If you have pets in your family, you probably already know that they’re a lot like we are in some ways. Just like humans, animals can experience happiness, excitement, and joy – and just like humans, they can also suffer from anxiety, depression, and pain. And because of that, they’re often prescribed medications to help treat their ailments, similar to the way humans are.

One main difference between animals and their humans, however, is that our pets can’t tell us when their medications are making them feel sick or unwell. As it turns out, some commonly prescribed veterinary medications carry a whole host of potential side effects.

A black dog looks at the camera

It can be difficult to know when your pet is experiencing side effects from his medications.

Anxiety can manifest in pets as excessive barking; inappropriate urination and defecation; incessant chewing or licking, even to the point of injury; scratching or digging; pacing; or attempts to escape. Does this sound like your pet? If so, your veterinarian may want to prescribe anti-anxiety medications. But it’s important to know that side effects may include:

  • Lethargy

  • heart rate irregularities

  • vomiting,

  • weakness

  • changes in bowel/urinary frequency

  • increased anxiety

Symptoms of depression in pets are strikingly similar to those in humans, and include changes in appetite, lethargy, changes in sleeping patterns, and an overall change in behavior. For these symptoms, antidepressants can be prescribed for animals. However, adverse effects of these medications are similar to those of human versions, and include:

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Hyperexcitability

  • Sedation

  • arrhythmias including tachycardia

  • orthostatic hypotension

  • mydriasis

  • reduced lacrimation and salivation

  • urine retention

  • constipation

  • weight gain

For the management of pain, the world of veterinary care is not immune to the opioid epidemic that is running rampant through the country. A recent study found that “opioid prescriptions for animals are up 41 percent over a 10 year period and that doesn’t correlate to an increased number of patients.” The risks of opioids in animals are just as ominous in our pets as they are in humans. And according to the FDA, even non-opioid pain medications can cause vomiting, decreased appetite, ulcers, kidney and/or liver failure, and death.

A cal eats food

Getting your cat to swallow her medicine can be an enormous challenge – even when you try to sneak it into her food

On top of all that, it can be an epic battle to get your pets to take their medications. Cats might try to scratch or bite; others will refuse to swallow pills or liquids or might find a way to spit them out. As a pet owner, it can be distressing not to know whether your pet has consumed an appropriate dosage of their medication.

Fortunately, there is another way to care for the physical and mental health of your animals. Alpha-Stim® is a fast, safe, and effective treatment for anxiety and depression, as well as acute, post-traumatic, and chronic pain.

Alpha-Stim is not a drug. It is an FDA cleared medical device that uses cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) to restore balance to your pet’s body and mind. Treatments are painless, with the patented Alpha-Stim technology delivered through two Earclip Electrodes. It is this CES treatment that relieves your pet’s anxiety, and depression.

A dog is treated with Alpha-Stim

The Alpha-Stim Smart Probes are applied directly to the site of your animal’s pain

To treat pain, microcurrent electrical therapy (MET) is applied directly to the site of your animal’s pain with two Smart Probes. Treatments are fast and easy, and we offer expert guidance on species-specific protocol. Where drugs may take hours or even days to take effect, pain relief with Alpha-Stim is often immediate.

Unlike with medications, the results of Alpha-Stim are cumulative over time. In other words, your pet will likely need Alpha-Stim less and less as his symptoms improve. With drugs, the opposite is often true: you may need to increase the dosage to maintain its efficacy. Additionally, while many pets will resist swallowing medications, animals tend to respond quite favorably to Alpha-Stim treatments, settling into a calm state for the duration of their treatment and beyond.

If you are searching for a way to treat your pet’s anxiety, depression or pain, but don’t want to turn to prescription drugs, Alpha-Stim is a fast, safe and effective alternative. Backed by decades of experience and over 100 independent clinical research studies, Alpha-Stim is an option you can trust, and your animal will love. Get started today!