TRIPAWDS: Home to 22969 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.

JUMP TO FORUMS

Join The Tripawds Community

Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:

Instant post approval.

Private messages to members.

Subscribe to favorite topics.

Live Chat and much more!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
Tramadol....helping or hurting
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Member Since:
30 August 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
30 August 2015 - 11:52 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I'm starting a new topic (just posted following another but will start new here).  Lois is 12 day post surgery.  She is experiencing panting, crying, yelping, etc.  We think this is phantom limb pain.  She is currently taking Meloxidyl and Tramadol.  We did notice she was acting better and more like herself at the end of a dose of Tramadol, right before we gave her the next dose.  This made us wonder if she is reacting to the tramadol.  However, she is clearly in pain, so she needs medication.  I was wondering if anyone had a dog with negative experience with tramadol?  Our vet suggested increasing her dose and see if it helps.  She had been taking 75mg twice a day since surgery.  We reduced to 50mg twice a day a week after surgery and that is when she began these behaviors of being in pain.  So, we will now increase to 100mg twice a day, per the vet, and see what happens.  Anyway, it's so hard to know how to help her.  Also, he incision looks great.  She has also been running a low grade fever since the surgery.  Vet checked and can't find a reason (other than panting).  She finished her antibiotic a few days ago.

thanks,

kim

Maryland
Member Since:
28 March 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
30 August 2015 - 12:23 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi Kim,

Our experience with Tramadol was definitely that it was hurting more than helping. It made Ellie extremely anxious (panting, noise sensitive, unable to settle). So we did take her off completely. Other dogs do seem to tolerate it well though, so it really might be a case of going back up and seeing if that helps or makes things worse. 

Ellie was on Gabapentin, which is often prescribed for nerve pain. Folks usually describe nerve pain as a sudden yelping out of nowhere. We never saw that with Ellie, possibly because she was on Gabapentin even pre-amp (she could not take NSAIDs because of mild kidney issues). 

Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.

Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise

Member Since:
30 August 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
30 August 2015 - 1:14 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Did you wean Ellie off the tramadol, or stop it all at once?  If we could get the Gabapentin, I would stop the Tramadol.  She is just not doing well.  I will call my vet tomorrow.  

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
30 August 2015 - 1:25 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Tramadol made my Shelby extremely anxious (panting, pacing, etc) so we had to get her an  anti-anxiety med. She was also on melaxacom (sp) and that seemed to help her pain. 12 days is still pretty early in the recovery so it is possible that she's in pain and needs something. I didn't deal w/phanton pain, per se, so I can't help there.

I would be concerned about the fever though ... as isn't that usually a sign of an infection? I don't want to alarm you as your vet didn't seen worried but I would double check perhaps... keep us posted. I am sure others will weigh in! 

Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.

October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014

Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
30 August 2015 - 1:34 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I've given tram to all three of my pugs over the years, two tolerate it just fine, one got very anxious on it.

My experience with tram is that you can stop it, but I would not unless you have a substitute since it seems like she is in pain.  I had my old quad pug Tani on gaba and it worked well for her arthritis.  Gabapentin can not be stopped suddenly however, so if you do get it be sure you taper.

Of course talk to your vet about all the meds, I'm not a vet, just sharing my experiences.

 

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

Maryland
Member Since:
28 March 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
30 August 2015 - 1:50 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

kimnorg said
Did you wean Ellie off the tramadol, or stop it all at once?  If we could get the Gabapentin, I would stop the Tramadol.  She is just not doing well.  I will call my vet tomorrow.  

As I recall, we simply stopped because she was in such a state. But by that point she wasn't getting it regularly anyway because we suspected she wasn't tolerating it well. She wasn't yelping or showing any signs of pain though, just the anxiety and panting etc.  

Did Lois start off with something like a Fentanyl (like morphine) patch? I know she's 12 days post-amp so you would have taken it off by now. I think Ellie's stayed on the first 5 days.

I agree about being a bit concerned about the fever too. 

Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise

Member Since:
30 August 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
30 August 2015 - 2:32 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

She did start with the Fentanyl patch and did not tolerate that at all.  Our vet had us remove it 2 days post surgery because she was so altered.  We know because she had the patch 24 hours before the surgery and was just out of her mind so we knew it was not pain or surgery related. 

The fever is also concerning for us.  We are taking it at home to monitor.  The vet saw absolutely no signs of infection in her incision, it's basically healed and couldn't find anything else.  It is a very low grade fever, but she's had it for a week.  The vet seemed to think it was caused by how upset she is whether from pain or the tramadol (the panting and trembling can cause it).  It's just another reason I feel so uncomfortable with the Tramadol, but maybe there is something all of us are missing.

Thanks everyone

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
30 August 2015 - 3:47 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

LOIS, loving your avatar picture and can't wait to see more!

Okay, as you've see just from this post ali e, every dog is differe t and every recovery is different! The frustrating thing is, all the symptoms you are describing sound like pain....AND...reactions to drugs can cause the same darn thing! Crazy, huh?! There is another layer that's more prevelant when there's a reaction to the drug /rather than the pain), and that's a heightened "wackiness"..heightened anxiety, etc.

Specifically relating to Lois, it sounds like it IS pain related though since the symptoms tarted once you REDUCED the Tramadol. I would definitely try your vet's plan for a few days and see if that helps. Lois looks like a good medium size dog so when she was getting 50mg. that wasn't very potent for a dog recovering from major surgery. It's so important to recovery to get the pain managed.

My Happy Hannah needed ro stay on Gabapentin and Tramadol for three weeks, even though the third week I started reduction of some of her pain meds.

Again ,every dog is different!

Hang in there, it does get better!! Lois will be her chipper self in soon!!!

Hugs to all!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

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!

Member Since:
27 May 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
9
30 August 2015 - 4:28 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

kimnorg said
I'm starting a new topic (just posted following another but will start new here).  Lois is 12 day post surgery.  She is experiencing panting, crying, yelping, etc.  We think this is phantom limb pain.  She is currently taking Meloxidyl and Tramadol.  We did notice she was acting better and more like herself at the end of a dose of Tramadol, right before we gave her the next dose.  This made us wonder if she is reacting to the tramadol.  However, she is clearly in pain, so she needs medication.  I was wondering if anyone had a dog with negative experience with tramadol?  Our vet suggested increasing her dose and see if it helps.  She had been taking 75mg twice a day since surgery.  We reduced to 50mg twice a day a week after surgery and that is when she began these behaviors of being in pain.  So, we will now increase to 100mg twice a day, per the vet, and see what happens.  Anyway, it's so hard to know how to help her.  Also, he incision looks great.  She has also been running a low grade fever since the surgery.  Vet checked and can't find a reason (other than panting).  She finished her antibiotic a few days ago.

thanks,

kim

I haven't really sifted through the replies yet, but in my experience, Eva was on Tramadol for 7 months leading up to amputation to help pain she was in that we couldn't find the source of (osteo.... ugh) so she was acting really slow and just, seemed to me like she was still in pain even though i know from reading the signs of pain that wasn't necessarily it so i wonder more now if she hated the meds. But anyway I never noticed a big difference as far as it making her pain better, but her attitude sucked on it and it took about a month after we ended tramadol for her to return to her spunky self.

I'm sure other replies have mentioned asking your vet for gabapentin for the phantom pain , but something we found helped A LOT with Eva and her pain was alprazolam. Yep. Xanax. We would give her half a pill once or twice a day and she just seemed to feel so much better. Acted happy, didnt seem to be painful, wasn't worried about the leg (or the stump, post amp). 

Member Since:
24 August 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10
30 August 2015 - 4:32 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi- I replied on my post but wanted to share here too! 
so we did increase our Chester's Tramadol from 25mg 3 times a day to 50 mg 3 times a day. The yelping and shaking stopped within a day. We are 9 days post front amputation and have decreased the tramadol as of yesterday back to 25 mg 3 times a day. He is getting his staples out tomorrow!!! Oh he weigh(Ed?) pre surgery 31.5 lbs if that helps.

He is doing well and very comfortable! He seems to be almost limping still on his rear leg same side amputated. I'm trying not to freak out thinking it may be some other issue but just him learning to adjust. I imagine we may end up in PT and chiro. He is also still on Gabapentin and Rimadyl and an antibiotic.

I'd say more meds now is better from just going through this. Maybe try and spread out to 3 times a day, every 8 hours to ensure continuous meds.

Good luck and keep us updated! I am sure things will improve!

Member Since:
30 August 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
11
31 August 2015 - 5:26 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thanks for everyone's reply, it's nice to know I'm not going through it alone!  Just for the info, Lois is currently 62 lbs.  We did increase her Tramadol to 100mg twice a day.  This seems to be helping the trembling, yelping and crying out.  I might say she could use even more.  It does make her a little weird, so we are still weighing things.  The good news is that her fever was gone last night, totally normal.  This could be because the pain is reduced and she is not in such discomfort.  I do think she would benefit from spreading the doses out so I may just confirm that with my vet and then try that.  So, progress is being made, but we are still struggling.  I can't wait to have Lois feel better and come back to her regular happy self.  Also, we see the Vet on Wednesday for stitches to be removed.

 

Kim

pennsylvania
Member Since:
4 August 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
12
31 August 2015 - 7:52 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi Kim! My dog Murphy had a very similar experience (the panting, pacing, yelping), and they recommended upping the Tramadol dosage, which for us didn't work. It was then that they prescribed Gabapentin, and that made all the difference! All of the panting, yelping, etc. went away! It made me wish I would have gotten it for him right from the start. Best of luck to you and Lois! 

Murphy, became a tripawd on August 17, 2015. Went to the rainbow bridge on July 5, 2016.

http://www.inst.....hythedingo

Member Since:
30 August 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
13
31 August 2015 - 8:22 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

murphythedingo said
Hi Kim! My dog Murphy had a very similar experience (the panting, pacing, yelping), and they recommended upping the Tramadol dosage, which for us didn't work. It was then that they prescribed Gabapentin, and that made all the difference! All of the panting, yelping, etc. went away! It made me wish I would have gotten it for him right from the start. Best of luck to you and Lois! 

Thanks for your story.  Called the Vet and they gave us the Gabapentin, just need to go pick it up.  Hope this will help!

thanks

Kim

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
14
31 August 2015 - 10:46 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Glad the upping of the Tram helped and glad you're gonna add Gaba to the mix. I am a HUGE baby when it comes ro pain, HUGE! Just the fact that his fever has gone down once his pain level was taken down a notch makes everybody feel better!

For three weeks I was second guessing my decision with my Happy Hannah. I could not believe I nad done this TO my dog. But once her sparkle came back even brighter than before, I knew I had done it FOR her!! You will know that too!!

I think I can see some of her sparkle starting to come back now. Is that a tail wagging I hear?

Hang in there! You're doing great!

Love,

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

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!

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 179
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17731
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256797
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG