post surgical pain
Submitted by DadtoMatilda on September 6, 2010 - 5:15pmThe rescue male bully I'm fostering for a couple of days had major abdominal surgery the day before yesterday to remove items that he had inappropriately ingested. He is recuperating for a bit with me before his family is ready to take him home.
As with any new dog, after the adjustments were over and Matilda had gotten over him being here, everything seemed fine. He is a sweet boy; it is remarkable how agreeable these dogs are despite what they've been through sometimes.
Today we *finally* we able to all settle down for a nap together and I noticed he was breathing rapidly, shallow, and seemed very warm. He also seemed to want to almost climb inside me.
Since I'm unable to nap with him doing that - out of worry - I called the vet where he'd had his surgery (150 miles away) and told him that the lil guy had had 1.5 tramadol pills at 3pm and it was now 4:40ish, he seemed to be in some pain.
They told me to give him another .5 pills and see how he is and if in 45 minutes he didn't seem better than I should take him to the local animal ER. He is now trundling around the kitchen examining toys and he seems better. But - jeez- this is scary. I remember Matilda in pain and carrying her in a sling to the car with a herniated disc in her back.
I'm not sure why I'm writing this; maybe because I'm a little freaked out and hope he pulls through this with flying colors. I'm also having *my* visits with M. to the ER flashing before my eyes and I have to go to work tomorrow, so I'm going to worry...
He's a wonderful little dog.
Sounds "normal"...
The second day is usually the worst for pain. Anesthesia has pretty much been eliminated, and the dog will require more pain med.
In my experience (I've gone thru this twice), he should be feeling much better by day 3-4. That's when it gets more "interesting" with the activity restriction! lol
You may want to put him in a crate or separate room while you're at work so he doesn't rumble with Matilda.
Olivia
so wonderful of you to foster the guy
i hope by now he is doing better. rex had surgery once on his ear and they gave him too much anesthesia and it took him 4 days to recover. the first 3 he didnt drink and i was so scared we were going to loose him. by day 4 he started eating again. it helps to write here because everyone knows exactly what you are feeling. :-) hugs to both your bullies.
Jllian and PorkChop and our beloved BullyAngel Rex <3
Update, advice?
Lil' guy is doing well and his pain seems to be 'okay' for the time being. Staples come out in a week; it was major GI surgery that he had and I'm amazed at how his temperament has just been as sweet as pie all along. Not a cranky bone in his body.
For the first 4 or 5 days the vet made him eat that Purina canned Gastroenteric food. The regional rescue lady gave him a bag of Nutro Lamb and Rice small bites to switch over to.
I have given him tiny freeze dried treats and did spoon a BIT of pumpkin onto his food but other than the enteric food this is his first day with a little of the Nutro.
Anyway, I quote 'okay' because he has had the runs from Day 1, and continues to have them. The regional rescue lady said that this would probably be the case with such major surgery. This is Day 5 of diarrhea for him although he has control of it. He also will vomit a tiny bit of bile occasionally. He did this last night but did not throw up any of his food, just the bile. It seemed the food was already on its way down the pike...
He is also a loud and sometimes phlegmy breather, so some of this could be the standard flappy-palate bulldog; Matilda does not have this issue.
He finished tramadol yesterday and now just has one Keflex a day and one Pepcid tab.
He is drinking and eating and peeing normally and enthusiastically. Today is his first day at home in the crate (until lunchtime) without Matilda (the rescue lady told me I should let her go to daycare and he'd be fine and safe in his crate).
I just wonder if there is anything else I can do or add to help firm up his runs. I'd switch his food to the same thing Matilda's eating (she's eating Nature's Variety Raw and is enjoying the lamb version this week) but he isn't my dog and could be going as soon as Saturday. He's just a little guy (46 lbs at 4 years old) with a HUGE head so I'd like to see if nutrition would add some man-bulk to his little-boy body. In other words, I'd like to see if there is anything I can do temporarily to help him get the nutrients he needs and hasn't been getting.