Pain Meds & Supplements

With the plethora of pet products available, it can be difficult to make choices for your pet. While CROC does not prescribe medications, our medical team is here to help you understand your options so you can work with your Primary Veterinarian to find what works best for your pup.

The following information regarding these medications and supplements is sourced from our many years of Veterinary Medical education and experience. We have no affiliation with any company that produces the medications or supplements discussed herein.

Prescription Pain Relief

Adequan (Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) 

Adequan is a series of injections that stimulates cartilage healing, slows the progression of osteoarthritis, and decreases pain and inflammation. It begins with an initial series of 8 injections with one injection given every 3-4 days. Once that is complete, many pets can drop down to a maintenance schedule of one injection every 1-6 months. For larger dogs, this can be a costly investment to get started, but we have seen significant improvement for many dogs using this medication. If you have concerns about giving your dog injections, be sure to speak to your veterinarian for options like an in-person demo or having their staff perform the injections for you. You can also speak to the CROC team. 

Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Rimadyl (carprofen), Metacam (meloxicam), Deramaxx (deracoxib), and their generics are Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory medications that can be extremely helpful for managing pain and inflammation and since many generics exist, it can be easier to find one that fits your budget. They can have long term side effects to the liver and kidneys so regular bloodwork is strongly recommended to catch any change in organ function early. They must also be given with food! Some pets don’t tolerate these medications well and can have GI side effects like stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, but these typically resolve when the medication is stopped and sometimes its just a matter of switching to a different NSAID.

It is important to monitor your dog for any signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or dark stools while on these medications.

Some pets REALLY like the taste of the flavored tablets so store these medications with caution, securely out of reach of your pet. These NSAIDs work similarly to human Advil (ibuprofen) but human medications like Advil are extremely dangerous for animals and should never be given to your dog.

Galliprant (grapiprant) 

Galliprant is a newer type of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory that has less side effects than the more widely known NSAIDS listed above. It is reported to have less effects on liver, kidneys, and GI tract and can be safely used alongside a wider selection of other medications. Because it is newer and a more specific medication, it is generally more costly than the above listed NSAIDS that have been around longer. 

Neurontin (gabapentin)

Neurontin is a medication primarily used to treat nerve pain, though it can also help with anxiety. Many pets experience some level of drowsiness when they first start this medication, but they usually become accustomed to it and return to their normal energy level after some time.

Besides temporary sedation when first started, other side effects are extremely rare.

This medication is a good option for pets that cannot tolerate NSAIDS and it can also be used alongside NSAIDS and many other medications. 

Tramadol

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid that has been commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain in dogs. Newer studies on this medication show that it may be less effective than previously thought, with only a small fraction of dogs getting any pain relief from it. Side effects from Tramadol include sedation, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite.

Librela (bedinvetmab) 

Librela is the newest Osteoarthritis treatment in the US; a once monthly injectable medication only for use in dogs. It must be administered by your veterinarian and may take up to 6 weeks for observable results. Librela is a monoclonal antibody (a protein that has been engineered to bind to a single target) that targets Nerve Growth Factor which helps reduce pain caused by Osteoarthritis.

It can be extremely effective for the right patient but can have serious neurological and/or autoimmune side effects.

To learn more, check out our article, A Look at Librela.

Regenaflex K9

We recently became aware of this injectable medication and researched it thoroughly to see if it might be another good option for our patients. The lack of documentation on this product is highly alarming. This medication has not been FDA approved and lacks a non-proprietary drug name which is required for most drugs before they can be introduced to the US market. The manufacturer boasts that Regenaflex K9 can improve healing of a wide variety of conditions because it is made using tissues collected during a horse’s birth (likely umbilical cord and placenta) but there are no peer reviewed studies that prove efficacy or safety. The only study they have published lacks a date of completion/publication, involved just 25 dogs, and was uncontrolled, unblinded, and had very minimal objective assessment.

This means that the placebo effect cannot be ruled out and it is completely unknown if any of the dogs suffered systemic side effects because they did not perform any labwork or imaging before or after injecting their test subjects.

In addition, this study lasted just 60 days, meaning that there was no follow up to confirm that these dogs did not suffer long term side effects. Until it is FDA approved and peer-reviewed evidence of its safety and efficacy is made public, we strongly advise against use of Regenaflex K9.

A Note on Supplements

Unfortunately, supplements are not regulated like medications are, so it can be difficult to choose a quality product. Supplements go to market without FDA oversight and cannot be removed from the market without the FDA proving that they are harmful. The company that makes the supplement is responsible for making sure their product is safe but they do not have to prove that it is effective. Generally speaking, companies that make both medications and supplements are more likely to have their supplement processes up to FDA standards.

One thing you can look for is the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) seal.

To be permitted to use the seal on their product, a supplement company must adhere to NASC’s quality standards, pass random third party testing of their products to confirm they are accurately labeled, and pass a third party audit every two years. NASC does not verify efficacy or evaluate product studies. If you can find a product that has performed a random controlled clinical study, that would be ideal. Bonus points if they have multiple!

It’s also important to keep in mind that supplements are intended to support health and wellness; not treat disease.

Vitamins and supplements do not replace medical treatments or prescription drugs.

If the patient is being fed an AAFCO approved diet that is appropriate for their age and breed, there is often no need for supplementation. In addition, the more supplements that a patient is on, the more likely they are to have an adverse reaction. About 10% of pet poison control cases are related to supplements. Supplements can have negative interactions with other supplements or medications that your pet is on, so you should always consult with your Veterinarian before giving your pet a new supplement. Make sure that you can accurately relay the brand, ingredients, and strength of the supplement so it can be adequately evaluated. 

If you choose to use a supplement intended for humans, you’ll need to be extra wary.

It’s not uncommon for human supplements to include ingredients that would be harmful to a pet.

For example, a dog given a human supplement that has Vitamin D in it can overdose on Vitamin D since human dosage is higher. We often see CBD products, both pet and human products, that have ingredients in them that are extremely toxic to animals like xylitol. 

Our Favorite Supplements 

Joint supplements may be helpful to stimulate cartilage matrix production and inhibit enzymes that break down cartilage. Dasuquin Advanced with Egg Shell Membrane (made by Nutramax) is an excellent daily joint supplement that many of our team members choose to use for their own pets. It includes Chondroitin, Glucosamine, Omega-3 fatty acids, peptides sourced from egg shell membrane, and several herbal extracts all formulated to work together and maximize their impact.

We like that Nutramax is made in the US, performs rigorous testing of all ingredients before they are accepted into their facility, has strict procedures for manufacturing, and frequently tests their products to confirm safety and accuracy.

Dasuquin comes in a tasty, chewy treat, making it an easy addition to your daily routine but you will also need to make sure that it is stored correctly as some dogs like them a little too much and will eat the whole bag!

Fish Oil added to your pet’s meals is another easy addition to help keep joints happy (and it helps their coat too!).

Start with 500-600mg per day, then increase to 1000-1200mg per day.

It is important to start slow with this as some pets may be sensitive and have GI symptoms if started too quickly. We don’t have any specific brand to recommend but you can use the recommendations above to select a quality product.

Myos Canine Muscle Formula is a supplement containing Fortetropin, a natural bioactive supplement made from fertilized egg yolk.

Studies have shown that Fortetropin improves muscle health, reduces muscle loss (atrophy), and promotes muscle growth after surgery or other disease processes.

It has also been shown to help skin, coat, cognitive, and bone health. We like this supplement for senior dogs and those recovering from surgery. As dogs age, they tend to lose muscle mass more quickly and it is more difficult for them to regain muscle. Dogs recovering from surgery typically require exercise restriction (remember that muscle atrophy begins after just 72 hours of inactivity) and they may have already been losing muscle before surgery. For example, if a dog is favoring a limb for weeks or months before surgery. Myos Muscle Formula comes in a powder that is sprinkled on their food and most dogs really enjoy it. It is very rich so if your dog has a sensitive stomach, we recommend starting slowly and working your way up to the recommended dose over several days/weeks. There are anecdotal reports of dogs with chicken allergies being able to tolerate this supplement if started on very low quantities that are slowly increased. While not yet NASC certified, as of October 2025, it is expected to complete the auditing process in 2026. We were able to secure a discount code for CROC patients! Use "CROC20" to get 20% off.

In Summary

While CROC does not prescribe medications, our medical team is here to help you understand your options so you can work with your Primary Veterinarian to find what works best for your pup.

Before using Librela, your dog should be thoroughly evaluated to rule out any neurological or autoimmune conditions as Librela can significantly worsen these conditions and those side effects don’t always reverse when Librela is stopped.

At this time, we strongly advise against the use of Regenaflex K9 because there are no peer-reviewed, controlled studies to prove safety and efficacy. We will continue to monitor this drug and update our recommendation as more information is made public.

Because supplements are not regulated like medications are, it is necessary to research the company and make sure that you are purchasing a safe and effective product. Look for the NASC seal and efficacy studies!

Always discuss new supplements with your Veterinarian before giving them to your dog. The more supplements and medications your pet is on, the more likely they are to experience an adverse reaction.