Is Simbadol safe for my senior dog's arthritis, or is it harmful?

It depends which kind of opioids, some of them can depress the breathing and are contraindicated with respiratory problems. Normally they are used at very small doses just to tip the edge of anxiety off in pneumonia patients and they would not cause such a serious consequence as death on their own.

Hello. There are many wonderful medication availably to make Sassy much more comfortable in her older years. You can start with a good glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplement ( I like Dasuquin by Nutramax ). Then, you can visit with your vet about some of the amazing medications we have to keep our elderly pets so much more comfortable, like NSAIDS ( Previcox, Rimadyl, Deramax, Meloxicam, Galliprant ) to which we can add additional medications such as Gabapentin, if necessary. In addition, adding Adequan injections may actually lower the amount of medications that Sassy might need to keep her comfortable. We have so many safe medications available, but they do need some monitoring. I hope you can talk to your vet soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Buster is having some aches and pains. A very safe pain medication that we prescribe regularly in cats (and dogs) is called gabapentin. It is a neuropathic pain medication but can be very effective for the treatment of mild to moderate chronic pain, such as that from arthritis or other chronic illness. It is safe on the heart and kidneys; side effects include mild sedation. I recommend asking your veterinarian if he/she can prescribe gabapentin for Buster. There is a liquid form of the medication, which is helpful in cats. I hope this is helpful - best of luck with Buster!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Brino has kidney disease, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. like Loxiom should be avoided. Even half a dose of Loxiom can have detrimental effect on kidneys if used chronically. So, the answer is absolutely yes, Brino should be weaned off Loxiom and paracetamol or other pain killers (tramadol, gabapentin, amantadine etc) should be used instead.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Arthritis can happen in older dogs as you know. However, this is not the only condition that can cause lameness like that. I do not recommend using paracetamol without a veterinary evaluation. There are other arthritis supplements that you can start which would not hurt if this happens to not be due to arthritis and if it is, they can help a good amount. There are several joint supplements out there such as Cosequin and Dasuquin, among others. I would encourage you to start with that and if no improvement is observed, Rodger should be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day! I hope this helps!

Buprenorphine often causes sedation as a side effect - sometimes a lot of sedation, as sounds like the case with Lady! The dose she received (0.3 mg for a 25 pound dog) is within the normal dosage range, and should not be expected to cause any serious problems at all :) The sedation should wear off in the next 6-8 hours, or possibly even sooner as the drug levels in her body start to drop. Buprenorphine has no negative impact on the pancreas at all, and is very commonly used for pain control in dogs with pancreatitis. I hope Lady starts to feel better soon!

As of yet, we have very little research on CBD oil in veterinary patients, so we cannot make any recommendations one way or the other about this product - we do not know what an appropriate dose might be, and if there are any potential health concerns or drug interactions in dogs. In addition, because it's a schedule 1 drug, it's illegal for us to prescribe or recommend. You do need to have Zoe seen by a vet to see if there is anything that can be given to her to make her more comfortable. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. I'd also see if you can borrow money from family and friends. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/