Pet owner resources
Read the information sheet below, then print or download it for reference. Follow the instructions on your pet’s dispensing label and from your veterinary team.
Tramadol
Pet owner information sheet
💊 The most important rule: give this medication exactly as your veterinarian prescribed it — the right dose, at the right times, for the right number of days.
What is this medication for?
- Adjunct/alternative analgesic for post-op or chronic pain; antitussive (dog)
How is it given?
Give exactly as your veterinarian prescribed — never change the dose or stop on your own unless your veterinarian has told you to.
- Extended-release human tablets are not appropriate for dogs (erratic/reduced absorption) — never crush/split ER formulations.
What if I miss a dose?
- Give it as soon as you remember — unless it is almost time for the next dose (then skip the missed one; never double up).
- Call your clinic if you miss more than one dose in a row.
Side effects — what should I watch for?
Effects listed as common in this handout
- Sedation (Most likely, generally well tolerated)
- Dysphoria, mydriasis, vomiting, unpalatability (Reported in ~25% of study cats)
Worth a phone call to your veterinarian
- Any new symptom that worries you.
⚠️ Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic IMMEDIATELY if you notice
- Seizures (Rare, high-dose)
Before starting (or refilling), tell your veterinarian if your pet:
- has or has had: Hypersensitivity to opioids; acetaminophen-combination products contraindicated in cats
- has or has had: Pre-existing seizure disorder; renal/hepatic impairment; other CNS/respiratory depressants; not a controlled substance in US but has human abuse potential
- is pregnant, nursing, or used for breeding
- is taking any other medications, supplements, or flea/tick products, including:
- MAO inhibitors (incl. amitraz, possibly selegiline)
- SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine)
- Tricyclics (clomipramine, amitriptyline)
- Ondansetron
- Quinidine
- Sevoflurane
Storage and handling
Room temperature (25°C, excursions 15–30°C); tight, light-resistant container. Not compatible in same syringe as diazepam, midazolam, and several other injectables (compounded injectable data).
Good to know
- Naloxone only partially reverses tramadol effects and may increase seizure risk in overdose — not a reliable full antidote.
- Extended-release human tablets are not appropriate for dogs (erratic/reduced absorption) — never crush/split ER formulations.
- Efficacy evidence in dogs for chronic/OA pain is inconsistent — best used as part of multimodal analgesia, not as sole agent.
This information sheet is educational and supplements — it does not replace — your veterinarian's individual instructions. Doses are set by your veterinarian based on your pet's weight, health, and other medications.
Questions? Contact: _________________ (clinic) • After-hours emergency: _________________