And by “I”, I mean Becky. Charley’s mom.
Charley had 100 mg Tramadol at 7 a.m. It’s just past 11 a.m. and he’s whimpering/whining with every breath. He’s not due for another dose for at least 4 hours! He wags his tail when I pet him. Stops whining when I talk to him. But otherwise it’s (breathe in), huuuuuuuuuuuhhhh, (breathe in), huuuuuuuuhhhh.
He seems interested in food, as long as it’s nothing related to dog food. I made him 2 eggs this morning and he’ll gladly accept cheese and hot dogs. That causes a break in the whining. But as soon as he’s licked the plate clean, he’s back to whimpering.
I know the vet doesn’t want to totally zonk him out with pain meds, but I hate to hear him in pain. Or maybe he’s depressed. Did you know that I obsessively worry about my human kids like this sometimes?!? I’m such a softie. I wish there was something I could do for him to make him more comfortable and/or happier.
Every day gets a little better, right? Little by little. And in 2-3 weeks, I’ll see a big improvement in his abilities and comfort level. Right? You all have been such a great source of encouragement…. I would literally be pulling my hair out by now if I hadn’t found you!
P.S. Bear with me! I haven’t figured out the “friends” thing yet & I hope to start commenting on your blogs (and forums?) one of these days soon.
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Becky, I know you don’t want to zone him out, but pain management is kinda trial and error. There is no “one size fits all” approach. You might try a half a Tramadol and see how he reacts. It’s common for them to expect people food, so don’t worry about it. And yes, it does get better with time. The first couple weeks are the worst. Just remember that he had MAJOR surgery and it will take time to recover and get his balance back with three legs.
my dog did really well on gabapentin. The tramadol didn’t seem to help his pain and zonked him out way too much. I hope this helps and I hope your baby starts feeling better really soon!
Elizabeth and Sammmy
I don’t think you’re a wuss at all, Becky. It’s hard to see our loved ones in discomfort and it’s natural to want to take away their pain. It’s way easier to deal with my pain instead of my family.
As a mom of three human kids who worried a lot about them when they were growing up (and they’re all adults now and I still sometimes worry about them), I can totally relate.
Charley’s been through a lot but every day will get a little bit better, a little bit easier. Believe it.
Hang in there.
Ginger’s right, pain management is trial and error when you can’t really tell how bad or good we feel. The panting can be a sign of discomfort but it can also be a sign that the meds are doing their job. All you can do is your best, and know that this definitely won’t last forever.
Two weeks is the magic number. Now, not all dogs will recover in two, but “most” do.
Hang in there!