My old lab has been on Trocoxil for the last 9 months for her arthritis/HD and it has been working well. I think she is starting to be more uncomfortable again. does anyone know if there is any other painkiller she could have in addition to the Trocoxil? I'd like something I could give her at times, like yesterday after she'd tripped as she seemed restless and unsettled, I'm not concerned about long term effects, anything to keep her comfortable till the end. As Trocoxil is an NSAID I was wondering if they do paracetamol type painkillers for dogs? anything that's not another Nsaid?
thanks

Surely the best bet is to have a chat to your vet?

When Rimadyl stopped working with my old girl, the vet put her on Previcox, More expensive but worked well for her.
I think a trip to the vets to change her  meds is in order.
Kind Regards
Lea :)

sorry! meant to say, I saw the vet today and asked but I'm waiting to hear from a different Vet on Monday. Just like to have an idea what to ask for if they're reluctant.

I know my vet gave codine for the odd bad day when Merlot was first lame with her artritis to suppliment the Metacam.
Aileen

Tramadol is a possibility that would be worth discussing with your vet.

Agree, and Tramadol can be given with NSAIDS

Tramadol is the only option with trocoxil - I've checked this 2 or 3 times now as I've had 3 dogs on it.

Otherwise what supplements is she on?  I've put my oldie on turmeric (just the powdered stuff from Asda) a few weeks back and it's actually been so effective that she's not had her last trocoxil dose, she hasn't needed it.  It's anti inflammatory, works in a similar way to NSAIDs but without the side effects they have.  Doesn't work for every dog - did nothing for Saffi - but for Tia it's been brilliant.

what about  cartrophen injections?i had a magnetic collar on my old girl,and gave her omega 3 and glucosamine and chondroitin.My vet said if everything helps a bit,along with the trocoxil,its worth trying.Good luck,sad time.

I was told to give Aspirin 75 mg daily to relieve any aches and pains.

Paracetamol in a complete No No for dogs, even a small dose can affect the liver the same way as an over dose does in humans and isn't obvious till too late.

Tramadol is a very strong analgesia, there may be something else between nothing and giving it, going for the heavy duty stuff first means there are no other options when that stops working.

I agree it is best to go to the vets with some knowledge so you can make an informed decision.

Have you tried Googling Pain relief/ analgesia for canines/dogs and see what comes up?

I've put my oldie on turmeric

I used to get a joint supplement that had that, and bromelain, which it's supposed to work in conjunction with, worked really well.

Cartrophen is a total contraindication with trocoxil - checked that out too when Saffi was on it.  It can work for some dogs but should be considered very carefully.

Celli - I'm actually going to be putting her on bromelain oddly enough, but not for her joints - for her poo and soil eating.  But, I did hear a fantastic report about it from someone who suffered with the same foot problems I have (plantar fasciitis and I think they had pain in the joints in the ball of the foot too, as I do) - they started taking bromelain and it cleared up, completely.  So hopefully it'll help her with that too, and I'll put Saffi on it as well.  And myself!

> Paracetamol in a complete No No for dogs, even a small dose can affect the liver the same way as an over dose does in humans and isn't obvious till too late.

Pardale is paracetomol and codeine.

> I've put my oldie on turmeric

I would run that past the vet before using it with a NSAID.  I don't know what effect it is supposed to have but if it works as an anti inflammatory it may well thin the blood which combined with the NSAID would increase the risk of gastric bleeding.  Similarly Aspirin.  One or the other I would think but definately check.

> what about cartrophen injections?

Have used these in the past on an elderly dog with dodgy digestion.  We found them very effective.

Indeedy Stooge, I should have said that.  With Tia I did build it up slowly and make sure it didn't have any adverse effects.  The same would be true of devil's claw and bromelain as they both act similarly.

Similarly with Saffi, I stopped it completely when she went onto the Onsior as she didn't tolerate trocoxil and they were very similar, so I didn't want to push my luck.  Good call too - the Onsior caused diarrhoea for the first week.

My old boy is on Ryadol and Tramadol and it seems to work well for him.

Thanks all, sounds like Tramadol may be an option for her then, good to know! I had a quick google and it looks like a human med. do you get it via your vet or from a pharmacy?

She's already on the max dose of tocoxil and has been better on it but a couple of times lately she's seemed unable to settle and panting which I think means she is probably in pain as when she's happy she's usually flat on her back and snoring on the sofa. This happened after she tripped and fell, which is all to easy for her to do.

Turmeric; I'll look into it, I have heard of people using it medically but I think it was in a hand lotion for eczema? Her hips are so bad structurally now that I do wonder how much effect any anti-inflammatory can have any more. The vet said she could feel the hip joint rolling around the socket just by swaying her with her hand on her hips. She also said there is very little keeping it actually in the joint now. With age her muscle has deteriorated so much that it is no longer supporting the faulty joints.
I'm afraid to say I don't think she has very long left so keeping her comfortable is the highest priority, not time now to save anything for later. It is difficult as she is a very calm and stoic dog and I'm afraid she may just be used to living in discomfort so doesn't show it much. Her front legs and shoulders are also seeming quite weak, all exacerbated by the fact she has probably had some kind of small strokes which have thrown her balance off even more so she is a little lop-sided when she walks too.

on the plus side her eye ulcer has gone, and the scarring is shrinking rapidly!
I would also be happier if I had something in the house as I'm getting paranoid that she might slip or something and twist her hip out of joint, in which case the sooner she had relief whilst waiting for the vet the better. I obviously hope that she reaches a peaceful end when it is time to call it a day, it's not yet but I'm constantly worrying that I'll wait too long and something will 'give'.

Thanks again all for your input, I'll chat to my vets tomorrow and hope to sort something for her.

You would get it from your vet as it is a Prescription Only Medication(POM), the other option is to see if it cheaper online and get the vet to give you the prescription rather than the Tramadol.

>it looks like a human med. do you get it via your vet or from a pharmacy?

You get it from your vet, and you sign a form saying that you're aware that it's a drug that's not licenced for animal use.

I get it from the vet but have never had to sign for it.

You should have done - the vet 'Ofstedders' are getting strict about it.

I never used to sign for Ben's tramadol either.

One good point about the tramadol, it's very cheap, I paid £8 for a box from the vet.

Just due some more may be they will this time.

Just picked up some more Tramadol from the vet and was not asked to sign the book although I know they have one as I signed it for other medication but not for Tramadol, seems there is some difference in the rules that vets read.

I think it depends how close they are to being inspected. ;-)

Just to say thanks all for the advice, vet agreed to start tramadol as well and she stated with her 1st dose yesterday. I think she seems happier, it varies anyhow but she's been blundering about wagging today instead of looking gloomy on the sofa :)
Only thing I've wondered, does anyone know if it should be given with food particularly? I though it would be safest but it'll be awkward to get her full 3 times a day so would be easier if it wasn't necessary.
btw, don't think we had to sign anything :)

Only thing I've wondered, does anyone know if it should be given with food particularly? I though it would be safest but it'll be awkward to get her full 3 times a day so would be easier if it wasn't necessary.

My boy has two Rymadol a day, one at each meal and 1 Tramadol 3 times a day, so with those he has one with his first meal (Breakfast) one about 2 oc in the afternoon and one at bed time. As he has capsules and it is important that they are swallowed and not chewed I wrap each in a piece of bread that is then dipped in some gravy of wiped on the butter and it goes straight down no problem.

I take tables and it seems they should be swallowed whole as well, another method I find easy is to poke the capsule into a small amount of chip or meat but it is important that it is not chewed and I have other dog and they insure that anything I give is swallowed to make sure the other do not get even a crumb.

> does anyone know if it should be given with food particularly?

No, it does not matter at all but, of course, you do need to give nsaids with food.