Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi All!
Peyton is now 10 days post op. I've been trying to cut back his meds the past couple days with little success. He doesn't seem overly uncomfortable when I do but he's not a complainer either...have never heard a whine or cry out of him ever. I had cut back his Tramadol from 1 tab 3 x day to 1 tab 2 x day yesterday and he seemed even more listless...withdrawal maybe? But he was definitely reluctant to get up and moved slowly when I finally did coax him up. I also notice he kept standing up and changing positions often yesterday so that's why I was leaning toward pain. I have found him sleeping on the amp side a few times now so that leads me to believe the pain must be improving but he sure is confusing us!!! Help! He continues to eat/drink normally. So right now we are back to:
Tramadol 1 tab 3xday
Gabapentin 100mg 2xday
It's just so hard to tell if it's the meds making him listless and sleepy or pain! Frustrating!!! He goes to have his staples out on Monday and I have to think that they are beginning to be uncomfortable/tugging since they are healing. If anyone has any insight I'd truly appreciate it! I had it in my mind that by the 2 week mark we'd see more improvement than we are but granted we aren't quite there yet!
every tripawd is different!! don't go fretting and worrying, just take a breath and know that peyton is doing his best. if one of us had a limb cut off, we wouldn't be making near the progress he has. the tramadol will make them 'goofy', and such, so know that might be what you're seeing. definitely talk to your vet when you see him monday, or if you are really concerned, don't hesitate to contact them today. that's there job to be there for peyton and you, and they need to stay in the loop during his recovery. sending our best juju and hoping for improvement in the days to come!
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Is Peyton on any NSIAD's? They can be helpful.. Gabapentin can cause a general "stoned" feeling...that's why it's recreational use is so popular! It also can cause significant depression in humans, particularly after longer term use...Wasn't he taking it pre-op? Tramadol can also cause depression. His pain should be improving daily & some dogs just need a little extra push. His post-op pain is much different than what was experienced pre op and should only improve.
I have to disagree about the human response, as a human with an amputation without co-morbidities (which is what most of our dogs experience) would be tapered off controlled substances, at least during the day now. They would be up, moving & participating in active physical therapy, however, most people would lay around & take their drugs if no one told them not to.
The frequent position changes might just be him trying to find his new comfort and readjusting to his body. If he doesn't get up & moving, he is going to become more deconditioned & it will take him longer to regain muscle strength.
Maybe you can start decreasing analgesic frequency & encouraging Peyton to be more active, for short periods, more often. He's going to be fine, but some dogs, like some people need more motivation.
Cynthia
Yes, he was on Gabapentin preop. I've decreased from 200 2xday to 100 2xday. I definitely am going to "encourage" him to be a bit more active and see how he does over the next 24 hours. He most definitely seems depressed. A couple days ago he would willingly follow me around the front yard but this morning I had to put his leash on to get him to come with me. Not sure how to battle that aside from getting him off all the meds.
I also think they get stiff sitting around. I didn't use Tramadol post op, but when I did once for Isabelle's arthritis, she was very depressed.
Good Luck. He will get better!
Good advice Cynthia, thank you.
Come on Peyton, you can get your spunk back, I know it!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bud was on the tramydol three times a day and we were given a 10 day supply. I also cut it back to every 12 hour instead of evey 8 and he did just fine.iI asked about it and the vet said it was fine to do. We were given previcox for an anit-inflammatory. By the time his staples came out, he was off of everything!!!! Until 2 weeks later when he hurt himself. Looks like the previcox may be here to stay....
Gus was really restless and panted alot when he was on tramadol, we had to take him off of it, at that point he was on rimidyl and Gabapentin. I know we all say 2 weeks, but remember to use that as a barometer, but I will say by week three I started seeing some real improvement every day. If you've had anything close to what most people experience after surgery, your probably somewhat sleep deprived by now which doesn't help with having patience at this point. This med thing can mess you up as much as no sleep, your right in calling it a balancing act.If he's laying on the amp side, I can't believe it's hurting him to much. Hopefully you can get it figured out soon, Paws Up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
wow, I am seeing here where most dogs were prescribed 1 tramadol 3x daily. Maddie's Vet has her on 2 tramadol's 3x a day!
That's what I've been giving her because I guess I didn't know that was more than normal. It's amazing that she really isn't having any issues with it. Other than the 1st about 36 hours, when she would just stand around like she was lost!
Now, I know others have mentioned that their tripawds were also taking gabapentin and others remadyl , and she is not on anything except tramadol and keflex. The Keflex is only because she had reactions to her sutures when she was spayed which caused and infection. He was playing it safe.
I gave her tarmadol this morning, simply because I want to make sure she's not in pain while I'm not home to do something about it.
I think I'll not give her anything the rest of the day or tonight and see how she is in the morning. Maybe she doesn't need anything anymore.
sorry if I hijacked your thread....
I hope you get your meds situation worked out for Peyton. Paws crossed for ya'll.
No worries about hijacking LOL!!! Peyton was also on 2 Tramadol 3x day immediately after surgery as well as Gabapentin 200mg 2x day and Rimadyl 2x day. He was on Tramadol 2 tabs 4x day, Gabapentin 200mg 2x day, Rimadyl 2 tabs at night prior to surgery.
So a little update on the rest of our day today. He's had 2 Tramadol (it's almost 7pm here) so far today in addition to his Gabapentin dose this morning. I've "encouraged" (really had to coax him to get up) him out for 2 very short walks today and after the second he had a little more pep in his step. I'm thinking this is more depression than anything else. I'm going to try to go without his morning Gabapentin tomorrow and see how he does without it. Wish us luck...I want nothing more than to see that spark back in his eyes!!!
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