Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey all,
I'm curious, how many of you have to give regular doses of NSAID's to keep your dogs from getting sore from exercise? If they get too much, do you just give it when necessary? Or do you give routinely?
Maggie seems to have to have it at least once a week...based on the exercise she gets. Just wondering if she's unique in this situation or not? Because she does have a calclified disc in her lumbar region, so not sure if that is playing a part too...but I NEVER had to give NSAID's before being amputated...
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Rimadyl, every day over here. Comet won't hardly get up all day otherwise.
But prior the disc infection of the neck that started last May, we only gave one on the weekends. Keep in mind, that she's had 2 TPLO's and is over 11 years old.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Hi Maggie,
I used Rimadyl for Raven pretty regularly per the vet for his limp--before we knew what it was causing it. He was getting older and assumed arthitis. But, after his liver was discovered to be compromised, we used others that didn't filter so much through the liver. And, in retrospect, he did well on Tramadol and I would have used that more instead, to prevent any tummy issues.
Dawn
Rottie Raven, osteosarcoma at 8-1/2 years old, amputation in October '09 and in February '10 due to liver mets he went back to heaven where he came from. raven.tripawds.com
Now I have Miles, rottie mix amputee from a shelter and traveled 1500 miles to find his way here through the Rescue Railroad thanks to tripawds.com. miles.tripawds.com
We took Jerry off Rimadyl within a couple days after noticing rather serious gastrointestinal side effects. We switched him to Metacam as part of his metronomic protocol, and he stayed on that every day for more than a year with no problems.
FYI: Here's an old post with links to some important information about adverse reactions to long term NSAID use in some dogs:
Ask A Vet!
Breed-Specific NSAID Reactions?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I use Deramaxx on Maggie.... but she was on Tramadol (and Gabapentin) BEFORE amputation for tumor pain... but I don't think Tramadol works in the same fashion? I still have lots of that left...maybe I'll give that a whirl before Derramaxx as believe Tramadol is safer...?
But I was just curious if it seems all Tripawds seem to need some sort of pain relief for overexertion? It seems just the act of standing up for too long makes Maggie weak(and maybe sore? - she can't speak english to me so I am only guessing!)
I'm just not used to giving her pain meds up until this stupid "C" came along!!!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
PS...just tried your link for NSAID reactions....it's not coming up...
Tracy
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
I give Trouble tramadol when she seems to be achy or just slower than normal getting up and around. Rimadyl worked great for her but elevated the liver enzymes so we opted to take her off them for now and maybe use them later if nothing else works well for her and she needs ongoing medication.
Starting her on the glucosamine helped a lot.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
maggie said:
…just tried your link for NSAID reactions….it's not coming up…
D'oh! Thanks for catching that. We just fixed the link for Breed-Specific NSAID Reactions.
It is our understanding that Tramdol works more like a narcotic pain killer, whereas the NSAIDs are anti-inflamatory medication. Neither Derramax nor Rimadyl worked well for Jerry, but Metacam (Meloxicam) did wonders. Peroxicam is another popular NSAID with few reports of adverse reactions. That fixed link includes more information from the Pet Pharmacy Library of Medications.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The "Breed-Specific NSAID Reactions" link still didn't work for me.
Harley had severe, severe reactions to Rimadyl after 3 days on it. So, we don't use it. (This is just our experience with it. Yes, I realize most dogs do just fine on it. I would make sure to do blood tests while on it … and check waste for signs of blood.)
I have upped his Dasuquin w/ MSM to two pills a day since amputation, that seems to help him.
-Gwen & Harley
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
Sooo…do all of your dogs require regular use of a pain med/nsaid after amputation? Due TO the amputation/weakness of only having three legs now?
I am just curious…….cause Maggie was never on pain meds of any sort BEFORE the "C" word and amputation.
She is on a joint product (Glycoflex III)…has been on various one's for many years as she's a retired agility dog….I haven't found any to be THE key for her unfortunately…(and she was even getting Adequan shots after amputation but didn't notice any difference there either).
Maybe what Maggie's issue is purely muscular soreness and has nothing to do w/ joints… It seems you all are addressing joints/arthritis?
Tracy, maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Hopalong Harley said:
The "Breed-Specific NSAID Reactions" link still didn't work for me.
OK. We've fixed all the links to that Breed-Specific NSAID Reactions topic, for good this time! Amazing how a simple missing ".com" can illustrate the perils of cut and paste. 
Thanks again.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry, I guess I didn't address your question. Oops.
Harley was put on Rimadyl before amputation, when we thought his limping was due to an injury, not cancer. He does not take any type of NSAID now, after amputation. There are days he does seem a little sore after he over does it, but we don't give him anything for it (after he almost died from Rimadyl, I'm very hesitant to give him anything). I definitely think he is weaker/gets sore more now that he is a tripawd (which is why I upped his Dasuquin w/MSM to two pills a day, which really has seemed to help him).
Harley's xrays have never showed signs of arthritis. We give Dasuquin w/ MSM to maintain joint health, but MSM is also supposed to help with muscle soreness/inflammation (among a list of other things they claim). Not sure if your brand includes MSM … but maybe try some or ask your vet about it? No idea if it actually works or not, but it doesn't seem to have side effects, which is why we switched from regular Dasuquin to Dasuquin w/ MSM.
I hope I answered your question.
-Gwen & Harley
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
NSAIDS work on all inflammation. Muscles will get inflamed, too (spasm = stiffness) Tramadol is a non-opium type pain killer - which keeps the signal of pain from reaching the brain. Tramadol doesn't do anything to help the actual pain site. Once the Tramadol has worn off the pain is still there if there is inflammation.
I know this first hand. Have had a pinched nerve for 10 weeks that ratiates thru the left shoulder and arm. Lots and lots of Motrin helped more than pain killers because it calmed the inflammation. Mega narcotic pain killers only made me not care about the pain. As soon as it wore off, I cared again!
Keep in mind, I'm not a doctor, I only play one in real life and on forums!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I think the forum could use some Rimadyl! It's moving awfully slow today!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Thanks Gwen....getting to my questions now with your answers 😉 So, my Maggie isn't alone then...
Yes, my joint production for Maggie does have MSM in it...1,000 mgs... And I have her on the highest loading dose..and have kept her there. There may be some other 'wonder product' out there I haven't hit yet...but I've tried several...Dasuquin as well. I chose Glycoflex cause it has soooo many things in it...it seemed to cover alot in their ingredients.
Thanks Cometdog for your education on Tramadol 😉 I had read these things before but had forgotten..
Tracy, maggie's mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
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