Archive for the ‘Pain Relief’ Category

Tramadol: Pain Relief for Animals

Thursday, October 8, 2009@ 11:34 PM
Author: Mike S

Tramadol Pain Relief for Animals
For humans, pain is a sometimes mystifying phenomenon.  We can’t always pinpoint where it’s coming from or why.  It’s difficult, frustrating and sometimes hard to control.  For animals, it’s worse.  We can’t just ask the dog what he or she feels.  We can only estimate through body language and subtle signs such as slight limping, flinching or unusual isolation.  There are times we don’t realize an animal is in pain until well after its progression into chronic or acute pain.

We love our pets; that’s why we have them.  For many of us, they’re a part of the family and are treated as one of the children or the only child.  So when we find that our adopted child is in pain after an accident or surgery, we feel helpless not knowing how to solve the problem or feeling neglectful for not having noticed sooner.  Acute pain can limit an animal’s mobility and chronic pain can last for a long time or indefinitely.

It’s important to understand that as long as we’re being decent human beings and treating our animals properly, when it’s in pain, it’s not our fault.  Pain happens to everyone, animal and human alike.  What we can do is start investing in understanding how this pain can be treated.

Clinical studies have performed tests on pained animals to distinguish what causes the pain and how to solve it.  The studies have used domestic animals such as cats and dogs, but they have also used rodents and rabbits as well.  They’ve discovered that the benefits of pain medications on animals are as great as when used on human beings.  The aches in animals have been known to come from osteoarthritis, cancer and neuropathic pains, to name a few.

These studies have shown management of chronic pain can be difficult, just like with humans, and therapy schedules must be designed by combining palliatives with adjuvant, immunological medications.  Fortunately, there are a number of medications designed to lessen the pain.  Opioids are advantageous in relieving the suffering of animals because even animals have a quality of life that we want to preserve and raise.  At the first suspicious sign of pain an animal should be taken to a vet to be diagnosed and treated.

Tramadol is an opioid that can be used for animals and remains one of the most reliable sources of medication for treatment.  Not only does it alleviate the pain, but it has anti-anxiety effects as well.  While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are dangerous for cats, Tramadol can be used for cats or dogs with proven results.

However, just like with people, adverse reactions do occur.  Constipation, decreased heart rate and upset stomach are most common.  If your pet is on a psychoactive such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Deprenyl or Tricyclic antidepressants, let your Veterinarian know, as these can’t be co-administered with Tramadol.  If you accidentally overdose your pet, then rush him immediately to the veterinarian so he or she may administer appropriate medication.  Signs of overdosing include pinpoint pupils, seizures and mental alteration.  Dogs typically start with a dosage of 1mg pills twice a day while cats are dosed at 2 mg pills twice a day.

Using prescription Tramadol for animals abides by the ethical and compassionate care of animals distressed by pain.  Using obtained facts in clinical researches, veterinarians have improved their knowledge of animal pain, which is then administered to the practices and therapies used everyday for improved animal assistance.  If your pet is in pain and you are prescribed Tramadol by your veterinarian, you can order Tramadol through an online pharmacy and typically you will get the cheapest Tramadol by doing so.