Brando had his surgery today and I am in a quandary

• Debbie R Posted : 4/6/2007 3:43:51 PM Thanks everybody.Brando had a really rough day yesterday. His leg turned red, his pain was unbearable, I gave him an extra 1/2 dose of rimadyl about 4 hrs before his 2nd dose was due. I think veterinarian medicine needs to rethink it's pain management, as someone who  suffers from chronic pain I know that there isn't any painkiller in the world that can last for 12hrs.I was taking him to the vet today,  but he's doing much better today, he hasn't put any weight on the leg at all since yesterday morning, but the redness is gone and his pain seems bearable. This is really really hard. He's pathetic. I can't wait until tomorrow that's when I hear he should be doing a lot better pain wise. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• marty_ga Posted : 4/6/2007 4:13:04 PM Aww, me and my girls send healing smooches to Brando.  The good thing is that yesterday is gone... 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• angelamarie Posted : 4/6/2007 5:54:42 PM Sorry to hear Brando had a rough day, poor thing.  I agree with you, that a pain killer that's supposed to last 12 hours isn't very good management.  When Misty had her surgery, we used tylenol and codeine every 4-6 hours and metacam for inflammation.  Also, on her first surgery, I had 3 syringes of a stronger pain killer to give her subcutaneously if things got outta hand.  I only needed one, and it was on the 3rd day after surgery.  You know to be careful with the rimadyl, right?  And, if his pain management does not improve, demand something different.  Hope you and Brando have a better day tomorrow.  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Debbie R Posted : 4/6/2007 6:35:14 PM Ange, do you remember the dosage on the tylenol w/ codeine? Yes I do know to be careful w/ the rimadyl, but I gave him metacam prior to the surgery, and his pain laughed at it. You really prepared me for this, but going through it is so much worse and you didn't candy coat it. If his pain isn't better tomorrow I will call and scream, because of you I told her that pain management was important to me and that I needed her to make sure it was done. I am not happy. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Thalie Posted : 4/6/2007 6:57:51 PM Hopefully each day will be better than the previous one from now on. Sending loads of toughts for pain free days. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• NicoleS Posted : 4/6/2007 7:14:30 PM Deb & Brando, just reading through this now, but I hope things are getting better for you ASAP!  Maybe Billy can bring some of his rockin' raspberry or liverwurst to share   Good wishes coming your way, here's to hoping that it only gets better from here. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• amstaffy Posted : 4/6/2007 8:27:32 PM It's rough, I know when Teddy fractured his leg he was days after the surgery before he was able to get around well and be even slightly off his meds.   Keep us posted!   Honey sends her love!! 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jessies_mom Posted : 4/6/2007 8:40:22 PM I'm sorry that he had so much pain yesterday and I'm glad today was better. I hope he feels better every day from now on. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• calliecritturs Posted : 4/6/2007 10:59:50 PM Deb please don't use Tylenol AT ALL.  Tylenol is horrific on the kidneys -- even just one plain tylenol on a dog as small as Brando can be fatal.  It can make the kidneys totally shut down.  Acetaminaphin is a huge no no with dogs.  I know vets will occasionally use it in incredibly tiny doses but it would be dangerous in a dog as small as Brando. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• calliecritturs Posted : 4/6/2007 11:08:16 PM Deb -- did the vet give you any sort of relaxant at all for Brando?  You would likely get far far more mileage out of the NSAID to give it with some sort of relaxant - like valerian root (or valium if you can get it out of the vet).  There ARE muscle relaxants the vet can give you -- but I'm thinking a general relaxant like valerian may actually help him deal mentally far far better -- when you 'hurt' you tense up.  And it would likely decrease his pain a whole lot to just relax a bit.    If you get valerian tincture -- you could give half to a full dropperful every 6 hours.  If you mix it in just a bit of peanut butter or tahini it's very palatable.  (particularly if you can find the non-alcoholic tincture)... the non-alcohol one is sweet - mine will take it right from the dropper.   Now if they give you a sedative don't give valerian with that -- but it sounds like mostly they are just giving you rimadyl? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Debbie R Posted : 4/7/2007 3:12:22 AM Thanks everybody. After I got wrote that post to Angela, I had a whoaa moment, dogs can't have Tylenol! But if I didn't a little doggie guardian angel emailed me, Thanks Callie. Cal, he's on 1/4 rimadyl every 12hrs, and 1/4 tramadol every 12 hrs. If he is as good as or better than yesterday I will be  happy if he is worse, then I am going to call the vet. Cal, it's funny you mention the Valium, because I have a horrendous back and when I get super stressed it goes, which it did last night and the only muscle relaxant that works for me is Valium.   0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jeano Posted : 4/7/2007 10:31:53 AM Deb, I just wanted to say that I'm thinking about you and Brando and sending good vibes for a calm and smooth recovery! Has anyone mentioned melatonin for calming? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• calliecritturs Posted : 4/7/2007 11:27:33 AM Valium is the pharmaceutical that they made deliberately to 'mimic' valerian.  They used valerian heavily in medical circles until before Word War II.  Valium is habit-forming where valerian isn't.  Valerian also doesn't give you 'brain fog'.  It's more a 'tonic' -- meaning rather than 'more' working stronger, it makes it last a bit longer.  So it's not dangerous in 'overdose' and is safe for a dog Brando's size.   Like I said -- when you hurt your muscles 'tense' and that often makes whatever hurts worse because you're pulling the wrong thing and working the muscle or joint harder.  So relaxing it makes the anti-inflammatory work better. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Debbie R Posted : 4/8/2007 8:42:34 AM BRANDO POOPED!!!! Doesn't take much to make me happy. Thank goodness I have you guys to share it with, my family and friends would think I am a knuckle head. He had a pretty ok day yesterday not great though if he is not considerably better tomorrow I am going to call the vet for a different game plan for the pain control. Happy Easter 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• rexandbaby Posted : 4/8/2007 10:23:31 AM Happy Easter, and hurray for the POOP!   0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login