Anybody know anything about Tramadol???

Sammy's (dx 2006, PZI Vet, tightly regulated, just gone to Lantus) was operated on in early April to remove some bad teeth. He then went to Lantus. He's currently presenting what might be called pseudo-constipation. The doctors think he might have something (????) going on in the lower lumbar region and that it hurts to either squat or push. They prescribed Tramadol. The only problems that I have with that - maybe - is that constipation is a possible side effect and Sammy's kidneys aren't in great shape. Tramadol is apparently contraindicated in case of kidney disease (nobody's said he's got kidney disease). He's also got a heart murmur and Tramadol can slow breathing. Anybody got an opinion?

 

here is what marvistavet says http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_tramadol.html

I'd rather find out first what is going on, so how about xrays? And finding out for sure what state his kidneys are in before going to an NSAID which could have a negative impact on kidneys?

further, what is his diet? A better first step to addressing constipation would be to look at his diet and see if improvements are made.

 

x-rays turned up whatever they saw and they're using the word neuropathy which is like saying they don't know. He's never had a problem before and he eats lc (no wheat glutin) FFs. He's been on Miralax for days now to little avail and the doctors swear it isn't constipation.

 

So it sounds like they've localized his pain but don't know the exact cause. This isn't unusual because in animals, advanced imagining is expensive and requires general anesthesia. Tramadol can cause cats to act "high" and vocalize, wander around, etc., although I did not see this when I used it in my cat Dillon. I think it's worth a try to see if this issue is due to pain. One or two doses should not cause constipation, and it is contraindicated in advanced kidney disease which your cat has never been diagnosed with.

I wouldn't worry about the breathing and the heart murmur with a few doses of tramadol.

 

He can't be anesthesized b/c of the heart murmur. That's why they didn't do the MRI. I gave him the first dose 4 hours ago. His eyes are dilated. He seemed to go in the opposite direction when I went looking for looked for him like what else am I going to do to him today. Then nuzzling. I think he's mildly tripping and finding his groove. They muttered something about maybe he's have to be on this stuff for life.

 

Maureen has he had a cardiology workup? I know there is a cardiologist out on LI, if you aren't near NYC/Brooklyn.

 

Hello,

My cat takes Tramadol everyday. He had a full mouth extraction because of Stomatitis. He was just recently diagnosed with Diabetes. My vet advised me to keep giving Cyrus the Tramadol ONLY if he seems to be in pain. I can read Cyrus pretty well-when I do give it to him, he is VERY affectionate and seems "high as a kite" so to speak.

GOOD LUCK!!

Heather

 

I think they did an echo cardiogram and maybe some other tests before the operation to see if he could stand it. It's Long Island Veterinary Specialists, if you know them.

Heather, how much does Cyrus get?

 

Cyrus gets 1/4 tablet 2 times a day. I believe that the pills are 50 mg. I will double check-sorry for getting back to you so late, I am just getting used to using this board!!

 

I know it personally...and I hate it! I have had it prescribed several times and I feel like I have my head in the clouds, but usually I have my face in the toilet (if you get what I mean bla!) worse than any hangover I ever had :evil: but it does help with pain. I also have failing kidneys (Lupus nephritis) and no doctor said anything about it. and yes it does slow down the lg. intestine :roll:

 

Yeah that's what I'm thinking but now we're dealing with complications- a serious abcess on his side, perhaps from a bite

 

Ironically as everything is nowadays, my cat received it for pain when he fell and dislocated his right rear knee. He went bizerk on it and I stopped it as soon as he showed signs of this. (I think he actually hullucinated.) Anyway, I checked into the drug and found out it was developed for dogs and not cats. My cat subsequently developed a macrobowel problem. Now how can his all be ironic? My friend's feline friend was placed onto the drug for its macrobowel problem to help relax the large bowel. My cat's other problems worsened and I had some vet tell me I shouldn't be a pet owner if I refused to let the cat have a bowel resection. She put me in tears; lied to me about contacting my cat's previous vet in Seattle (eight years of treating the cat and this vet thought she knew more). As a student the 1500 dollars was an enormous amount of money for me but with tears I signed the papers. Two years later I signed the euthanasia papers after watching him suffer. Just a word of caution: the vet I trust told me that it really shouldn't be used on cats at all.

 

thanks

 

Hi Boocat, and welcome. Please feel free to make a new thread introducing yourself and your diabetic cat.

I don't know what you mean--ironically used for pain?

Tramadol, like many other drugs, was not developed for dogs or cats, but is adapted for their use. It is used safely in many animals now, although a lot of general practitioners are unfamiliar with it still.

I don't know what a macrobowel problem is, or again what is ironic?

Tramadol was used for 'macrobowel'? I can't follow you here and don't understand the rest of your story. I am not sure why you joined the board to create this one post, but again if you have a cat who is diabetic you should create a new thread of introduction so we can all meet you and your DM kitty.