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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Gabapentin Side Effects and When You Can Stop Giving It
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Member Since:
17 September 2017
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17 September 2017 - 10:46 am
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Hi, my dog Sasha got her front leg amputated just over 2.5 weeks ago. She was on antibitotics, metacam, tramadol and gabapentin. Now the only thing she remains on is the gabapentin. We have noticed she has had issues going to the bathroom. Seems constipated, and wakes us up multiple times in the night to go outside which is unlike her. We did not really notice her having a problem till a few days ago... And find her stomach usually gurggles and bugs her more in the evening then any other time, which is right after her Gabapentin dose. We were giving it to her 3 times a day originally and now have gone down to two in the last day or two because she hasn't had an episode of phantom limb pain in a week and a half. But we can't help but wonder if that is whats bothering her stomach, because nothing else she eats is out of the normal for her. I am just wondering if anyone has seen something similar with their dog after being on Gabapentin for weeks. I know the vet says its safe for them and has little side effects, but we can't figure out what else may be causing the issue. Thanks in advance! 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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17 September 2017 - 11:12 am
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Hi Sasha and family, welcome. What was the reason for the amputation?

That's a long time out of surgery to experience constipation. I personally haven't heard of a dog expriencing it because of Gabapentin but maybe someone here has gone through that. Usually it's opioids that cause it. I guess the only way to find out is to gradually withdraw it, but do so under your vet's instructions OK? It's not the kind of drug you can stop suddenly.

Just thinking out loud here...what is her water intake like? Any different? And have you tried adding liquids and fiber to her food to see if that helps? Finally, what is her poop like when it does come out? Don't worry about being too graphic here, we're used to it!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet


Member Since:
17 September 2017
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17 September 2017 - 12:14 pm
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Hi thanks for the reply. Sasha's leg was amputated after we had done surgery to fix a broken leg (she was hit by a car) and long story short, we were told it was healing good and it was okay to start increasing her activity. We then took her to the groomers to get her haircut and when she came home her leg did not look right and something she did while at the groomers basically broke the screws holding the plate that was attached to the bone, because apparently her leg was never really healed even though they told us it was (we got a second opinion on everything). So in the end the leg had basically broken even more after all of that and so we opted amputate, because our other option was to do another surgery to fix the broken leg, which we couldn't financially do, and Sasha is an older dog so we knew amputating would be a quicker recovery in a sense, and we were right because she's adjusted super well!

This problem didn't happen until only a few days ago, after her surgery she was fine, so she hasn't had ongoing constipation since then. Its even hard to tell if shes constipated or it is just stomach issues. She does go poop but she does that thing where she goes out in the yard and circles around for minutes trying to poop, sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn't. Her poops look pretty normal in color, but maybe are on the smaller size. She has been drinking a decent amount of water from what I can tell. And we have given her some wet food. I am thinking it is more an upset stomach that makes her keep thinking she needs to go to the bathroom, more then constipation. I just cant figure out what it is from and gabapentin is the only drugs/out of the normal thing she has been consuming. We did call the vet and they said this week we could start narrowing her down to one pill a day so maybe that will help. Was just curious if anyone had a similar problem with their dog a couple weeks after their surgery. 

Durham, NC
Member Since:
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17 September 2017 - 9:30 pm
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Hi there!

Sorry your pup is having tummy trouble. My dog Izzy took Gabapentin for a longggg time - months - and didn't have issues with her tummy.  You might add a small amount of pumpkin (canned, plain - not the pie filling) to her food to increase fiber. You can add a bit daily for anout a week but it's best to use it only occasionally else it will not be as effective. It's totally safe! 

For tummy trouble, you can administer famotidine  (pepcid) but I know the dose is weight dependent. A 50 lb dog can take 20 mg 2x daily without harm or side effects.

Obviously, you'll be weaning her off the Gaba soon so hopefully the problem resolves!

Hope Sasha feels better soon!

Amy & my sweet angel pup, Izzy

Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.

Livermore, CA




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17 September 2017 - 10:15 pm
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Hello and welcome.

I'm sorry about the accident but it's good to hear that Sasha is healing well from her amputation.

Does she get the gaba with food? Has she had any trouble with her poop stance? Usually front amps can squat and keep their balance, but maybe when she tries to go it feels weird?  My Tripug Maggie had to spin before she could poop- and didn't poop after her rear leg amputation until she could spin and keep her balance.

My quad pug Tani was on gaba for more than a year, maybe more than two I don't remember.  It was a permanent part of her treatment for severe arthritis.  She never had any side effects, I don't think it even made her tired. 

Since you are tapering off I hope Sasha's tummy issues resolve!

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Chicago, IL
Member Since:
28 August 2017
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20 September 2017 - 3:28 pm
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Hi there, wanted to tack on to this thread on Gabapentin, to ask a few more questions about side effects....

Roscoe started on Gabapentin about 5 days ago, which was 3 weeks post-op - he had been doing fine with just Rimadyl, but after being up all night and not being able to settle down, the next day our vet prescribed the Gabapentin - 100 mg 2x per day.

The first day on Gabapentin, he was quite sleepy - I was a little concerned, but waited it out. The last few days, he was back to his old self/schedule - eating/peeing/pooping/sleeping as normal.

Today though, Roscoe has been very sleepy, similar to his first day on Gabapentin. Not lethargic, as he does sit up when I call his name (mean mom little-devil)....got up briefly to pee early, but then has been sleeping for 10 hours straight after his morning dose of Gabapentin....

I know drowsiness is a side effect of Gabapentin. Is it sometimes intermittent like this?

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