If you own a dog, you’re likely to find yourself dealing with pain medication for it at some point. Sadly, one out of every five adult dogs in the U.S. is affected by arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation reports. Of course, pain and inflammation can also have other causes, like surgery. At times like these, your vet may prescribe Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to help your dog feel better.

NSAIDS work by blocking the body’s production of prostaglandins, which cause inflammation in response to injury or irritation. There are several of them approved for dogs in the U.S., and the different names they go by can be bewildering, so here’s a list from the Department of Health and Human Services:

* ETOGESIC (etodolac)
* RIMADYL (carprofen)
* METACAM (meloxicam)
* DERAMAXX (deracoxib)
* PREVICOX (firocoxib)
* ZUBRIN (tepoxalin)
* NOVOX (carprofen)

Your vet is likely to use one of these words instead of telling you he’s prescribing an NSAID, so it’s good to be aware of them. As with any prescription, you should take the time to ask the vet what the NSAID is prescribed for, what your dog should avoid while taking it, and what side effects might be.

Side effects, unfortunately, can be an issue. The DHHS says they are mostly mild, but can be serious. You’ll need to stop giving the drug and call your vet if you see any of these symptoms in your dog: Loss of appetite or a change in drinking pattern, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, black waste, a yellow color in the gums, skin, or whites of eyes, or irritation in the skin. It’s probably a good idea to call your vet any time you see one of these symptoms, whether your dog’s on an NSAID or not.

A poster with this information and more is available in pdf here.