What is Gabapentin for Dogs? A Vet’s Guide

If your vet has recently prescribed gabapentin for your dog, you might be wondering, “What is gabapentin for dogs?” Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby answers that question and more as she discusses the uses, safety, and side effects of gabapentin for dogs.

Recently, I met Lenny, a 12-year-old Labrador Retriever mix who has arthritis in multiple joints. He had been on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) twice a day for several years to manage his pain. However, his mom noticed that he’d started having trouble getting up in the morning. This change indicated to Lenny’s mom, and to me, that he might need additional pain relief.

We couldn’t safely increase his NSAID dose, so I suggested adding on gabapentin. I followed up with my client a few weeks later. She was thrilled to report that he was popping out of bed again in the morning, eager for his walk!

I believe gabapentin can make a huge difference in the quality of life for many dogs just like my patient. So, let’s take a look at this versatile drug.

What is gabapentin for dogs?

Gabapentin is a prescription medication that veterinarians may use to treat pain, anxiety, or seizures in dogs. Often better recognized by its brand name, Neurontin®, gabapentin is FDA approved for use in humans. However, like many medications, vets can, and often do, use it “off label” in dogs.

Many human drugs are safely used “off label” in animals, so this isn’t cause for concern. However, you still should not give your dog gabapentin that was prescribed for you or vice versa. If you think your dog could benefit from gabapentin, talk to your vet.

How does gabapentin work?

Gabapentin works by binding to calcium channels on neurons. This inhibits the release of signaling chemicals (neurotransmitters) that would normally “ramp up” nerve signals. By dampening the nerve signals, gabapentin can decrease pain and help control seizures.

More specifically, gabapentin may reduce the transmission of pain signals, especially ones coming from nerve irritation or that are a result of chronic pain. Additionally, since seizures happen when neurons get excited and start firing abnormally, gabapentin can help “calm down” the neurons.

Gabapentin also helps reduce anxiety and causes mild sedation. However, the way in which it does this isn’t well understood yet.

What is gabapentin used for in dogs?

Within veterinary medicine, gabapentin has many uses, including managing pain, helping to control seizures, and decreasing anxiety. However, it’s worth mentioning that much of gabapentin’s use in dogs has been extrapolated from studies in humans or small studies in dogs. More studies are needed to fully characterize its uses in dogs.

Gabapentin for pain in dogs

Veterinarians commonly prescribe gabapentin as part of a multi-modal pain relief plan for dogs with chronic pain and neuropathic pain. Plus, some vets are starting to use it more for post-surgical pain as well.

Unfortunately, the research about gabapentin as a pain medication in dogs is sparse and indicates that it may not be great at relieving pain in some situations. However, many veterinarians, myself included, have seen firsthand how gabapentin has helped our patients. Thus, I will continue to prescribe gabapentin because I believe it has a great potential to help and low potential to harm.

Gabapentin for chronic pain in dogs

Chronic pain in dogs is pain that persists at least 3-6 months or more. Over time, it causes changes in the nervous system. The brain may become more sensitive to pain signals and the dog may have an exaggerated response to pain or feel pain even with non-painful events like getting petted.

Plus, chronic pain can start to create its own side effects such as trouble sleeping, decreased appetite, increased aggression or fearfulness, and other behavior changes. When unmanaged, ongoing pain over months or years can decrease a dog’s quality of life.

Gabapentin and arthritis pain

Dogs with arthritis often live with chronic pain day in and day out. They have inflamed joints and may have bone-on-bone contact in one or more joints. While gabapentin doesn’t have anti-inflammatory effects, it does potentially work well for decreasing the strength of the pain signals in the brain.

Thus, gabapentin can be a useful way to relieve arthritis pain in dogs. Your vet may sometimes prescribe it in conjunction with other pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications such as NSAIDs. Gabapentin may even work better for osteoarthritis in dogs when combined with other medications.

Gabapentin and cancer pain

As is the case with arthritis, veterinarians may use gabapentin in combination with other medications to control pain in dogs with cancer. It is especially effective if the pain is coming from the nerves. Gabapentin can be a good addition to a palliative care program and can also be useful during cancer treatments.

Gabapentin and neuropathic pain in dogs

Neuropathic pain comes from damaged nerve fibers or a malfunctioning nervous system. Dogs suffering from neuropathic pain may show signs such as:

• Excessive licking or chewing one location, sometimes to the point of self-mutilation and/or the formation of a lick granuloma in dogs
• Randomly crying out in pain
• Reacting abnormally to touch (i.e. yelping when you pet them in a typical fashion)
• Lameness or lack of weight bearing on one limb
• Difficulty moving about

Gabapentin for IVDD in dogs

IVDD in dogs is one example of a condition that can cause neuropathic pain. In it, the disc that normally sits between the vertebrae moves out of position and puts pressure on the spinal cord. In some cases, vets may use gabapentin in combination with other medications to help dogs with IVDD recover without surgery.

Gabapentin for post-surgical pain

Traditionally, vets primarily use opioids and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage post-op pain. However, some vets are considering potentially adding gabapentin to the pain-management protocol after surgery.

In one study looking at 20 dogs who underwent a mastectomy, the dogs who received gabapentin needed less morphine after surgery than those who received a placebo. However, the overall pain scores did not differ significantly between the groups. In a different study, gabapentin was not effective at managing post-op pain for dogs with a forelimb amputation.

Thus, the jury is still out on gabapentin’s usefulness as a pain medication after surgery.

Gabapentin for seizures in dogs

Vets sometimes also use gabapentin as part of the treatment for seizures in dogs By itself, it isn’t as effective as the more commonly-prescribed anti-seizure medications. But gabapentin may work well in combination with these drugs. Thus, vets typically add it on as a secondary anticonvulsant when they are having trouble controlling seizure activity. 

Note: There are only a few small studies looking at the use of gabapentin as an add-on anticonvulsant, and the results are mixed. However, your vet may feel it is worth a try in dogs with refractory seizures.

Gabapentin for anxiety in dogs

For some dogs (and many cats), gabapentin may also help relieve anxiety. A 2021 study in Vet Record demonstrated that gabapentin reduced fear response in dogs with storm phobia when compared to a placebo. In another study, 72% of dog parents whose dogs were taking gabapentin for behavioral issues said that it was moderately effective or very effective at improving their dogs’ behavior.

Gabapentin is also one of the “go to” drugs for pets who are anxious about veterinary visits. For these dogs, giving them anxiety meds like gabapentin before the appointment can help them feel more comfortable and relaxed. As a result, the veterinarian can examine the dog, administer vaccinations, draw blood for blood tests for dogs, and perform other important health-related tasks with less stress on the dog (and the humans).

Can you use gabapentin and trazodone together for anxious dogs?

If gabapentin alone isn’t enough to relieve anxiety around vet visits (or other situations), some veterinarians may combine it with another anti-anxiety medication, trazodone for dogs. Using gabapentin and trazodone together for dogs is safe, and it may be more effective than using either medication individually. It is important to keep in mind, though, that since both drugs cause sedation on their own, the combination of gabapentin and trazodone may cause increased sedation.

Is gabapentin safe for dogs?

We have established that gabapentin has multiple uses, which is a plus. Another great benefit is that gabapentin is generally safe for dogs—with a few caveats. Let’s look at each one.

Dogs with kidney or liver disease can take gabapentin but may need a lower dose

Anytime a dog has kidney or liver disease, vets use caution with prescribing medications because these organs are responsible for breaking the drugs down and eliminating them from the body.

In this case, the kidneys primarily eliminate gabapentin. Thus, the vet may need to use a lower dose of gabapentin in dogs with severe kidney failure in dogs. However, some dogs with kidney dysfunction can safely take the same dose as dogs with normal kidneys.

The good news is that gabapentin is typically easier on the kidneys and liver than many other pain medications for dogs. Therefore, gabapentin can be a valuable asset for pain control in dogs with some degree of kidney or liver disease.

Ok for use in nursing dogs but not pregnant dogs

In pregnant dogs, we may avoid using gabapentin. At high doses, it can cause problems with fetal development. It does enter the mother’s milk, but in very low amounts that are unlikely to affect puppies. Thus, gabapentin can be safe to use in nursing dogs. 

Beware of xylitol in liquid formulations

Human versions of gabapentin liquid may contain the sugar substitute xylitol (birch sugar), which is toxic for dogs. Thus, the vet will usually order your dog’s gabapentin liquid from a compounding pharmacy, rather than using the liquid made for humans.

Don’t stop gabapentin suddenly

If your dog has been taking gabapentin and you stop it cold-turkey, he or she may experience rebound pain or breakthrough seizures. To decrease the risk of this happening, the vet may advise you to wean your dog off the gabapentin over several weeks.

Overdoses are uncommon

Finally, when looking at safety, it is worth noting that gabapentin has a wide therapeutic range. This means the same sized dog can safely and effectively take a broad range of doses. Thus, even at higher doses, true overdoses are very uncommon.

What is the dosage of gabapentin for dogs?

Your veterinarian will determine the starting dose of gabapentin for your dog based on the size of the dog, the condition he or she is treating, and any other medications the dog may already be taking. From there, the vet can adjust the dose up or down depending on how your dog responds. There is a wide dose range for gabapentin, so just because it didn’t have the desired effect at the starting dose, doesn’t mean it won’t work for the dog.

Dogs may take gabapentin once, twice, or three times a day. Some dogs experience pain relief with once or twice-a-day dosing. However, many dogs will need it three times daily. 

NOTE: Do not attempt to adjust your dog’s gabapentin dosage on your own. Instead, work with your vet to find the right dosage and frequency for your dog.

Forms of gabapentin

Gabapentin is available in several forms, making it useful for dogs of all sizes. The most commonly prescribed forms are 100 mg and 300 mg capsules, which are given by mouth. Gabapentin is also available in a liquid.

However, as mentioned earlier, human liquid gabapentin sometimes contains the toxic sweetener xylitol (birch sugar). If your dog needs liquid gabapentin, your veterinarian will most likely prescribe a compounded version to ensure it does not contain xylitol. 

How long does gabapentin take to work in dogs?

Generally speaking, gabapentin should take effect within 1 to 2 hours of taking it. However, what the dog is taking the gabapentin for will determine how easy it is to notice the effects. It may be very obvious that a previously anxious dog who received gabapentin is more relaxed or even a bit sleepy after an hour or two. On the other hand, in dogs with seizures, you can’t tell if it is working to reduce the seizure frequency until you see how long it is before your dog has another seizure.

Additionally, since the vet will sometimes start at a lower dose or only have you give the gabapentin at night at first for arthritic dogs (more on this in the discussion on side effects), you may not see the full effects right away. It might not be until you reach the intended dose and frequency or the vet increases the dose (if needed) that you can see an improvement in your dog’s comfort level.

How long does gabapentin last in dogs?

Studies in Greyhounds have demonstrated that the half-life of gabapentin is 3.3-3.4 hours. This means that half of the dose is gone from the body in approximately 3.5 hours. However, clinically speaking, gabapentin is effective for 8 to 12 hours. Most or all of the effects should be gone in 24 hours (or a bit longer in dogs with kidney or liver problems).

What are the potential side effects of gabapentin?

When a dog first starts taking it, gabapentin side effects in dogs such as drowsiness, an unsteady gait, or GI upset may occasionally occur. However, the good news is that most dogs adjust within a few days and are back to their usual selves.

Increased sleepiness

Gabapentin can make dogs sedate or sleepy. Sometimes, when initially starting a dog on gabapentin, the vet will recommend only giving it at bedtime. That way, the dog has time to adjust. Chances are your dog would be sleeping then anyway, so a bit of excessive drowsiness isn’t a problem. Then in a few days, once the dog isn’t experiencing drowsiness as a side effect, your vet can have you increase the dosing frequency.

In a small percentage of dogs, the drowsiness persists and remains a problem. If that occurs, your vet may decide to discontinue the gabapentin and switch to a different medication. Depending on how long your dog was on the gabapentin, the vet may recommend decreasing the dose of gabapentin gradually rather than stopping it suddenly. Rapidly withdrawing gabapentin could cause rebound pain or breakthrough seizures.

Unsteady gait

At first, dogs may be wobbly and off balance (ataxic) when taking gabapentin. This can understandably be alarming. But if your dog was walking normally prior to starting the gabapentin, chances are good you are seeing a gabapentin side effect. The unsteadiness should go away in a few days, but if you are worried or your dog seems to be getting worse, contact your vet.

From a safety perspective, the initial ataxia from gabapentin could potentially increase the chances of a dog with poor mobility falling or getting hurt. Thus, your vet may start at a lower dose and work up.

It is also important to keep a close eye on frail or older dogs at home when starting gabapentin. This isn’t to say that they shouldn’t take gabapentin. It is simply something to be aware of so you can take the necessary precautions.

GI upset

Sometimes dogs may have a decreased appetite or mild vomiting or diarrhea when first starting gabapentin. Giving it with a meal can be a good way to decrease GI upset. But if it persists, don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet for advice.

Additional side effects

While less common, other side effects of gabapentin for dogs include agitation or behavior changes, increased appetite and weight gain, or changes in urination. Plus, as with any medication, there is the risk that a dog could have an allergic reaction to gabapentin.

Can gabapentin be given with other medications?

Gabapentin would get a good report from preschool teachers because it is known for “playing well” with other medications. In fact, it may be more effective when used alongside other pain medications! Vets commonly use gabapentin together with tramadol for dogs or NSAIDs like carprofen for dogs to address arthritis pain.

Sometimes a dog may need gabapentin plus another medication that can also potentially cause drowsiness. In this case, your vet may recommend starting at a lower dose to keep your dog from becoming excessively sedated. Then he or she can increase the dose in a few days once your dog has adjusted and is no longer so drowsy. For example, the combination of CBD oil for dogs and gabapentin can cause increased sedation.

If your dog is taking oral antacids like omeprazole for dogs or famotidine, the vet might recommend giving the gabapentin at least two hours after the antacids. This is the case because antacids seem to decrease the absorption of gabapentin.

While these are the main considerations, it is always a good idea to give the vet a list of all medications and supplements your dog is taking. This helps the vet watch out for any potential drug interactions.

Talk to your veterinarian

As you can see, gabapentin can be beneficial in a variety of situations, especially for arthritic senior dogs and anxious dogs. It is safe even for long-term use, effective, and has fewer side effects than many other pain medications. However, what is best for one dog is not always best for another. As always, please talk with your vet about any questions or concerns you have about your dog, and never adjust your dog’s medications on your own.

Has your dog taken gabapentin?

Please comment below.

This post was originally published on May 27, 2021 and updated on November 17, 2025.