Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

Would you give a painkiller in this instance?

14 replies

Ephedra · 29/04/2014 12:10

5 year old collie with long history of backend problems (no diagnosis as yet). We have painkillers to give him when we think he needs it. Normally the signs we look for are restlessness, unable to settle, limping/altered gait (more than normal) and moving slowly.

The only thing he is doing out of that list is moving slowly. This is tested in a controlled way that is the same every day, normally he runs but the last few days he has only walked. He is also playing less and sleeping more but is eating normally and seems ok in himself.

He did take the skin off 3 of his pads but that is mostly healed and he fell over last week but he isn't reacting in a way that means that it hurts now. He has physio every day and his joints all seem fine, no obvious pain or swelling.

Should I give him a painkiller to see if it makes a difference? I would take him to the vets if I was really worried but this kind of thing happens a lot and he wont let the vet touch him.

OP posts:

Report

Ephedra · 29/04/2014 15:26

Bump

OP posts:

Report

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 29/04/2014 15:36

Yes, give him one and see if he starts playing a bit more or sleeping less.

Report

Ephedra · 29/04/2014 15:49

Thanks Ilove, he really enjoyed having a painkiller wrapped in cheese!

It's hard knowing if we are doing the right thing, sometimes it's easy to tell if he is in real pain but other times its a minute thing that make you question it.

OP posts:

Report

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 29/04/2014 16:11

I know what you mean. Are you making him more comfortable or masking the symptoms. Does he seem better?

Report

Ephedra · 29/04/2014 16:22

He got up to see if there was anymore more cheese then went back to sleep, I will know if the painkiller has made a difference when dh gets home.

The long term aim is to keep him happy and comfortable. The decision has already been made to pts the moment he has had enough.

OP posts:

Report

Ephedra · 29/04/2014 20:28

Sadly the painkiller doesn't seem to have done anything

Hopefully he will feel better soon as I have no idea what is wrong with him. I really hate worrying about him.

OP posts:

Report

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 29/04/2014 22:00

That's the problem though. He might not get better. I'm so sorry. He might have had enough now.

Report

Ephedra · 30/04/2014 09:28

I gave him another painkiller this morning and he scraped his claws as he walked which is a very bad sign. He used to do this all the time but the physio stopped it. He moved a but quicker this morning but didn't run and because he didn't play I got out a toy that he hasn't seen in months which he is now playing with.

Ilove I hate looking at my dog every day and making the decision as to whether this day will be the last. Most days its easy, he is a happy and energetic border collie but some very rare days it's a hard decision.

OP posts:

Report

MitchellMummy · 30/04/2014 09:34

So sorry to hear about his problems. We have a dog with similar issues. We almost made 'the' final appt, but he's on lots of painkillers, physio and hydro, and now is behaving like a puppy again. He's 12. I have lots of drugs that I can give, and monitor carefully so he's getting enough but not too many. Some people are astonished at the amount of drugs I have for him, but they were dispensed by a leading orthopaedic surgeon so I'm confident in using them. Some other vets have expressed concern about potential liver damage - but I'd rather he lived a quality, pain-free life than a longer painful one. Glad that he's mainly happy and energetic!

Report

Ephedra · 30/04/2014 09:49

MitchellMummy one of the problems we have with him is that he is allergic to NSAIDs, so what we can give him is limited.

The very expensive orthopaedic vet we saw has no clue what is wrong with him. My poor collie has had more x-rays that I can count covering every inch of his body, joint taps and blood tests.

OP posts:

Report

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 30/04/2014 23:20

I don't know what to say, sounds a really difficult situation. I honestly don't know what I'd do because I refuse to contemplate my dog ever getting old. He's not allowed to.

Report

Ephedra · 01/05/2014 09:18

Ilove after we had to pts our last collie at a young age (3) we hoped that this one would live a long and happy life and die in his sleep at home. Instead he was only 1 I think when we decided how far we would go in keeping him alive.

The good news is that he seems to be feeling a bit better today, not quite his normal self yet but better that before!

OP posts:

Report

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 01/05/2014 09:31

Glad to hear it. Hope he carries on like it!

Report

Ephedra · 01/05/2014 09:59

I do too!

He has played a bit and is now eating an antler so I do think he is going to be ok. He keeps doing this, acting like he has had enough and then he bounces back. I really wish he wouldn't!