My dog is crying constantly after surgery on pain meds. How to help?

That won't be effective as dosage will be too low and won't work well twice daily. I would recommend to ask to you local veterinarian for another medication (tramadol could be an option for example). 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 Stella! I am sorry to hear about her issue! I would call her vet and let her know that the pain killers she is taking are not sufficient. They may want to prescribe additional pain killers or a sedative/anti anxiety drug for night time if they feel she is anxious due to the issue. We do sometimes prescribe several different kinds of pain medications for some dogs (i.e. an NSAID like Carprofen or Rimadyl in addition to a drug like Gabapentin or Tramadol). I am sorry she seems to be in such discomfort, that is hard to see!

Unfortunately, there are no safe OTC pain relievers for dogs. Many are toxic for dogs and can be fatal if given. I'm not sure what kind of surgery your dog has, perhaps a spay, but she should likely not still be in pain three days before taking out her staples. It's also concerning that she won't eat, which could also be due to pain. This pain and anorexia could be an indication of a post surgical complication. Her symptoms are serious enough that she needs medical treatment now. There will be a vet on call for emergencies in your area. The information to find that vet is found on the clinic's answering machine or website. You can also see if there is an ER veterinary clinic in your area. Please take her into a vet asap.

I recommend a phone call to your veterinarian to ask about additional pain medications. Some dogs are more sensitive than others. My own puppy needed a second prescription medication to make him more comfortable. Although most dogs do fine with just carprofen, it might not be enough for Bella. It doesn't mean anything is wrong, or concerning, but we don't want her to be painful.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bailey. Not eating can be a sign of pain in a dog. I would start giving her the medication and see if her appetite improves. If not, then she will need to see a veterinarian to determine the cause of her decreased appetite. You can try adding warm water to her dry kibble or you can offer warmed canned food. I hope this information helps!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The best way to determine if crying is wanting out vs. pain is to go get her out and bring her for a very short/controlled walk. If she is happy, exploring, moving well, and doesn't cry when you put gentle pressure on the areas of her surgery, then it is likely that she is just wanting out. Also, if she is eating/pooping/peeing well this is a good sign. Signs of pain including not wanting to move, crying when you touch the surgery site, not eating, shaking/trembling, growling/crying/biting when you go to touch her abdomen, not wanting to walk/explore, not looking happy when you go see her. If you are still unsure you can bring her to a vet to assess if she is painful or not. Best of luck with Gizmo.

No, you cannot give her any more metacam today as she already got it by Injection at the end of the surgery and this medication can only be given once a day. Try to keep her on a soft surface with a gentle bedding, try offering her treats and keep her occupied with very gentle playing. Tomorrow she will already feel much better.