Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Baby doesn't show us her pain and all. No complaints ever. I want to stop the pain meds, but how can I tell when she'll be OK without them? I think they are make her sluggish and 'out of it', and it's been two weeks, so I would really like to cut back. Whaddoyathink?
I would cut them back - go with what you feel you know her best and will know if she is hurting. after two weeks she should be ok. We didn't have much experience with pain meds though so someone else will hopefully chime in with a bit more experience. Kayla thought she was bullet proof on pain meds so we had to cut them out pretty quickly to stop her from injuring herself while she got used too life on 3 legs.
Sarah, Kayla and Sarge.
Ps. good to hear she is doing so well.
Rumbles only exhibited pain symptoms once or twice in the first couple of days home. After that, the pain seemed to be well-managed, but he was really wobbly and seemed so sad.
The vet recommended to slow down the doses three days before "stitches out day". I gave him his last dose just before we left the house for the vet...figured he might be a bit uncomfortable in the car and during stitch removal. After that, he didn't show any signs of pain or discomfort, so we didn't refill the prescription.
But Rumbles is about 1/3 the size of your Baby...so timing would probably vary accordingly. Just a guess.
we stopped after about five days...gayle was on tramadol, and it just made her too 'wacked out'... you probably want to wean baby off, and not stop 'cold turkey'... always worth a call to the vet to make sure, but two weeks seems like quite a bit of dope to us....
charon & spirit 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
I had Maggie weaned off the tram at about the end of the second week. Mag was quite a drama queen so I always knew when she was in pain, and she was fine off all meds at the end of 2 weeks. Mag was restless when on tram, but I felt it was necessary while she healed.
All dogs are different- while Mag didn't tolerate tram that well, quad pug Obie took the same dose of tram for 2 weeks for a serious eye injury and never had any side effects. I stopped him cold without a problem. Quad pug Tani is currently on tram and it makes her sleepy.
I would think at two weeks you could reduce the tram and see how she does. You know her well, you will probably know if she is in pain.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Thanks all - I think I'll start cutting back tonight. Hopefully, she's ready.
Please follow your vet's prescribed treatment plan, but consider what Dr Waldman from CARE told us about pain meds when we asked about giving more than is necessary... stop them for 48 hours and monitor behavior for any signs of distress. If pain is suspected, you could then start the meds again at half the dosage.
Dogs are incredibly adept at hiding their pain, but this doesn't mean they don't hurt. Good luck, please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Since I only give tramadol when the vet makes me feel guilty and I really know for sure there is pain, I thought I'd write a song about hating tramadol:
♪ ♪ Oh Tramadol, Oh Tramadol -
Why do vets think you are so dandy? They hand you out candy...
Tramadol, Oh Tramadol -
You offer very little for pain and you make dogs seem insane...
Oh Tramadol, Oh Tramadol. ♪ ♪
It needs a little more work. But Grey's Anatomy is coming on!
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.
Off topic but is the tramadol for dogs the same as tramadol for humans??
Sorry for going off topic.
Yep!
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.
YIKES - i hope it has a better effect of dogs than it did on me didn't do a thing for pain just made me feel like a completly spaced out idiot.
Wow this discussion is so relevant to me at the moment. My darling Gandalf had his back leg amputated on monday after three months and 5 operations to get his hip/leg reconstruction working. I'm doing 6 hourly tramadol. He's stoic in the extreme and I only know he might be in pain when he gets big pupils. I'm worrying that he did too much today so am keeping it up. I'm thinking of popping it as well, have been feeling completely traumatized...
Is it possible he'd be getting pain from using his other back leg differently?
Sarah and Kayla said:
Off topic but is the tramadol for dogs the same as tramadol for humans??
Sorry for going off topic.
Not off topic at all, no need to apologize.
As the talented lyricist Cometdog said, yep, it's the same. We're not vets but Admin had to pilfer our supply once for bad neck pain (only after a vet told us that it's the same drug for both humans and animals). He says it's not strong like Vicodin, just numbing without making you loopy.
The only side effect he experienced was some incessant barking and drooling. 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
megr said:
Wow this discussion is so relevant to me at the moment. My darling Gandalf had his back leg amputated on monday after three months and 5 operations to get his hip/leg reconstruction working. I'm doing 6 hourly tramadol. He's stoic in the extreme and I only know he might be in pain when he gets big pupils. I'm worrying that he did too much today so am keeping it up. I'm thinking of popping it as well, have been feeling completely traumatized...
Is it possible he'd be getting pain from using his other back leg differently?
Hi Megr, welcome. Be sure to start a new topic so we can learn all about you and Gandalf.
Did you say six pills per hour? 
What is he, an elephant?!
Yes, it is entirely possible he is in pain from using his muscles in new ways. Give it time. Most dogs need a few weeks to recuperate. And even after that they my experience soreness. Be sure to check out our CARE videos for tips about rehab and staying strong.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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