I can't remember the dog person here, but I have a question about Tramadol and Collie

[Gimpy]

I have an elderly collie who has hip dysplasia and arthritis. The vet added 1 and 1/2 Tramadol 2x daily, as needed to help her out. I can't find anything about giving this to canines and I want to know if it is safe and if there are any side effects. Hubby took her to the vet so I wasn't there to ask the questions or remember the answers. :rolleyes:

Thanks in advance,

Linda

[Nana4&cntn]

Hi Linda,

I had a very large Golden Retriever years ago, he had horrible hip dysplasia, I remember I gave him a prescription strength anti inflamatory. I also had it filled at the human pharmacy as it was cheaper. I do know dogs have different metabolisms than humans. A friend of mines Doberman takes 5x the human dose of one of her meds. To be on the safe side, call your vet tomorrow and ask.
Sorry to hear of you puppy feel bad, I hope the meds work for him.

Take care,
Kathy

[Gimpy]

Kathy, thanks for the idea of paying for it at the "human" pharmacy :) I hadn't thought of that. Sometimes, I know people meds are cheaper for animals, I didn't think it would be visa versa.

My collie will be 12 years old and has a lot of arthritis and her hips are getting really bad. She still wants to play but if we do and she backs up her hips go out and then she "yells" at me like I did it. The tramadol (ultram) seems to help, but makes her a little sleepy. I think I will decrease her dose just a bit and see if it helps. We don't have to give it to her all the time, just when she's limping badly and we can tell she's in pain. She takes Duramax for the arthritis. I wish I could get that cheaper too!

Linda

[shotspine]

Hi Gimpy..
Sorry about your doggie. The guy you are looking for is Troy Jones, posts under jtroy. His email addy is tjandfon@hotmail.com.

I have a Siberian Husky that turned 12 on Jan 4th and I'm so afraid stuff is going to start happening to him and I won't be able to afford it. So far, so good. There has been only a couple of times when he yelped jumping off the bed or out of my jeep and aspirin for a day or two was all it took. He has been on human grade dog food all his life and it has glucosimine and chrondroitin in it, plus lots of other good stuff. I don't know if that is why he hasn't had any real problems. It might be worth trying some OTC arthritis meds along with the pain meds. I know our resident Doc uses fentynal patches when needed, so human meds is certainly on his menu of care.


Sadly, because I can't even walk him, let alone run him, he gets little to no excercise. It breaks my heart. He seems to do his own little excerices along the living room floor and on the bed. No neat bed for me:(.

Hope the tramadol helps ALOT. It's awful to say but I always feel worse for pets than humans, guess cuz they are so helpless. Although, we all have our times of feeling helpless... I'm there right now.

ss

[Gimpy]

Hope the tramadol helps ALOT. It's awful to say but I always feel worse for pets than humans, ss

I completely understand that statement! My dog is my baby and a piece of me will die when she does. My kids want me to get another dog now so it will be easier on me, they can't possibly understand. You don't just replace a love, be it your animal or child, with another one to make you forget about that love. Eventually it's possible. I suppose it would be easier for humans to do that by having another child, that love is strong. This dog has grown up with my kids and I can't just automatically love another one. I don't think I will let my heart get broken again like it's going to when she dies. I already cry when I think about it. Isn't that horrible? But, I can't help it. They are so helpless and once "domesticated" they do depend on us for everything. I don't understand how people abandon their pets or just leave them outside without any interaction. That's just cruel.

WOW, got a little side tracked didn't I? :o

Linda

[Nana4&cntn]

Gimpy,

I do understand completely. I had to put Dugan down during a time my kids were out of town, they weren't due back for another 4 weeks. I tried to keep him going but it became a matter of quality of life. They were upset and then saw how upset I was and wanted me to get another puppy. I refused and to this day I do not have another dog. Today I actually put in a request at the local humane society for a schnauser. I am no longer able to take a large dog for the walks they need. It wouldn't be fair. I could still do it with duggie as he had slowed down so much.

Please take care and know you are doing what you need to do.
Kathy

[Gimpy]

Gimpy,

I do understand completely. I had to put Dugan down during a time my kids were out of town, they weren't due back for another 4 weeks. I tried to keep him going but it became a matter of quality of life. They were upset and then saw how upset I was and wanted me to get another puppy. I refused and to this day I do not have another dog. Today I actually put in a request at the local humane society for a schnauser. I am d=no longer able to take a large dog for the walks they need. It wouldn't be fair. I could still do it with duggie as he had slowed down so much.

Please take care and know you are doing what you need to do.
Kathy

Thanks Kathy, at least I know my feelings are normal and I'm not just wacked out about my dog :D

Linda

[Nana4&cntn]

Linda,

You are definitely not goofy. You have a loving heart and want what is best for your best friend. I hope the vet has the dosage for you, I believe they can call it into the people pharmacy.

Hope you both are doing well,
Kathy

[Kathi49]

Gimpy,

You are not wacked out about your dog at all. I did my best to keep my own alive but like Kathy it was consideration of quality of life. Towards the last I was syringe feeding him and he was emaciated. I am not so sure he would have made it through Chemo. And according to my niece, he probably wouldn't have. And I have to admit I did the opposite, we (my husband and I) immediately went and got another pup and then a second one. I asked my Vet about this because I thought I might be nuts. But he told me everyone is different; some don't get another dog right away and some do. Keep in mind I KNEW that these two new pups would NOT replace the other one. No pup could ever replace him. And I still miss him. I will just say for now that my husband was absolutely beside himself...worse than me and that is saying a lot. Neither one of us could stand the house being so eerily quiet. We do have an older female and I wanted to take her into consideration as well...before we bought another pup. But she was grieving too...right along with us. Anyway, before we made the trip to get the new pup I told my husband over and over again...don't do this simply because you want to replace the one we lost. I had to tell myself the same thing. But I am glad we did...others might feel differently. I think it is all truly a personal choice. There is just no easy answer...I would just do what you feel in your heart. And one more thing...it got to me when you said they just can't tell you how they feel. That was the most hurtful part for me. I would see him tremble and I knew it was from pain. Anyway, I could write a book about this whole experience. But you are right...I can't watch the ASPCA shows anymore...it tears me up how people treat their pets.

[Mark N]

I haven't said anything because it is so hard but this Sun day I will be giving my best pal to my sister because I can't care for him the way I should. I have known this time would come but I wasn't wanting to admit it. Four years ago my best buddy [both dogs are Golden Retrievers] died and it was a terrible thing to go through and I know this won't be easy. Having the flu really hit home that there are days I can't even let him outside when he needs to go without my son being here. I could delay losing him for a couple of years but he still wouldn't be running and having fun the way he should.

Linda and Kathy, I am another one that feels like a love is gone when my Goldens die or leave. I haven't really felt that way about a dog until General [my first Golden] was given to me by my state champion football team. He was such a people dog that he became a part of our family. Trooper [my current Golden] was supposed to be my daughter's dog but it didn't work out for her to take him to college and he has always kind of gravitated towards me. I just hate to see him overweight and not getting the exercise he needs when he can be with a family of three kids that will love him and my sister needs a dog to run with her in the neighborhood. I know it is the right thing to do and that is making it a bit easier.

[Kathi49]

Mark I feel bad for you and I know we have discussed this. But I believe you are doing the right thing. I know my words don't make it any easier; but I hope you can see Trooper from time to time. And just knowing that your sister will be caring for him will hopefully make the transition easier. Hugs.

[mainepain]

Mark. I can SO relate to how you are feeling (Well I think I can) I too grew up with having Golden Retrievers. They truly are wonderful friends. Not a day goes by that I don't think about them. My last one has been gone now for about 11 years and I still grieve over losing her. She had Lymphoma. We did everything we could for her. Took her to Tufts University's Animal Hospital Grafton, MA for chemo and she did amazingly well, for awhile. We would always stop and get her a McDonald's cheeseburger on the ride home (Vet's Orders :D)

Then she just went down hill. So we decided to put her down and spare her the agony as a 2nd round of chemo was just not in the cards.

I really, really would like to get another dog but unfortunately my living arrangement prevent me from doing so. :( Perhaps someday when I can buy a house I will be able to have another puppy.

It isn't all bad though as I do have two wonderful cats. These guys are amazing and when they go I will be heartbroken.

I often wondered if it was normal for me to be so attached to my animals but I now see that it is and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Kathi: I know what you mean about Animal Cops or Animal Hospital type shows they make me very upset when I see how some of these poor creatures can be treated so badly. I have a hard time watching as well

[shotspine]

((((((((((((((Mark))))))))))))))

You were the first thing on my mind when I opened my eyes this morning. I'm grieving for you, even though I'm sure you are being a real "Trooper" about this. How far away does your sister live from you?

ss

[Nana4&cntn]

Mark, Thinking of you all day today.

Kathy

[jtroy]

I just noticed your thread....sorry I haven't been "here" in a couple days....12 yrs old with hip dysplasia...that's really good especially for a Collie.

By now I guess you've had plenty of time to see how Tramadol will work. If he is on Duramax (and you can actually afford it) that's great. I have recommended dosages for Celebrex in the past...there is a generic available and it actually is quite cheaper compared to Duramax.

Luckily Tramadol is also available in generic form. At the dosage he is on I'm actually surprised you saw that much sedation. I can tell you that we are seeing dogs really tolerating Tramadol very well and over time they will reach a peak plasma concentration which allows them to "tolerate" the side effects....sedation being the one we see you guys disliking the most.

If you would like to think about changing his Cox 2 inhibitor up to something cheaper just let me know and I can give the you the info to take to your vet. Unfortunately I cannot call it in for you and as I've said in the past I don't charge money in any form and will never refer you to a collegue without there being some reduction in fees and what not. I am seeing more and more some of my collegues wanting to charge clients for faxing or calling in scripts....the thing is that is just what we have to become used to now. Folks need the meds for the pooches but cannot afford them in the veterinary clinic....anyway, rambling.

Feel free to email me at: tjandfon@hotmail.com I would be happy to help you with any questions or issues you ahve.

Regards,

T. Jones, DVM