Welcome Margaret. Sad to hear Fredo is having pain.
---Did the pain just start? on what date? Did Fredo overdo things causing more pain?
--- Or was pain never fully brought under control since 12/29?Here is what to advocate for first thing in the morning over the phone.
1)
Let us know which you give Tramadol every 8 hr or 12? You should be giving all pain meds every 8 hrs.
Advocate for a more usual aggressive use of tramadol. 12.5 mgs tramadol dose is like not giving any pain med. Advocate that the dose of 12.5 mgs (1/2 tramadol 50mg tab) be increased to the max analgesic dose for a 20 lbs (9.07kg) dog. Below reference source is NOT for you to be Rxing or changing meds yourself as that is the vet's training and job. But use as a reference to see what you can advocate for. Example 20 lbs
(9.07kg) x 10mgs tramadol = 90mg dose every 8 hrs. 2) advocate to add gabapentin for nerve pain. Also every 8 hrs.
3) advocate to increase methocarbamol for muscle contraction pain to every 8 hrs.
4) Ask your vet if Fredo has any health issue to keep him from acid suppressor Pepcid AC (one active ingredient- famotidine). If no liver, kidney disease that requires a reduction in dose OR if no heart issue, then go to grocery store and buy Pepcid AC in a 10 mgs tabs. Dose 10mgs every 12 hours. Owners can always do better in protecting their furry loved one when they know more. Bone up on just why stomach protection is a must.
Anti-inflammatory carprofen LINK:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/Fredo is a good candidate to heal his disc under conservative treatment. BUT only if an aggressive use of pain meds is employed and the pain can be fully controlled dose to dose of pain meds. The pain can very likley be in control with proper adjustments to pain meds.
CARPROFEN STOP TEST FOR PAIN
Clearly it is not time to stop carprofen in 7 days (1/4) since there is still swelling carprofen needs to work on . Maybe in 10 days on Jan 8, maybe the swelling will be gone. OR
did the vet extend the days for carprofen? If you have read the above link about anti-inflammatory drugs, you know:
---what your job is on the stop of carprofen
--- In order to do your job, blindfold must be off. That means the vet will need to let you know
WHICH he prefers on the stop of carprofen on 1/8: 1) to stop the 3 pain meds (tramadol and methocarbamol and hopefully you've had use to be able to stop gabapentin) OR....
2) to begin backing off of the three pain meds on 1/8
If pain were to surface another course of carprofen, all pain meds and Pepcid AC would need to be Rx'd.
PLAN B
*
With any TAPER, it is always good to have worked out in advance a "PLAN B" also as explained in previous link given. Should pain re-surface at night or on the weekend when your vet is not open, an ER visit is very expensive, a "Plan B" is free! Could be an emergency RX script you could fill at local 24 hr pharmacy or some extra pills at home til the vet opens again.
Look forward to hearing in the morning that you were able to connect with the vet and what changes to the med list were made.
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