.
This article is very helpful. Our vet told me yesterday that being wobbly was a possible side effect, but it was still disconcerting to see it this morning in our 15 year old “mix of everything” girl. It’s the beginning of a holiday weekend, but this article and the comments reassure me that I can wait to give her body a few days to begin to adjust before calling the vet. Her follow up appt is one week, so we’ll definitely talk to the vet then.
Hi Jill,
I am glad you found the article to be helpful and reassuring. I hope your girl is feeling better and her side effects have resolved. Best wishes and good luck!
Thank you so much for posting this! It’s very helpful!
First off, we have a vet appt later this week and will ask there too but figured a second opinion doesn’t hurt!
My dog has been on Gabapentin for about 6 weeks (300mg twice daily, 72lb). It seems to really be helping her pain level! She gets ESWT too but we wanted to give her something in addition to Galliprant until the pain relieving effects of the ESWT have a chance to kick in (she’s had 2 of the series of 3 treatments so far).
Within the past few weeks, we’ve noticed INSANE shedding. True it could also be due to the fact that it is summertime but we’ve never seen her lose this much and she’s actually getting some bald areas (belly, armpits, legs). In other areas, the hair is getting very, very thin and continues to fall out. Additionally, her stools are formed but not as firm as they used to be. Her belly has been looking a bit bloated too. I’ve heard of these potential side effects in humans but can’t find anywhere that they could be possible in dogs. Thankfully, I think the pain relieving benefits outweigh the side effects. I am curious though, have you heard of any of these side effects in dogs? Do you think they could improve with continued use or since she’s already been on it for so long that maybe not? Thanks!!
I should mention also that she has been on Galliprant for almost a year. The only thing that has changed is adding the Gabapentin.
My 80lb lab has also been on 300mg every 12h of the same medication and has an insane amount of hair loss. I mentioned it to the vet and they said it was regular shedding for this time of year. I can assure you that this is well above the normal amount. Hope this info helps.
Hi Mandy,
That is very interesting. I am glad you reached out about these new strange symptoms. Since I haven’t personally examined your girl, I can’t make specific conclusions, but I am highly suspicious about Cushing’s disease. When is the last time your pup had blood work checked? I highly recommend you talk to your vet about these new developments and see if they want to do some testing. Here is an article with more information about Cushing’s: Cushing’s Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Medications
I am glad your pup’s pain level seems to be responding well to the gabapentin. I hope you can find the answers you need to get everything under control and let your sweet girl live her best life. Feel free to leave an update if you get a chance!
I was also wondering about Cushing’s! She last had bloodwork done in April and all looked good. I will be sure to mention this on Friday! Thank you so much for your reply. It is greatly appreciated and I will post an update as soon as I know anything!
Vet did not notice any noteworthy bloating/pot belly issues and shedding likely due to summertime + allergies. Could be possible that Gabapentin is contributing but unlikely. Guess we will know for sure when we wean her off Gabapentin in a few weeks! Will update again then.
Hi Mandy,
I am glad your vet is not suspecting Cushing’s disease. Maybe everything will resolve once the Gabapentin is discontinued. Hoping for a positive outcome and wishing you and your girl the best! Looking forward to your next update.
Just another update: she’s back on 300mg q12h because when we tapered her off initially, I realized how much it was helping! Once back on it, we are not seeing any of the original issues so must’ve either been something else causing the shedding and bigger belly or her body finally adjusted to the Gabapentin. Either way, she’s doing great on it now with no concerns! 🙂
Hi Mandy,
Thank you so much for this update! I am glad the hair loss has resolved, and your girl is very happy with her Gabapentin on board. I hope she will continue to thrive and live her best life. Bless you both!
Hello, my 14 year old Min Pin has developed extreme, what we believe, is anxiety at night recently. She is not sleeping well. Just wants to pace the house. She seems she can’t get settled. We have tried CDB, benedryl, anxiety meds and now we have Gapapentin. I gave her the 100mg dose the first night we received the meds (I’m desperate for sleep) …. During the night we gave it to her she woke me up with her super super heavy breathing. She was asleep and her breathing was so heavy. Her lungs were expanding so big and fast it scared me to death. She did stop after a few mins. Not sure if it is a side effect of the meds? I have not given her a full dose again. She sleeps for a few hours then paces on the bed wanting down. As soon as I put her down she sits and scratches on the side of the bed acting like she wants back up. I put her back up and she will not/can’t get settled. Needless to say we end up with a lot of sleepless nights.
Hi Michelle,
I can only imagine how tired you must be after so many nights of interrupted sleep. I am sure your little pup is exhausted as well. Since I was not there to witness the heavy breathing myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. I am suspicious that what you are describing could be normal dreaming behavior. It sounds like your senior girl slept well the night you gave the full dose of gabapentin, and you would have too if her breathing hadn’t woken you up. If you have any concerns that a breathing problem might be occurring, don’t hesitate to have her examined by your vet. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to try the full dose of gabapentin again and see how things go. Hoping the entire household will be resting comfortably soon. Best wishes!
I’m so grateful for the comment section of this article. My dog can’t stand up anymore without help and is so unsteady on his feet. I had a feeeling it was the medicine but could not find any articles stating these side effects, until I happened upon this one. I’m immediately taking him off this. Thank you all.
Hi Don,
I understand your concern for you dog and this worrisome side effect. Please talk to your vet and discuss these issues. They may want to change the dosage or try a different medication. Any changes to how or when a medication is administered should be made under the supervision of your vet to try and prevent additional unwanted side effects. I hope your pup is feeling better and back to living his best life.
My 10 year old GSD has just been prescribed gabapentin for arthritis and she is showing many of the wobbly symptoms related above. I see your advice to give at bedtime for a few days to see if that helps. Since this is prescribed for pain, does it not wear off during the day? Would surely like to see my girl feeling more chipper.
Hi Bobbie,
You are correct that if gabapentin is only given at night, then the pain relief may wear off during the day. This nighttime only administration is just in hopes to give your dog’s body some time to adjust. Once the adjustment period is completed, the goal is to work back up to the twice a day administration.
This post was very helpful and reduced some of my worries regarding my dog’s behavior. My dog is an 8 year old lab/healer mix about 55 pounds. She has been experiencing limping and pain for about 2 or 3 weeks from her elbow. Not sure how the injury happened. Anyway she was prescribed 300 mg of the gabapentin twice a day. It’s been 5 days since starting the medication and she’s been still limping, very lethargic, weakness in her back legs, wobbly, and overall confusion especially with commands she knows like going outside, lying down, and food commands. She is still eating, drinking, and using the restroom fine but won’t walk. My husband has been carrying her down 3 flights of stairs, sets her in her pee spot, she uses the restroom And then hobbles over out of the pee and lays down. To me, it seems the behaviors have increased. After reading other responses and this article we are going to try to giving the medication once a day and only at night. We are also going to consult the vet to be safe.
Hi Arianne,
I am sorry your girl is experiencing such severe side effects. It sounds like you have a good plan for how to proceed. I hope you were able to talk to your vet and discuss your concerns. Praying all is well today and your pup is feeling more like herself and on the road to recovery. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance!