Thumper 9/10 - Tramadol question

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Barbara

Barbara

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Well, her numbers are not any better today but I decided to try the Tramadol tonight. I don't think I like the way she's acting on it though. She does seem to be walking better but she's hanging out at the food bowl & a little bit ago when there was no food in the bowl she was hanging over the water bowl. I don't like that at all. I think I've read not so good things before when people have posted about them doing that. Her eyes are all dialated also. nailbite_smile
 
Unlike NSAIDs, tramadol works directly on pain sensation in your pet's brain, not on the source of the pain itself. It is being used to control post-surgical pain and, sometimes chronic pain, in pets. Although it works on the same portions of the brain as narcotics, it is not considered a controlled substance by the DEA. That may soon change.
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What dose are you giving her? I had no clue, so just looked the drug up.
The usual dose for cats for chronic pain is 1.8mg per pound of pet's weight given by mouth twice a day
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The normal side effects:
Less serious side effects may include: drowsiness, and weakness; vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite; blurred vision; insomnia.
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As long as she's eating and isn't acting dizzy, it sounds like with dilated pupils she is just feeling "stoned" or a little drowsy?
If she's walking better, it sounds like the pain relief aspect is working. Definitely call the vet if she displays any serious side effects. Here's the link to what I was reading on side effects:

http://www.1800petmeds.com/Tramadol-prod11064.html

carl
 
I had no issues with tramadol with Oliver. I was giving 1/4tab of 50mg pills BID and he walked better and seemed to have less pains.
If he is thirsty and hungry, it could be that he did not feel well enough before but now that he feels better, he wants more!

What dose are you giving, frequency, and in what form.
 
The dose is 1/4 of a 50 mg pill, I put it in a gel cap since Donna said they tasted so bad. This is the first time I've given it to her but it says to give it every 12 hrs. I did not give her another one this morning. I don't think she slept much last night. I slept on the couch so I could watch her & she usually lays beside me but everytime I put her on her blanket she would get back up & go lay by the food/water bowl. She always has a good appetite & comes when she hears me getting her food out. I free feed & see her at the bowl several times a day. It was so weird, everytime I checked on her she was laying beside the food bowl as close as she could get. I don't know what to think. I'm afraid to give it to her again. I have had this for about 2 month but just decided to try it since it seemed over the last week she wasn't leaving the one end of the house so I thought she might be having some pain. She does walk "stiff" I don't know if it's neuropathy or arthritis. Her numbers are also bad so I was wondering if it was due to pain. This is just typical for her .....she does nothing the way you expect!
 
what about B12 shots? Ask your vet if you can give B12 shots, and also, see if you can get a different strength of tramadol; I think my vet had told me he could get me capsule that were 10mg so that would be less than the 12.5mg you gave to Thumper.
Also, ask your vet about trying gabapentin; I have switched to it for both mine and have seen a great improvement in both of their walks, plus Ollie can now jump and that is quite a feat for a 32lb cat.
 
The Adequan is for arthritis. Robin uses it with Harley-- she knows much more about it than I--maybe she will chime in.
 
I went & searched the board for Adequan posts so I read a few of them. I guess the first thing I need to do is try to figure out if it's arthritis or neuropathy. You know I hate going to the vet...ugh..but maybe I will take her in since I'm off this week, that is IF the vet I have the most confidence in is there! As if I don't have anything else to do this week. :lol:

Now I've gotta go see if I can figure out what gabapentin is. Thanks for the suggestions & info!
 
I might be wrong here-- so, if so--someone correct me.

I do not think there are any negative side effects to Methyl B 12 or Adequan. I am starting the Adequan as trial and error-- I assume Kitty's problems are arthritis driven. If the Adequan does not work, then I will try the Methyl B 12. I am not sure you need a dx to try either. I had to get my vet to order the Adequan-- but, you can get the Methyl B 12 on line.

Maybe try the methyl B 12 first, to rule out neuropathy. Then move to the arthritis treatments if the methyl B 12 doesn't help.
 
The tramadol I gave Asher was liquid in a big syringe. I was told to put it in his mouth. The vet pre loaded the syringes for me with the correct dose. It was "chicken flavored" but still so bitter he foamed at the mouth very bad.
So doing it in pill form is prob the way to go if you are gonna use it.
Sorry I am late to the party here again....
 
Gabapentin is for neuropathy and also is an anti-seizure drug.
I take it myself every night for Fibromyalgia and post-shingles neuropathy.
It can cause drowsiness thats why I take it at bedtime.
 
donnahc said:
The tramadol I gave Asher was liquid in a big syringe. I was told to put it in his mouth. The vet pre loaded the syringes for me with the correct dose. It was "chicken flavored" but still so bitter he foamed at the mouth very bad.
So doing it in pill form is prob the way to go if you are gonna use it.
Sorry I am late to the party here again....
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Poor Asher! Those gel caps were perfect! It was the first time I've used them & would recommend everyone getting some to have on hand.

I'm really starting to feel desperate about her current condition. She's not acting as bad as before but her BG is just staying too high..there has to be a reason. I'm worrying now about what all these high #'s are doing to her kidneys & other organs. Is there a test for neuropathy?
 
Barbara,
I don't know anything about any of those drugs you havae mentioned, but I do share your concern about what these high numbers are doing to our kitty's organs.

Right now, while Alex's numbers are all over the place, he still appears to feel OK, so I do too. :smile:
 
B12 has been mentioned by many in relation to neuropathic issues, but my vet said to give B12 to Shadoe to resolve her frequent pancreatitis issues.
Since starting the B12 shots weekly about 6wks ago, I have not have any issues at all with Shadoe. I no longer have to give her pepcid BID for gas, and no need for fluids either. I also started the B12 shots with Oliver as well since I have the big bottle and both seem to be stepping lighter, better. Oliver has chronic almost pancreatitis, just under 4 all the time, and he seems better too. Oliver was good, improved on tramadol 1/4tab of 50mg pills, but he is even better on gabapentin.
 
Barbara
I can't find anywhere that mentions a test for neuropothy. It seems to be diagnosed by symptoms rather than by any test.
Carl
 
Gayle--I hope you will revisit this thread as I have a question. I am very interested in the B12 comments for Ptitis--I am giving my cat, Kitty fluids and Pepcid for Ptitis and would love to change to the B12. Is it methyl B 12 or straight B 12 that you are having success with?

Thanks for the help!
 
I think both B-12 and methyl b-12 have been talked about a lot in Health recently. I believe I read that it is something you can buy over the counter at any pharmacy.

Barbara, I did want to chip in that Bob got a shot of Adequan once, just before he spent 3 days at the clinic DKA. The vet shot him with it because he was so severely dehydrated that his joints were drying out, and every joint in his body apparently hurt. With the shot and 200ml of sub-q fluids, he was a new kitty 2 hours later. It was a temp fix, as he went in 2 or 3 days later still severely dehydrated, but the relief was immediate. Normaly, Adequan is given multiple times over a period of weeks in order to help with arthritis.

Carl
 
I appreciate the info Carl. I think I'm going to have to wait till after this wedding to even consider what action I'm going to take next. Things are getting CRAZY!!! bcatrun_gif
 
You can get a bottle of methyl B12 tabs at any pharmacy that carries vitamins. There's no taste and no harm to crush them and mix into food. I was trying the tabs, but our vet suggested trying shots and it seems to have helped both mine.
The B12 is in a 10ml bottle like your lantus, and is pink in color.

The B12 seems to have helped Shadoe with her pancreatitis issues, and both Shadoe and Oliver are more active and walking lighter now.

Carl, you may want to start giving fluids at home if you are having frequent dehydration problems. Tell you vet you want a kit for fluids, you can get the vet to show you how to set it up if you wanted, but many people here can help you, no problem. I always ask the vet for 22ga UTW needles for fluids because Shadoe does not like the larger needles(18ga) at all.
 
When buying B-12, read the label and make sure it doesn't contain sugar. Some contain small amounts of sugar as a filler my vet said. The methyl B-12 I think is what is usually recommended.
Walking on hocks on back legs is main sign of neuropathy, but it can affect front legs too.
 
Gayle,
I know you wouldn't know this from my post but Bob and I have way too much experience with home suq q treatments. Whe he came home from his dka in may, so did a kit with the 18g harpoons. Since then we've been thru around three dozen 100ml treatments and haven't enjoyed any of them! If I ever have to do it again I will insist on the 22 g needles.
Carl
 
Carl,
When you get the 22ga, it will be like night and day. Shadoe absolutely HATED the 18ga, and if I did not hold her, she would try to slink away on her belly, leaving the fluids trailing all over the place.... I learned that lesson quick.

With the 22ga, it is slower but she does not mind at all, and she sits nicely until about 75ml then starts to squirm.

Oliver has very thick skin almost like a car tire and even I cringed when trying to break the skin with the 18ga... horrible feeling.
 
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