Nolotil is a well-known drug in human medicine that is used to alleviate pain and reduce fever Therefore, in this article on our site, we will talk about Nolotil for dogs, its uses, dosage and side effects and contraindications in dogs.
The first thing is to be clear that, although we have Nolotil in our home medicine cabinet, we cannot give it to our dog if it has not been prescribed by a veterinarian. Even in this case, we must follow the guidelines indicated by this professional regarding its dosage and administration schedule.
What is Nolotil for dogs?
Nolotil is a pyrazolone, which forms a group of drugs that, above all, serve to treat pain and reduce fever It is classified as a non-opioid analgesic. Its active ingredient is metamizole, also called dipyrone or novalgin. This active ingredient can be presented as magnesium or sodium metamizole and is metabolized in the liver. In any case, these are the properties of Nolotil in dogs:
- Analgesic.
- Anti-inflammatory (slightly).
- Antipyretic.
- Antispasmodic.
The truth is that in veterinary medicine there are a good number of drugs with the same effects as Nolotil and specially formulated and studied for dogs. Its use is usually privileged over Nolotil, which is not so prescribed, in general, for dogs, because it is possible to choose other effective and safe medications
If you are thinking of giving your dog a medication without consulting your vet first, we recommend you first read this other article about 10 prohibited medications for dogs.
Uses of Nolotil for dogs
Nolotil is used to treat acute pain of moderate intensity or, in certain cases, the fever, especially when other drugs have not worked. Parenterally or injectable, it can also be used for severe acute pain or colic. It is more effective for visceral pain and pain of cancer origin. The assessment of the type of pain that the dog is experiencing can only be done by the veterinarianaccording to her experience and observation, since the dog cannot explain it to us directly how you feel. Therefore, the appropriateness of the use of Nolotil remains in the hands of this professional.
In addition, metamizol is part of the preanesthetic medication in which the dog is given drugs to anticipate the pain that is going to occur. cause programmed damage such as that entailed by a surgical intervention. It would be a preventive analgesia in which, on a regular basis, the action of various drugs such as opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, local anesthetics, benzodiazepines, etc. is combined. This type of analgesia allows a smaller amount of anesthesia to be used during the operation and, also, less drugs during the postoperative period.
If you are thinking of giving your dog Nolotil for its anti-inflammatory properties, maybe this other article on natural anti-inflammatories for dogs will also help you.
Dose of Nolotil for dogs
Because of the uses we have explained, Nolotil is usually administered only by the veterinarian intramuscularly, subcutaneously or intravenously. The dose and administration schedule will depend on the reason for your prescription.
- Single dose: When used in combination with other drugs prior to surgery, it is given as a single dose, which is usually 25 to 35 mg per kg of weight.
- One to three doses: Can also be dispensed one to three times a day with doses between 30 and 50 mg, if is every 12-24 hours, or 25 mg per kg if given every 8 hours.
- Orally: Finally, it is possible to offer it orally, in doses of 0, 1 to 1 ml every 10 weight kg.
First of all, we insist that only the veterinarian can use and prescribe this medicine. Another medication that dogs can take, but always under veterinary supervision, is Diclofenac for dogs - Dosage and uses.
Contraindications and side effects of Nolotil for dogs
To avoid frights with the use of Nolotil, we can only give it to the dog if the veterinarian recommends it and always according to the guideline that this tells us. An overdose of this drug can cause episodes of seizures.
In general, metamizole in dogs is not recommended in the following cases:
- Chronic gastrointestinal disorders.
- Liver or kidney problems.
- During pregnancy.
- During lactation period.
On the other hand, it should be administered with caution in older dogs or dogs with heart problems. Nolotil injection can irritate the inoculation site.
If you suspect that your dog is pregnant, you can consult this other article on Symptoms of a pregnant dog.