Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Treating suspected nerve pain in three dogs with amitriptyline
By Cashmore, R G et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2009·The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Clinical diagnosis and treatment of suspected neuropathic pain in three dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three dogs with ongoing pain and movement issues were referred to a veterinary hospital after not responding to common pain medications. They underwent thorough examinations and tests, which led to a diagnosis of neuropathic pain, a type of pain that is often overlooked in dogs. Treatment with either amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, or gabapentin, an antiepileptic drug, resulted in significant improvement or complete resolution of their symptoms. All three dogs showed much better mobility and comfort after starting these medications.
People also search for: dog chronic pain treatment · neuropathic pain in dogs · amitriptyline for dogs · gabapentin for dog pain
Abstract
Three dogs were referred to The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital at University of Cambridge for chronic behavioural or locomotor disorders associated with pain. All three had been unsuccessfully treated with conventional analgesics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids and opiate agonists, prior to referral, with minimal or no response. They were investigated by neurological examination plus conventional ancillary diagnostic tests and therapeutic drug trials. Ruling out other causes of pain and applying previously well-described criteria, each case was diagnosed as consistent with neuropathic pain, a poorly recognised condition in domestic dogs. Treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant drug, amitriptyline, or the antiepileptic drug, gabapentin, resulted in either a dramatic improvement or full resolution of clinical signs in all cases.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19178477/