Why is my old dog still pacing and uncomfortable on pain meds?

I'm sorry to hear that Missy is not feeling well. The signs you describe can definitely be caused by pain, or any number of internal conditions. While tramadol is relatively safe when given to healthy animals at the correct dosage, it is also somewhat of a sedative, and may mask underlying health conditions. I recommend having Missy seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine what is going on. Your vet may perform blood work or x-rays after a good physical exam to reach a diagnosis. I'm happy to answer any additional questions you may have!

Before thinking about euthanasia I would suggest to discuss with your veterinarian a treatment plan to make him more comfortable. Some pain relief medications can be given in the long term to relieve arthritic pain, ear mites can be easily treated with ear drops and teeth can get descaled and eventually extracted if they are a source of pain and possibly infection. All these remedies will certainly make Tommy more comfortable. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Poor puppy!! It sounds like your dog is on all the correct medications. I would try to find a canine acupuncturist as it can help greatly in cases of wind up pain such as you are describing. Intractable pain is also a reason for surgical decompression of the spinal cord as well. Otherwise keep doing what you are doing. If your dog will allow you to hot pack his neck that can be helpful as well.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bo. Three things in particular that I would be concerned about- back or abdominal pain and anal gland problems. A common back problem that we see frequently involves the intervertebral discs which are between the vertebrae. This can range from the disc bulging against the spinal cord or a rupture of the disc. Dogs often pace, move cautiously and slowly, seem painful, can't get comfortable for any amount of time, etc. Back problems can also be due to soft tissue problems such as a muscle strain, other inflammation, infection, etc. Abdominal pain can mimic this same presentation even with a lack of clinical signs. This could be due to intestinal cramping, pancreatitis, kidney pain, or problems with any of the organs in the abdomen. I'm mostly suspicious of a back problem. I would advise keeping a very close eye on Bo. If this condition persists, worsens, or other signs develop then I would have him evaluated immediately. If you notice that he is getting weaker, seems uncoordinated, starts walking on the top of his back paws, becomes paralyzed in the rear legs then get him seen immediately. These signs would mean that he is having some significant pressure on his spinal cord. Anal gland problems range from enlargement to inflammation to infection of the glands. Clinical signs are often vague like this. Your vet can gather a history, perform an examination, and then make a diagnostic/treatment plan based on their findings. Possible tests include fecal/blood/urine tests and x-rays to evaluate the spine and abdomen. Anal glands can be emptied if they are found to be enlarged and painful. Treatment would be targeted once a diagnosis is made. Good luck with Bo

It seems like something neurologic is going on with Luna based on the description of pacing and panting. I'm assuming this was the original problem with her when you took her to the other vets. It's encouraging that those tests were normal and helps to rule-out many life threatening problems, but it looks like more tests would need to be done to find the cause. I'm not sure what the stomach coating pills, antibiotics and pain are all attempting to correct, but I would need to know all of her previous information in order to comment on that. You may consider requesting a consult with one of our experts, so that you can send all the information, pictures and have the ability to chat back and forth for as long as necessary. It appears that an accurate diagnosis is lacking with Luna. I recommend scheduling a recheck appointment with one of the vets that has seen Luna and ask them what it will take to get a definitive diagnosis. Sometimes we attempt to treat for the common causes of a problem prior to suggesting costly diagnostics. If the treatment doesn't appear effective, then a new strategy is in order. I hope that helps and Luna gets better soon.

Poor Moose. It sounds like he may be in pain or anxious about something. I would have your vet take a look at him to ensure he isn't having any neck or back pain and to ensure that his abdomen also isn't painful. Your vet will be able to do an thorough exam to determine whether it is pain or anxiety and give him the proper meds to help him feel better. I do not recommend giving any human pain meds as most are toxic to dogs. I hope this helps!

This sounds like he’s in pain. It can be from arthritis, a knee ligament injury or pain from his back. Arthritis should show up on x rays, and he would be lame on one leg if it’s a cruciate ligament injury. Back pain can be caused by a bulging intervertebral disc and can me difficult to see on x rays. It can cause trouble walking with incoordination. Regardless I would try Tom on pain medication to see if that helps and keep him quiet. No running or jumping and lots of short slow leash walks. Once the pain is controlled he should eat better. If there is no improvement I recommend a rcheck or an exam with a veterinary specialist. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Tom.