10/1 Buster PMPS 120, +4 72

PMPS 192
+2 157
+5.5 155
AMPS 114
Almost hit a sunny for PMPS, but Buster knows I don't like those so he kept it blue. Glad to see he brought it down for breffis. Calling the vet to get different pain meds for him today - still licking his chest like mad.

OT: This morning, on our way to work we saw a terrible accident. We live about a mile away, so basically we drive around the block. However, on most mornings, we cut right through the middle of the block on a dirt road that runs between a hay field and a vacant office building lot. Today, we saw a coyote out there. Very pretty - not scraggly. Unfortunately, our Jeep got it trotting along and we watched it cross the little canal and go off into the field...and then...it kept going towards traffic. As it neared the road (a 6 lane 45 mph road) a semi was coming and I was hoping so badly the coyote would stop at the edge of the field, but kept running right into traffic. Zipped past the semi, but then was hit by 3 cars on the far side of the road. It died quickly, but it was really horrible to watch. DH and I feel like if we hadn't driven across the field today maybe she would have lived on. I know the coyote shouldn't have been truckin' around in the suburbs, but she was and we aren't too far from a reservation where she probably could have lived a long, coyote life. Sad. :cry:

Previous Condo

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114

Hi guys .. that was nice of buster to keep his amps blue for you this morning! So sad about the coyote .. I'm sure it was not your fault .. life just happens and there are things we cannot control .. At least he passed quickly ...

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114, +5 103 - Gabapentin??

Talked to the vet. She would like to try Gabapentin as a pain medication for Buster's chest licking/arthritis (as well as continuing with Adequan). Anyone have experience with this one?

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114, +5 103 - Gabapentin??

Hi Tara, just stopping by to thank you for the encouragement you gave to Charms and I the other day. We are both doing much better! Looks like your Buster is giving you some great numbers too. I do not know anything about the pain meds- sorry , but I am sure someone else will help soon, It still amazes me the vast knowledge that this place contains!! Not to mention the nicest, most compassionate people too!
That coyote story was really really sad. Once when a dog from a nearby farm wandered into our yard,I gave it a bone and sent it on its way, it walked right down our driveway, into the road and got hit by a car right in front of me. Died instantly. I felt so incredibly bad and responsible. When I called my vet , she said that at least before he died someone had acknowledged and appreciated his life. It made me feel a lot better. I think you did that for the coyote, too. I hope you feel better. - Sam

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114, +5 103 - Gabapentin??

Jupiter was given gabapentin before his surgery and for a day after his surgery too. Its a hard medicine to give because it comes in capsules though.

If they want to give you the liquid ask them to double check the ingredients because some forms of this contain something toxic to cats and dogs.

They may be able to take apart the capsules and mix it in with something at your vet. I would ask about it.

The gabapentin did seem to help him a bit and it also seemed to make him a little sleepy for a bit after he took it. Thats pretty much all I can say about it....

Didnt seem to have any bad side effects for Jupiter but every cat is different.

Hope you get some more responses more helpful then mine!

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114, +5 103 - Gabapentin??

I don't know anything about Gabapentin, but I hope it will help Buster. Nice blues today.

I'm sorry about the coyote, but it wasn't your fault. Anything could have spooked it and made it run that way. It was just the coyote's time and you happened to be there. Like Sam said, at least you appreciated its life.

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114, +5 103 - Gabapentin??

Gabapentin is mostly used for "nerve pain"....I can understand it being used on Jupiter since amputations can cause "phantom pain", and it's used a lot with people who have diabetic neuropathy in their feet and legs.

It works by effecting the nerve impulses that "cause" pain to be felt. Sometimes it works almost immediately, but sometimes it can take weeks of therapy before any improvement is seen.

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114, +5 103 - Gabapentin??

Tara,
I still want to whisper in your ear, xray.... and always hoping it's just arthritis.
Wonder if Buster is being neurotic.... My bf's cat would obsessively lick a spot on his back and caused a bald spot. It took drastic measures to get him to stop it and
he wore a cone.

I have mixed emotions with coyotes. They can be so beautiful but then that darn circle of life thing gets in my way since around my little town, they eat the rabbits
and the cats and small dogs. So I chase them away when I can, we're allowed to shoot them with a paintball gun ( encouraged because they aren't afraid of people
and have even had occasion to drag a baby by it's ankle across a yard) ( astounding :shock: )
I can't stand the way they rip their prey open alive and yet , I don't want them to suffer either.
I'm with Sam, you acknowledge him and felt sad for him.

One of the best stories I've heard was a friend here who was dressing for work, saw a coyote with his neighbor's cat in the coyote's mouth, running away, and the man ran outside in nothing but his underwear and chased that coyote down the street until it let go of the cat. One cat saved that day.

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114, +5 103 - Gabapentin??

Thanks everyone! Both for the info on Gabapentin and also for helping me feel better about the coyote. I will try the Gabapentin and see what happens. Bu could have a screw loose, or he could just be tingly from the Adequan? No idea. He doesn't act like he's in pain and his numbers are good. We'll take it one day at a time like everything else.

I hear what you're saying Rhiannon. I just wish the wild animals could stay in their world and the domestics in ours. Live and let live. I have to turn off the nature channels sometimes when they have the predators tracking down bunnies or gazelles or whatnot. I know that's what they do, but really. Why to the prey animals have to be so cute? Can't they all look like cockroaches or something? :lol:
Too funny with the neighbor chasing down the coyote in their underwear! I would have done the same thing!

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114, +5 103 - Gabapentin??

Have you already tried using Prozac or amytriptiline? These are anti-depressant type drugs that can help with both stress (often a cause of compulsive licking) or compulsive behaviors (such as licking). I don't know if a pain med would necessarily help with licking behavior.

Re: 10/1 Buster AMPS 114, +5 103 - Gabapentin??

We haven't tried an anti-depressant,..yet. His licking started about the same time his shoulder started clicking. I noticed some improvement with Dasuquin, then we went to Adequan and the pain meds. It started with just the one shoulder and now it's his whole chest/shoulder region. It does seem to lessen with the Tramadol, but sometimes the Tramadol makes him freak out. He doesn't really stress about anything. Vacuum cleaners, crazy dogs, etc. - he's a pretty cool cucumber. I will keep that in mind, though. Whatever it takes to help him be happy, happy, happy!