I know that as with all drugs, some dogs & humans react diff to drugs. Tramadol is one that I take myself and have no problems if I keep to one a day, two and I feel 'spaced out' I have a friend that is not able to take it at all.  I would appreciate feedback from anyone who has had dogs on this drug and what effects if any they had?

When Piglet had his bad leg last year we had him on Tramadol for about 6 weeks; I don't know if it had any effect (they can't tell you if the pain has stopped, but he couldn't immediately use his leg again), but it didn't do him any harm.

Soli was on it last time she had a break from her trocoxil - her arthritis is so bad that she couldn't function without serious painkillers (I've now signed a disclaimer so she's on the trocoxil full time).

When she first took she was ok, but last time she was at maximum dose and reacted the same way I did (I was on it at the same time), sleepiness, spaced out etc.  We were reacting so similarly that when she had her last echo back in February, I gave her a tramadol before the echo and took one myself - we both started to fall asleep at the same time! :-P

I knew she was reacting strongly at that point - we were able to finish the echo relatively smoothly, but ordinarily Soli gets so stressed out by them that the further into it we are, the harder it gets as she fights it more and more.  It normally takes us at least 10-20 minutes longer than normal, but on that occasion it was done in normal time because she was zonked.

I don't think she reacted the same way to every dose - I don't.  Some days, I could take one pill and be completely off my head with the room spinning, waking up in the middle of the night whacked out etc, but other days I could take a full 8 pills in a day and not react at all.  I think Soli was similar, I do recall that I reacted worse the longer I was having to take them though and I think it was similar for her as she was on them for 2 months straight.

Ben's been on Tramadol for about a year now, he has 4 a day split into 2 doses, he was a bit drowsy for the first week but nothing major, now they have no side effects at all.

used them on both my last 2 dogs with cancer, no bad effects at all and seemed to help keep them comfortable. would use them again

Two of my dogs (mother & daughter) have been prescribed Tramadol. Mum had them instead of Metacam, the dosage was 12x50grm/day she was comatose so I quickly stopped them. Daughter's dosage was same so I used up what I had & she was ok on 6 a day, now dropped down to 1 a day. I had to get some more, luckily I checked the box, I was given 100mg tablets. Two people I've spoken to have said they can't take even 2 without the room spinning but ATM I'm looking at them wondering as I've got terrible toothache that Nuromol is doing nothing for......

wow 12 x 50! myself am on 4 x 50 but try not to be on anymore than 2 x 50 so that when i need to i will be able to have more to fall back on. my dog is on 3 x 50 and tbh this is not helping.

used them on both my last 2 dogs with cancer, no bad effects at all and seemed to help keep them comfortable. would use them again

what dose were you dogs on?

I am not surprised the dog was knocked out on such a huge dose, human max dose is 100mgs x 4 per day, if it isn't enough then an alternative needs to be found.

The early affects can be quite severe so like any new pain meds they should be tried at home when you don't have to do anything that needs thought and manual dexterity. 

WolfieStruppi, how big are those dogs?  That is a huge dose!  Soli was 35kg when she was on tramadol, the maximum dose she was allowed was 4mg/kg up to twice a day (so just under 6 x 50mg caps a day).

Re. toothache - that was what I took them for the first time I was on them, they certainly work for that :-P I avoid them wherever possible but I'd have no hesitation if I had toothache like I had back then again.

She was 45kg & 50ml of metacam wasn't working. The start off dose was then reduced to 9/day which was on the packet I had left over.

Luckily the toothache has subsided, used sensodyne toothpaste & going to new dentist tomorrow.     

> She was 45kg

My 50kg borzoi was prescribed 2 x 50mg twice a day and the vet said that was the max he could have.

both dogs were around 45kg and they had 100mg twice a day, then as the cancer progressed the last few weeks they had  upto 150mg 3 times a day. They were fine on this. again every dog will react different to different dosage you just have to find what works for your dog.

thanks MandyC

Mine had it with toe infection and was on 50mg twice a day. He was fine with that. My OH takes it daily for Rheumatoid Arthritis and it is ok for him but I am spaced out with one.

i know obviously cats are different but when my persian has to have it from time to time he will spend hour upon hour sittting in the same spot stareing at the same thing and if i move him he just sits back where he was, but on for a few weeks after he can jump up on the work surfaces.

never had to use them on the dogs but I am on them myself one a day I hate them they make me feel distant ..if that makes sense.. if I took 2 I imagine I would be flat out.
Hubby can take them with no affect whatsoever.

used them on both my last 2 dogs with cancer

Same here,  my boy was on  , to start  4 a day, but in the end was on 6 a day, along with metacam.

Can't say I saw any side effects though, and to be honest sometimes you have to make a calculated decision and weigh up the side affects to the benefit  the drugs  give , for as long as they can,

I am he same Roni with tramadol. I have been taking it after my op and I was hallucinating with them which was very scary so stopped taking them. It just made me sleep and my oh said agreeable to everything which he said is very unlike me !!

I have to take them when my back goes but normally only for short time as get my nerve ending zapped to stop the pain. Having to take them long term wouldn't work with me. It also made me loose my appetite.

Never had to use it on the girls though.

I was on tramadol for a year with back ache and OMg they made me SO itchy it was unreal :(

thanks everyone for your replies.  I use them myself and am fine unless I have a bad day and need to take extra for the pain, then I feel spaced out, otherwise, i am fine on them, my girl has been on a week now and seems good.