Quick Take
- One common side effect of methocarbamol will make you do a double-take in the yard, though it is actually perfectly normal. See the unusual side effects →
- There's a specific type of dog that should never take this medication, even when in serious pain. Find out which dogs can't take it →
- Giving your dog all of their daily dose at once is a mistake, and most people are wrong about what the correct approach actually is. Get the correct dosing approach →
- If your dog overdoses, your instinct to help them could actually make things dangerously worse. See overdose warnings →
Most medication for dogs requires very specific doses. When people need medicine, they can just read the label and take the required number of pills. Of course, it doesn’t always work the same for your pets. Sometimes, they can’t tell you when something feels wrong until they’re showing severe symptoms. For this reason, you should always talk to a vet before you give your dog something, even for pain.
Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant commonly prescribed to dogs, cats, and even horses. Whenever your vet has prescribed a new medication, it’s a good idea to understand what you’re giving your pet and what to look out for. That way, if your dog starts having side effects or symptoms, you know immediately. Your vet will provide you with this information, but this article offers a quick reference so you have some idea of the typical dosage. Learn all about methocarbamol in this article below.
When Do Dogs Need Methocarbamol?
Methocarbamol, commonly known as Robaxin, is used as a skeletal muscle relaxant. It’s often used to help with trauma, myositis, strains, sprains, disc disease, tetanus, some poisonings, and some neurologic disorders.
It’s most often used to treat intervertebral disc disease and traumatic muscle strains. Often, unless the situation is very serious, other medications will be tried before methocarbamol.
Injuries related to muscle strains and sprains can benefit from methocarbamol.
©msgrafixx/Shutterstock.com
Side Effects of Methocarbamol on Dogs
The main side effect you’ll likely see in your dog is sleepiness. Most muscle relaxants cause some sedation or sleepiness. Sometimes, the medication will also lead to unusual urine colors. The urine may simply be a darker yellow than normal, but blue-green urine is also common. These symptoms are perfectly normal and not harmful.
Other side effects are drooling, weakness, and incoordination. If your dog is doing any of these excessively, you may want to talk to your vet. They might be nothing but could be signs that something isn’t working as it should or that your dog is reacting to the medication.
Signs of Methocarbamol Overdose in Dogs
Methocarbamol overdoses are very dangerous. Because methocarbamol affects the central nervous system, the symptoms of an overdose are often readily apparent. The first signs are excessive sedation, slowed or depressed reflexes, stumbling, and the inability to stand. If the symptoms get worse, your dog may end up vomiting, showing signs of weakness, and excess salivation.
Overdoses can also impact your dog’s breathing and heart rate, so it’s important to react quickly. If your dog has taken this medication and shows any of the signs listed above, seek veterinary assistance immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by your vet. Sometimes, vomiting can make the situation worse.
When Is Methocarbamol Not an Option For Your Dog?
Since methocarbamol has the potential to make dogs very sleepy and sedated, it’s not always a good idea to give a working dog this medication. This is especially the case for dogs actively working with someone who has no other alternatives for their safety.
Of course, if a dog has also shown signs of being allergic to the medication in the past, it should never be tried again. Allergies can get serious very quickly, and what has only been a mild reaction before can become life-threatening the next time.
Pregnant dogs can be given methocarbamol, but it should be done with care.
©Nina Buday/Shutterstock.com
While dogs that are pregnant, nursing, or have kidney disease can take methocarbamol, it needs to be used with caution. It’s a good idea to stay on the lower end of the dosage chart and keep a careful eye on the dog in case the medication starts to cause complications.
Additionally, if your dog is on any other medication that depresses the central nervous system, you need to bring this up with your vet before they prescribe methocarbamol. It should never be taken alongside other central nervous system depressants. Your vet will likely take your dog off of the other medication and prescribe methocarbamol instead.
Methocarbamol Dosage
Methocarbamol is primarily available as a tablet. There are two doses to think about when giving your dog methocarbamol. The first is the loading dose. This is the amount you give them on the first day. After that, you drop to the maintenance dose. The load dose begins at 30 mg per pound of body weight divided into two to three daily doses. The maintenance dose is somewhere between 15 to 30 milligrams per pound of body weight divided into two to three daily doses.
For maximum effect, you shouldn’t give your dog all of the medicine at once. It’s instead best to break the daily dosage amount into two or three smaller amounts. For example, if you’re supposed to give your dog 1,800 milligrams for the day, break it up into two 900-milligram doses or three 600-milligram doses for the day. Depending on your chosen method, give the dosage every 12 or every 8 hours.
Methocarbamol is primarily available in tablet form.
©Jus_Ol/Shutterstock.com
Methocarbamol Dosage Chart
| Dog’s Weight in Pounds | Methocarbamol Load Dose | Methocarbamol Maintenance Dose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 5 | 30 to150 milligrams | 15 to 150 milligrams |
| 5 – 10 | 150 to 300 milligrams | 75 to 300 milligrams |
| 10 – 20 | 300 to 600 milligrams | 150 to 600 milligrams |
| 20 – 30 | 600 to 900 milligrams | 300 to 900 milligrams |
| 30 – 40 | 900 to 1200 milligrams | 450 to 1200 milligrams |
| 40 – 50 | 1200 to 1500 milligrams | 600 to 1500 milligrams |
| 50 – 60 | 1500 to 1800 milligrams | 750 to 1800 milligrams |
| 60 – 70 | 1800 to 2100 milligrams | 900 to 2100 milligrams |
| 70 – 80 | 2100 to 2400 milligrams | 1050 to 2400 milligrams |
| 80 – 90 | 2400 to 2700 milligrams | 1200 to 2700 milligrams |
| 90 – 100 | 2700 to 3000 milligrams | 1350 to 3000 milligrams |
How Long to Give Your Dog Methocarbamol
Toxicity studies showed that dogs tolerated this medication at 400 mg/kg per day, split into two doses, five days a week for up to 26 weeks. However, in the original clinical trials, the treatment only ran for around 14 to 21 days at a time.
Although these numbers are based on toxicity studies, it’s best to listen to your own vet above all. Since you can only get this medication from licensed veterinarians, they will go over how much you should give your pet and for how long.
If you pick up your dog’s medicine at a human pharmacy, make sure you are picking up Robaxin, which is methocarbamol alone. Double check the label to ensure that you do not pick up Robaxacet, which is methocarbamol plus acetaminophen. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage in dogs, as well as red blood cell damage at higher doses.
Alternatives to Methocarbamol for Dogs
Most of the similar medications to methocarbamol are also by prescription only. However, methocarbamol is often only given when no other medication has helped. Generally, by the time you reach this option, there aren’t many alternatives left.
Some of the medications your vet may try to prescribe first include cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine. Both are muscle relaxants. Metaxalone and orphenadrine are also options that your vet may try.
