[nagdu] Update on the old gal

[The Pawpower Pack]

Hi Tracy, I am also the lucky care-giver for an old gal. Bristol will be 14 in December and 2 weeks ago we also started her on tramadol. She had started Previcox, an antiinflamitory last month but we think she slipped and strained something so we gave her Tramadol when the antiinflamitory stopped working.  She is also up and around, playing and going for regular walks. We're weaning her from the tramadol to see if she can still get around and be pain free without it.  She's doing great so far!  These old dogs are sure something else! 


Rox 
Sent from my iPhone

On 27 Jul 2011, at 10:09 AM, "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net> wrote:

> I thought I'd give an update on my old dog Echo, in case it helps someone
> else dealing with a senior canine.
> My retired guide Echo turned 16 in April.  We found a vet who makes house
> calls, which is great, because the old gal gets totally stressed at the
> mere thought of getting in a car, and also gets very anxious at the vet. 
> Now she can be treated in the comfort of her own home.  She still gets a
> little anxious, but it doesn't exhaust her for days like the trip used to.
> And it's about the same price, too.
> About 3 weeks ago, the vet recommended we put Echo on anti-inflamatories,
> because the arthritis in her hips is getting pretty bad.  A few days after
> we put her on the new pills, she stopped eating.  At least 3 times we
> decided to make the call for the vet to come and put her to sleep and then
> she'd rally--eat something my husband found to tempt her appetite, or get
> up and casually go get a drink or whatever when we thought she couldn't. 
> ("Bring out your dead!" "I'm not dead yet!")
> Of course, we were trying to reach her vet, which took a couple days and
> did not make us happy.  When we finally got her, she suggested we try a
> small dose of a pain pill, Tramadol, which she called in to our pharmacy. 
> She said it wouldn't make Echo dopey, and it might help.  If it
> didn't...well, we could make the decision you can't unmake.
> Echo started to feel better about 20 minutes after we gave her the first
> pain pill.  Her appetite came back, and she started walking around a lot
> more.  Now she's back to where she was a while back--not bouncing around,
> but walking about, eating well, wagging her tail, and generally taking an
> interest.  It's great to see.
> I'm not a big fan of drugs, but the combination of the anti-inflamatory
> with the pain pill is making a big difference for our old gal.
> It ain't easy taking care of such an old dog, but it does have its rewards.
> Tracy
> 
> 
> 
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