Premed for my dog- any ideas?

Re: Premed for my dog- any ideas?

Elisabeth Knappett — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:41:18 GMT

Would second the suggestion of speaking to a specialist anaesthesiologist - they always have some unheard of combinations kicking around! Ketamine can be very useful but I would think a level of opioid would be necessary for pain relief post op? Have you tried gabapentin if the pain is truly neurological? It has worked very well in a couple of cases I've dealt with and didn't seem to have as many of the spaced out side effects.

Re: Premed for my dog- any ideas?

Steph Worsley — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:04:33 GMT

Where will the spinal surgery be being carried out? could your vet speak to a specialist anaesthetist to get some advice, I'm pretty sure any of the guys at work wouldn't mind helping out with some suggestions, we perform various spinal surgeries on a very regular basis (ie almost daily at times) The protocol is generally based on the patient and their history, and the actual surgery being performed

We will usually give methadone as a pain relief initially but the dose can be reduced if too much sedation is reached, we also will not hesitate to use acp as a mild sedation on recovery to stop thrashing around or butorphanol or a combo of the 2.

sorry I know you are worried about him, but to point out the obvious ultimately it's a vets decision what pre med to use.

Re: Premed for my dog- any ideas?

funkyfish — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:16:26 GMT

Humm will look into it. I know a that he will need an opiate for pain relief but just need to find one that does not sedate so much.

I'm not sure he is not MDR-1 gene defective (grandmother was a collie x greyhound), but can't afford the test. He reacts badly to all the drugs on the list so assume so.

He is currently on Atopica (thank god for Pet plan!) as an anti inflammatory, which is working great, he still has an intermitted crap gait tho, so still nerve pain.

Re: Premed for my dog- any ideas?

Catherine Raymond — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:52:49 GMT

sorry - just saw that an opioid is a no no.

Re: Premed for my dog- any ideas?

Catherine Raymond — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:49:38 GMT

Our ortho dogs get a premed of dorbene and comfortan and then an infusion of comfortan/lidocaine and ketaset. Patient is then topped up with comfortan later in the day if needed. Seems to work.