Recommended safe pain med

[Jen]

Hi everyone,
Maggie has been doing well with the HCT counts but unfortunately needs to undergo surgery next week to remove a tumor in her ear. I’m very nervous about the procedure given everything she has been through this year but her vet feels it is riskier to leave it. She had a tumor in same area, lanced ( not surgically ) and the biopsy came back as a plasma cell tumor not definitive as malignant or benign. Well it’s back! My question is can anyone recommend a pain med that doesn’t trigger aiha or pain meds that I should steer clear of?
Any help is much appreciated! I very much hope that my baby does not have cancer.
Jen & Mags

[Vally]

Hi Jen, what is the pain med for? After the surgery?

Bingo had a mole inside one of his ears removed earlier this year. They used gas rather than an anesthetic (as he’s a senior) and used a cauterising scalpel to remove it. I was SO freaked about this, so I totally understand your worries, however the vet said it literally took about 5 seconds to do. Bingo’s mole was a very superficial one though with no real root to it.

He was on Tylan powder at the time for diarrhear, so we didn’t need to add any antibiotics and he didn’t give me anything for pain, however Bingo didn’t seem to notice it at all.

Will this one be different to the last surgery that Mags had? Did she have any problems last time?

Mags is still on pred right? Forgive my pathetic memory. I was given Tramadol to give to Bingo after he had hurt his back leg??? some time ago. I didn’t use it in the end though as he had improved. Tramadol can be given with pred but is unsuitable for dogs that suffer liver disease, kidney disease, poor lung function or seizure disorders.

Regards,
Vally & Bingo (with no mole)

[admin]

Hi Jen

First of all, well done Maggie keeping up that nice PCV. It’s always a worry for us when they need surgery as we are more “careful” with our babies. I agree with Vally – Tramadol, but personally I would only give it if absolutely necessary if you think Maggie is in real pain.

I will be crossing everything that this recurrence turns out to be benign. Maybe it wasn’t completely removed last time – a few cells might have got left behind – they will hopefully make sure it’s all gone completely this time. Let us know how she gets on – I will be thinking about you. Try not to worry too much – these operations are over in no time & the anaesthetics these days are amazingly good (says she who would obviously be worried too!!!!!!!)

Love Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

[admin]

Hi Jen

Found these:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_tramadol.html
http://www.veterinaryplace.com/dog-medicine/tramadol-for-dogs/ – this one includes dosing info.

Says Tramadol is much safer for our pups than NSAIDs such as Rimadyl

Hope that helps!

[Jen]

Thanks Sheena & Vally. Yes mags is on 2.5 mg of pred EOD and 100 mg cyclo EOD( though cyclo is for her allergies as well as AIHA). She had a cyst removed several years ago from her back & they gave her pain med rimadyl. This last time was during her episode w AIHA so instead of surgery the dr twisted and cut it off right at the office, no anesthesia but he couldn’t get the whole thing. Because of where it’s located, he can’t take out any extra skin area so it’s hard for him to grab it all.
I read sheena’s info on tramadol and I have used that before so I will be pushing for that instead if rimadyl . Thanks again ladies! And thank you for the well wishes, I’ll keep you posted!
Jen & Mags

[Brigitte]

Jen,
I am sure everything will go fine with your girl! Your vet knows her and what you are against with AIHA. I am glad you are talking to him about a different pain medication than rimadil. Although Mags will most likely not need it for a long time, this one scares me. A friend of mine had a lab that was on it long term and developed ITP an autoimmune disease where the blood platelets are destroyed. The dog recovered and was fine but you can imagine how my antennae went up when my friend said the vet admitted that the rimadil most likely had caused it.
Best wishes,
Brigitte