My dog’s tail-docking wound is inflamed and the string and wire are painful; is there a painkilling drug that produces an anesthesia-like effect?
Expert Answer
Hello. There is no oral anesthetic that can reliably relieve your dog’s pain; injectable anesthetics also cannot be given by mouth, because oral absorption through the gut and into the blood and nervous system loses effectiveness, so the anesthetic effect cannot be guaranteed. Surgical anesthetics are given by intravenous injection at a hospital and are prescription-controlled drugs.
It is best to take the dog to a hospital promptly, where a professional can sedate and anesthetize it to remove the string and wire, then cut away and suture the traumatized, necrotic tissue at the docking site, followed by pain relief and anti-inflammatory care.
If a hospital is truly impossible, you may give a pet non-steroidal painkiller such as meloxicam tablets about 2-3 hours before removing the string and wire. It will not anesthetize but can reduce some pain.