My Max is 5 days post-op amputation of left front leg due to fibrosarcoma.  He's doing well in all respects except with this sudden onset of sporadic, excessive panting.  Just removed Fentanyl patch last night and he was prescribed Tramadol 50mg 2 tabs 3 times a day as needed.  I contacted vet this a.m. and they said to reduce it to 2 tabs 2x per day.  However, I'm still afraid to give it to him.  He was playful on Sunday, but it also seems like a personality change.  Has anyone out there experienced this with their dogs?   Need some guidance and reassurance here.  Thanks!

Welcome to you and Max. This is the site nobody wants to join but everyone is glad they did!

Many of us have had the experience of our pups not being their usual selves until the stitches are out and the pain meds are done. I think it's better to err on the side of helping w/ the pain, (and enduring the weird side effects a little longer) but it is hard to know how much to give/when to give it since we can't just ask them if they want a pain pill.

Abby really didn't start acting more like her old self until I think around day 10 – 12. She was VERY aloof (not normal) for a good chunk of her recovery period.

Hang in there! Hope Max does well,
Jackie, Abby's mom

Is it pain or is it a side effect?  Boy oh boy we all struggled with that.  I was beside myself, Tate would withdraw and pant for hours.  I just had to ignore it, there was nothing I could do for him and he didn't want anything to do with me anyway.  He was on it for 13 days but he had a hemipelvectomy and had a lot of healing to do.  It was a crummy time, hang in there.