Tramadol

[shelee]

Shelee, that seems like an awful lot of medication. My boy Deska had elbow arthritis from the age of 2 years, so by the age of 10 his was quite advanced. I gave him breaks from his NSAID and swapped it out for the pain relief (opiod) on the days he didn't take the NSAID, he later switched to Gabapentin because his pain killer was no longer available. I didn't give a pain killer every day either because they build up a tolerance for opioids and require higher doses for the same level of relief. In fact, recent research in humans has shown the same thing occurs for NSAIDs. Unfortunately when Deska was living with my mother she stopped the Gabapentin and put him back on the NSAID.

The reason I want to mention this is the NSAID gave Deska IBD and he ended up dying from an IBD-related gastrointestinal cancer just shy of 12 yrs old. Most of the medications you mention cause all sorts of gastrointestinal problems. You should talk to your vet about adding a stomach protectorant, esp if you are giving an NSAID twice a day. Consider other options, such as green lipped mussel, pentosan/adequan injections, acupuncture or physiotherapy, swimming, PRP. There is also a new drug on the market which has similar properties to fish oil - Tully's specialist mentioned it last week, and as Ann mentioned there's Galliprant, which is a much newer NSAID type drug which you may find more effective than the combination you are using.

I agree it seems like a lot of meds. When I have tried cutting back on the Carprofen it seems her pain level visibly increases. Esp by evening, she can not seem to get comfortable. She will stretch, move, and moan to finally lay down, just to get up and reposition herself every 15-20 mins. She does not do this when given the full dose of Carprofen, along with the other drugs. I have stopped the Tramadol when the Amantadine was added in. All the things you have mentioned Missy is either still on or has tried except for the PRP, she had tried laser therapy, acupuncture. adequate injections ( for 2 years), fish oil, green lipped mussel and steroid injections. I did have her to a holistic vet that is quite a distance away from me and she has taken her off the Tramadol, but recommended she stay on the all the other pain meds, however added in Ligaplex, Elbophlex and CBD oil.

 

[Caro]

Shelee, is she is on stomach protectorant? If nothing else I'd get her onto to one. Losec is the most common one. My old girl is on daily Losec for the rest of her life (together with a steroid). The specialist advised at a once a day dose it is safe long term. If I needed extra I add in Sucralfate, which is very safe but shorter lived.

 

[shelee]

Shelee, is she is on stomach protectorant? If nothing else I'd get her onto to one. Losec is the most common one. My old girl is on daily Losec for the rest of her life (together with a steroid). The specialist advised at a once a day dose it is safe long term. If I needed extra I add in Sucralfate, which is very safe but shorter lived.

No, she is not on anything to protect her stomach. I will definitely look that up. Thank you for your help.