My dog is sedated from buprenorphine for pancreatitis. Is it safe?

I'm so sorry to hear about Nena! Pancreatitis is sometimes a tough disease to deal with. Buprenorphine is actually one of my favorite pain medications for pancreatitis patients and is generally a good choice. However, like all opiate-type medications, it can cause dysphoria which is characterized by vocalizing, not seeming to know where she is, or howling at "nothing". This can happen with frequent dosing or if a patient is a little more sensitive to this drug than the average pet. Just to be safe, double check the dose you are giving and call your vet if there is any concern. Consider giving half of your prescribed dose to see if she seems better or worse. In addition to buprenorphine, I often prescribe a medication like cerenia (maropitant) which is an anti-nusea medication that also has good pain relieving effects for the abdominal organs. If Nena is not on cerenia already, call and ask your vet if it would be appropriate for her. Usually with a few days of pain and nausea control and the fluids, most pancreatitis cases do improve - though I've seen a few that required more intensive care for 4-6 days. Hang in there! You are doing a great job. Don't be afraid to call your vet's office too if you have concerns or just want to discuss treatment further. Best of luck to you and Nena!

Hello, and thanks for your question. Without examining Trixie I can’t say for sure if there might be another problem causing her unsteadiness, but buprenorphine can definitely cause sedation and unsteadiness. If it’s from the buprenorphine, the symptoms should resolve within about 6 hours. Hope this helps!

Poor Sierra! I am sorry to hear that she is not feeling well. It sounds as if Sierra may be reacting to the Buprenorphine, which can cause restlessness and other nervous behaviors like the ones you have mentioned in some dogs and cats. Unfortunately, the only thing that can be done at home is trying to ease her anxiety. Sometimes, keeping it dark and quiet can help them settle. I would definitely recommend contacting the vet that saw her to discuss the possibility of a different pain medication. If Sierra shows no improvement or worsens within 12-24 hours, she should be reevaluated as soon as possible. I hope Sierra is able to get comfortable soon. Hang in there!

No, this dose is within the normal range for tramadol from dogs. You can give as little as 0.5 mg/lb to 4.5 mg/lb every 8-12 hours safely. The amount he is being given is likely due to the amount of pain Binx is in, as higher doses are given when the dog is in great pain. I hope this helps and he feels better soon!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Gaga will be very sleepy and lethargic after the extra dose of Buprenex but the symptoms should wear off within 6-8hrs. However, in unlikely case that Gaga is overexcited, dysphoric or she is deeply sedated, you should get in touch with your local vets right away.

Pmcreatitis is very painful, so the shaking could be interpreted as an expression of pain. Unfortunately Tramadol does not work very well for pain, not as good as in people. The Cerenia works a lot better for visceral pain. Being lethargic is also normal with pancreatitis. Under normal circumstances we hospitalize dogs with pancreatitis, however this is not always possible depending on the area where you live and whether such facilities are available. If Bombon deteriorates or gets much worse you will need to take her to a vet before Monday, or a Pet ER.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Vomiting and inappetence are concerning signs when it comes to pancreatic biopsies as it may be a sign of pancreatitis after the biopsy or this may possibly due to the underlying pathology they are trying to figure out with the biopsy. This may also be due to pain itself. If this was just due to pain, you should be seeing improvement within 1 hour after a methadone injection. I would recommend you check in right away with your veterinarian who performed the biopsy as they have more information on the case and can give you more specific recommendations. I am hoping that everything is fine.