Metamizole is a drug with analgesic, antipyretic and antispasmodic effect, which is widely used in both human and veterinary medicine. Currently, the only veterinary drug that contains this active ingredient is in the form of an injectable solution. However, there are other formulations intended for use in people that may also be prescribed by your veterinarian when he deems it appropriate.
If you want to know more about metamizole for dogs, don't miss the following article on our site in which we talk about its dose, what it is for and side effects.
What is metamizol for dogs?
Metamizole or metamizole sodium is a drug belonging to the group of pyrazolone derivatives used as an agentanalgesic, antipyretic and spasmolytic.
Now, can metamizole sodium be given to a dog? The answer is yes, but always under veterinary advice. In fact, metamizol is the active ingredient of the famous "Nolotil", commonly used in human medicine to treat moderate or severe pain and to control episodes of fever refractory to other medications. However, there are specific veterinary medicinal products that also include metamizole as the active ingredient. To be exact, metamizole sodium in dogs is available in the form of an injectable solution
Like any other drug, metamizole must be prescribed by a veterinarian. In addition, as it requires parenteral administration (intravenous or intramuscular), it must also be administered by a veterinarian or veterinary assistant.
What is metamizol used for in dogs?
As we have anticipated in the previous section, metamizol has three fundamental effects: analgesic, antipyretic and spasmolytic. Next, we will explain each of these effects and we will see in which situations their administration can be beneficial.
Analgesic effect
Metamizole is a drug with an analgesic effect that is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. This effect is produced thanks to the strong blockade of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase (COX-3) and the activation of the opioid and cannabinoid systems.
Its analgesic effect allows this drug to be used within multimodal analgesia, which consists of the simultaneous use of different classes of analgesics that they act on different receptors and transmission pathways, with the aim of providing better pain control. Specifically, metamizole sodium in dogs can be combined with NSAIDs and opioids, thus allowing the dose of each drug to be reduced, and therefore its side effects. In addition, it has been shown to have a synergistic effect with other pain relievers, such as morphine or ketoprofen.
In particular, metamizol is used to control:
- Visceral pain: especially colic pain.
- Cancer pain.
- Postoperative pain.
- Pain associated with the musculoskeletal system: such as, for example, pain associated with arthritis, rheumatic conditions, neuralgia or low back pain.
A noteworthy point about metamizol is that its action does not involve blocking the production of prostaglandins, so it does not produce the typical adverse effects of NSAIDs (such as gastrointestinal ulcers or kidney failure). Therefore, it can be considered a good alternative for those patients in whom the use of NSAIDs is contraindicated.
Antipyretic effect
Metamizole also has an antipyretic effect, that is, it reduces fever Although the antipyretic mechanism of action is not well defined, there is evidence showing that this effect occurs through pathways independent of prostaglandin blockade.
In general, metamizole can be used in any febrile episode, especially in cases that are refractory to other antipyretic drugs.
Spasmolytic or antispasmodic effect
Last, but not least, metamizol in dogs has a spasmolytic or antispasmodic effect, which means that it relaxes the smooth muscles in the digestive tract, urinary tract, biliary etc. This antispasmodic effect is explained by the decrease in inositol phosphate synthesis, which produces a reduction in intracellular calcium release.
Due to its antispasmodic properties, metamizol is often used in dogs with gastrointestinal, biliary or urinary colic.
Dosage of metamizole for dogs
Currently, metamizole for dogs is only available as solution for injection for intravenous or intramuscular administration.
The dose of metamizole for dogs should be 20 to 50 mg of metamizole sodium per kilogram of body weightThis dose can be administered either slowly intravenously or deep intramuscularly, but not subcutaneously as local irritation may occur.
Overdose of metamizole sodium in dogs
Cases of metamizole sodium overdose in dogs have been reported at very high doses, from 1,000 to 4,000 mg/kg body weight. Metamizol poisoning in dogs affects the central nervous system, causing nervous signs such as sedation and seizures. In cases of overdose, it will be necessary to establish supportive treatment and control the convulsive crisis with intravenous diazepam.
Side effects of metamizole in dogs
Although cases of leukopenia, agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia have been reported in people due to the use of metamizol, in veterinary medicine there are no reports on the presence of these or other hematological toxic effects caused by metamizol. In fact, the data sheet for metamizol does not describe any adverse reaction associated with the use of this drug.
Contraindications of metamizol in dogs
Despite the fact that metamizole is a fairly safe drug, there are certain situations in which its administration can be counterproductive. Specifically, metamizole sodium in dogs is contraindicated in the following cases:
- Allergy or hypersensitivity to metamizol or to any excipient that accompanies the active ingredient.
- Heart failure, Hepatic orrenal.
- Gastric or intestinal ulcer.
It should be noted that studies in experimental animals have not shown that metamizole produces teratogenic or toxic effects on foetuses. However, it is recommended to use it with caution in pregnant and lactating bitches since more evidence is required to prove the safety of the drug in these stages.
