Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all,
Last time I posted in the forums my Opaldog was panting a lot and seemed pretty restless. After consulting with her vet, they gave her another 7 days of the gabepentin and wanted her to be on her tramadol, gabepentin and her metacam for another full week. Opaldog seems to be doing very well as far as pain management
goes, but I'm concerned about weaning her off of her pain medications. I've heard/read conflicting things about the need for weaning dogs off of gabepentin and tramadol both. We've already cut out a small portion of her tramadol (she was getting 1 1/2 tablets 2x daily, now we just d 1 tablet 2x daily). She seems to be responding well to this change and doesn't appear to be in pain. She is sleeping a ton though! I know rest is what she needs to recover, but at 2 weeks post op I'm just hoping she is adjusting well and there aren't more problems we need to be concerned about.
Does anyone have any advice on weaning off of the pain medications? I'm a bit nervous as last time she ran out of gabepentin she was very uncomfortable, restless and stir crazy. I'd like to avoid that again, for her sake.
Thanks!
opaldog said
Does anyone have any advice on weaning off of the pain medications?
Please follow your vet's prescribed directions for reducing or stopping pain medication. If they told you to quit abruptly, ask another vet. Dogs can and do experience withdrawal symptoms.
We are not vets, and can't provide veterinary advice. Members who are vets or vet techs will have the Vet Expert badge beneath their name. Speaking from experience, out vet did have us reduce Jerry's medication a bit at a time over the course of a week or so, a couple days at a time. Details are foggy since that was 8+ years ago, but you can search the forums above for more feedback from members or search all blogs here .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yp...ditto the Admin. Guy!
I can tell you in my Happy Hannah's case, she stayed on her pain meds, at a reduced rate, for three weeks. Every dog's recovery id different. Some ned pain meds longer than two weeks...some less. . Check with your vet about reducing the dosage...or not.
Glad Opal is doing well. Loving her avatar picture...loving it!!
Hugs!
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!
I increased the space between dosages. So you already decrease from 1 1/2 tablets, I would do that for a few days. Then I would probably do 1/2 tablet every 12 hours for a few days. Then depending on how she's doing either go down to 1/2 tablet a day or space them out to every 18 hours for a few days.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
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