Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Lesty is now 5 days post-amp and is in Tramadol and Gabapentin as well as a Homeopathic regimen prescribed by Dr Loops (who I think is quite well known around here). She is getting long bouts of very heavy panting - up to seven hours at a time, after which she relaxes, exhausted and sleeps soundly. Our vet said that it may be an effect of the Tramadol so we've ceased that but she's going through the same thing now 24 hours since her last Tramadol. Last nigh's session ran from 11:00pm to 6:00am so it's been tiring on the humans too!
She has to raise her head to pant and is constantly looking around until she drops it to her cushion but she can only stay down for 20-30 seconds before having to raise her head and pant again.
Has any one else seen this behavior?
Colin
Hi Colin,
We had the same with our boy Snoop for him it was medication related first to the tramadol, which took a little over 24 hrs to get out of his system. He also experienced with the gabapentin . With both drugs we had elevated respiration tat would last hours into the nite until he was so exhausted and would finally sleep. We took him off both with working with his vet. Talk to your vet maybe there's some other pain med if he still needs them if he's sensitive to these two. Good luck I know how exhausting it is. We all do the first two weeks can be a bit bumpy but it does get better. 
Esther and Snoop
Thanks Ester, that's reassuring. I have seen warnings about not ceasing Gabapentin suddenly so we'll talk to the vet if it continues. Right now she's calm, so we're all heading for an early night!
Colin
Five days out already! Great!
I can only tell you my experiece with Happy Hannah, and goodness knows, every dog is different!
For Happy Hannah, while it may have been partly related to the drugs, for her, it was more related to pain. For her, the panting went side by side with restlessness and whining. And remember, all the hospital drugs should be out of Lesty's system so it could be a combo pain and her med doseage. It's a rdiculous "catch 22"! Restless' panting, whining,...all signs of pain.....also signs of drig reaction!
It seemed to be far worse at night for ner too. I can't remember for sure...I think she started out on Tramadol...and then maybe five, six days out, I added Gabapentin, then, eventually she was just on the Gaba. Happy Hannah needed pain meds for aout three weeks (tapering off)
And I'm pretty certain your vet won't take him off too much too fast! It's a major surgery with real pain, especially for larger dogs!
Now, goodness knows, I'm no vet, but if tapering off the pain meds hasn't changed her symptons, I would think it MAY have ore to do with pain. But, then again, Snoop had adifferent experience! This whole trip is pretty much a crap shoot!
How much does Lesty weigh?
What's his doseage origi ally prescribed by vet?
Hang in there! It does get better! Really! May be lacking sleep though for a little while longer
Give Lesty hugs forus!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Look forward to next update! Thanks for keeping us posted
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Shooter also has/does experience heavy panting. Besides the pain meds, I think a lot was related to phantom limb pain. Now he is affected by the prednisone he has to take every day.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Heavy panting is a very common side effect of Tramadol, unfortunately it can also indicate pain. The drugs, however, can take up to 48 hours to get completely out of the system. Some vets recommend waiting two full days whenever changing a medication regimen. Please keep in mind, we are not vets. Consult yours with any serious concerns and please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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