CKCS and Syringomyelia... treatment/meds question.

[MrsHusky]

i'm pretty ok with what syringomyelia is, current Doggo isn't our first rodeo with the breed, but our last dog was when treatment for this was pretty new and they just pretty much left it untreated (manifested in paw chewing and collapses)

Current Doggo is 7 and has been symptomatic for a while, scratching, flair ups of pain, lip licking.

He had a bad pain flair this week and vet finally put him on gabapentin and an anti-inflammatory, with an initial emergency pain relief of an opiate which knocked him out for 12 hrs, and omeprazole which apparently has some offbook evidence of reducing the CSF at the base of the skull.

I'm not entirely sure about giving a dog gabapentin, anyone else given their pet Gaba and can tell me how they reacted/what they did the first few days and if its actually helped?

Gave him the first dose 24hrs ago and so far he's just slept, refused to eat and i've had to syringe water into him as he's not drinking either.

Give your vet a call for a chat as sounds concerning if not even drinking unaided.

My dog has been on gabapentin past few years for arthritis. Being wobbly, drowsy initially (mine didn't) is common as they get used to it, so can be better to start at lower than desired dose & increase up. Only side effect I've noticed is increased appetite but she loves food anyway.

I’ve had a dog on gabapentin for arthritis as well - he was definitely quiet for the first few days till he adjusted, but nothing that extreme, I’d get back to the vet.

Thanks, i've taken him off it all other than the omeprazole and will call the vet later.

He's got a slow metabolism so i'm wondering if the opiate hadn't left his system and the two together just floored him.

I'll ask the vet, but think i might give it a couple of days, let it all clear his system so he's 'back to normal' then try him with the gabapentin again.. might ask for a lower dose though.