Tramadol

[Sarita]

Anyone else on the forum have experience using this with this with your bun? 

My vet said she has used it quite successfully on many buns and piggies.

I am going to give that a try for my old bun Mango who has arthritis along with his metacam.  He has been perching on the side of his litter box lately like that is the only position that feels comfortable.  And the vet felt he was more “scrunched” today during the exam. 

[mocha200]

Never herd of it. What is it?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Mandy (the dog) is on it daily for about two years now for arthritis. You can tell if she misses a dose. The only issue we had was that once the capsule broke (it was one of those powder in a capsule meds) and she screamed, I guess it’s really bitter. But your vet likely has a different preperation so dosing shouldn’t be an issue. For us it’s a great med, especially for arthritis, and is easier on the tummy than metacam.

[MimzMum]

My vet recommended this for Mimzy when we first thought he would have sour stomach from metacam. I’ll be speaking to her about it again soon as he’s starting to show signs of intolerance again. My problem, it comes in tablet or injection…my two least successful methods of administering meds to animals. I’d be interested in hearing how this works for you.
My dogs didn’t tolerate it well, but they both had genetic GI trouble, so that may have been why.
Sorry I’m not more helpful.
How does Mango perch on the litterbox? Mimzy seems to have to ‘stand’ on his rear legs with his front paws on the sides to potty, plus he sleeps with his head propped up on it. Looks really uncomfortable to me.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Poor Mango. I hope the new meds offer him much relief.

[Sarita]

Mocha – it’s a pain medication.

MM – you can have the vet compound it for you, that’s what my vet did. Thanks KK, hopefully this will help him.

He is still doing the metacam in conjunction w/the tramadol. It’s going to be a matter of figuring out what works best in this combo to help alleviate the pain.

MM – Mango perches on the side of the litterbox with his paws on top of the box – it’s a very low box (the high sided two piece w/out the top on). He only uses it really to perch not to pee or poop. I put a rolled up towel next to it to see if that helps cushion his body. I am going to try to do the rolled towel else where to see if I can get him to perch on that but I don’t see that really happening as I cannot imagine he is going to get my idea.

Thanks for the vibes LPT.

[jerseygirl]

I wonder why both Mimzy and Mango perch like that, what relief it gives them? Maybe takes pressure of the chest or something to do with angle of the hips?

I’d heard same as what others mentioned, that it’s good in combo with metacam and gentler on tummy. Have you looked into that injection Skibunny did for Gracie? Adequan I think. {{{Vibes}}} for Mr Mango.

[RabbitPam]

{{{Vibes for Mango}}}}}

This is good to learn about. I was only given metacam and told to grind up glucosamine for Spockie, but that was several years ago. Not sure he had arthritis pain – it wasn’t mentioned in a diagnosis.

[Sarita]

RabbitPam, I have no idea if he’s in pain or not, but I just surmised that based on the perching behavior he must be uncomfortable, but it’s just an assumption based on the diagnosis of arthritis. The vet also felt he may be uncomfortable as well as he was acting more hunched and scrunchy than in the past.

Just wish these guys could give some indication of what they heck they are feeling :~) I can’t base it on grumpy behavior, because he’s been a grumpy bun since I’ve had him.

I wonder if the glucosamine or the adequan would be helpful in the more advanced stages of arthritis – I tried it with Maxine and it did not help her at all that I could tell.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh that’s what Mandy has too-metacam and tramadol. She’s on a reduced dose of metacam once a day and tramadol twice. She’s doing very well with that mixture, and because metacam can be so hard on tummies, being able to be on a smaller dose of metacam really helps her.

Sarita-do they do cortisol injections for rabbits? I know Mandy’s had injections in the past-I think it was three different joint lubes, she did really well. They wear off but were great. Glucosamine might be worth a try, can’t hurt might help?

[lashkay]

More good health vibes for Margo.

[MimzMum]

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((Vibes for Mango)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I not only wish they could speak to us, but that we could speak to them properly so they’d realize that; yes, I’m sorry I have to make you take this foul medicine, and no I’m not getting any enjoyment out of having to give you this medicine for upwards of two weeks to a month!

Compounded tramadol was some kind of problem up here Sarita, not sure why…the vets couldn’t put it together for me and the only pharmacy in town that might have been able to would have to special order it in some way. It’s the joy of living in the middle of nowhere like this.

Did you ever try myristol pellets? Mimzy wouldn’t eat them consistently enough to make a difference. I am still on the fence about glucosamine supplements.

I don’t think Mimzy has flopped to sleep in almost a year. All his resting is either done sitting up (hunched as you described) or with some part of him propped on the litter box. He props his forelegs on the side while going potty, but I think that may have to do with his bowels being somewhat having lost feeling. Although he seems to be able to poop or pee anywhere (he’s messed his habitat every night this last two weeks) he looks like he’s employing gravity in the litter box.

I have dropped Mimzy’s dosage to about every other day. It did seem to do a lot for his appetite, so I guess the metacam is causing some tummy upset still. Oddly enough, he seems to like one small freeze bottle to cuddle with. I wonder if he’s too warm or if it really helps his sore hip?

[Sarita]

KK – I don’t think that most vets are going to do a cortisol because it’s a steroid and rabbits don’t do well with steroids.

MM – my first vet did not compound but my new vets do – they do it at their office and boy that’s a big help. I don’t know why all vets don’t do this. They just have to purchase the compounding formula and learn how to make the compounds – there is obviously a science to learning this because it’s making adjustments from the drug going from a pill form to a liquid form, but it can’t be too terribly difficult to learn since my vet’s staff do it all the time.

I haven’t tried the myristol pellets but looked them up when they were mentioned before.

[want2B-BestBunMum]

 I am on Tramadol everyday for my pain, and it helps me, lol. I have a chronic pain disorder and I can say it has helped me tremendously. However, I was unaware it was also a veterinary medicine 

[Sarita]

Oh, that’s good to know it has helped with your pain. I honestly cannot tell if it’s helping Mango or not, but if it helped you, I imagine it is helping him.

[RabbitPam]

Medications are notorious for helping one condition and producing a beneficial side effect for another, so it’s not surprising that one species benefits from something that helps another mammal in an adjusted dosage. I think Mango will probably get some relief.

Anyone want to try morse code with ear twitching as a form of communication? bunnies – the strong silent types.

[Author]

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