Jackdoodle Was Attacked & Bitten by Another Dog This Morning

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am so shook up I can barely type. We were out on our a.m. walk when suddenly this dog got out of his yard and attacked JD. I had to drop his leash, he was trapped. JD put up a fight but he's handicapped by his ruptured disc, and he fell. The other dog was over him down on the ground, I was screaming and trying to kick the other dog, I don't even know exactly what happened, my brain just shut down and it's a blur, it all happened so fast, but the dog was off of him by the time the owners came out. I was mostly worried about JD's back and didn't even know he was bitten until we got home. He has a puncture wound with a tear under his eye (thank God he missed the eye itself) and a big scrape across the top of his head. We're just back from the ER. They cleaned it and gave me pain meds and antibiotics...just what he needs with his IBD. I may not give him the pain meds, but I have to give him the amoxicillin, which is certain to upset his stomach. And I have to apply warm compresses to the wound under his eye several times a day for a few days so it doesn't scab up too fast. I am so upset I'm shaking. That dog got out of that yard so fast and so easily, they may as well not even have had a fence. 

Going to pick up his amoxicillin now. Poor JD. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know that some pain meds, like Rimadyl, can really cause a lot of GI problems. Are those the NSAIDs?

I did give him the Tramadol, and maybe it helped with pain, because he brought me a ball for the first time all day, but it hasn't done a thing to calm him down. He's restless as can be, and it's been about 90 minutes since he got it. 

Maybe the constipation will counteract any diarrhea from the antibiotics, lol. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yes, the NSAIDS are more likely to cause gastric irritation.

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Karen, I give my Gus (13 year old Lab) a Tramadol in the AM and PM.  He has issues, anyway, he has tollerated it just fine.  Rimadyl made him so sick he quit eating and drinking for several days last year, I thought I was going to lose him. 

It is taking me some time to read all the all the posts and your updates.  I'm hoping JD had a good night and is doing better this morning.  I'll keep reading...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you, Cathy. He seems to be tolerating the Tramadol just fine so far. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I don't have any experience with tramadol but a friend gave it to her dog after shoulder surgery.  She says it made him sleepy and kept him quiet.  No side effects, but I fully understand your concerns with JD's other problems. Maybe someone else on here has used it. It sounds like he might be in some pain.   

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Oscar is currently taking Tramadol for his recent intestinal obstruction surgery. It does make him sleepy and a little dopey. Seems to me he's on a high dose, too, as he wasn't getting nearly the same strength for his neuter surgery. Maybe the vet prescribed it higher because I'd told her he didn't do very well after his neuter. It definitely doesn't cause him agitation.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am so nervous about all these meds. As of this minute, JD is taking:

Prednisone

Tylan

Amoxicillin

Tramadol

Zantac

VSL#3 probiotics

Gentle Digest prebiotics

L-Glutamine 

Evening Primrose oil

Metamucil

plus he gets B12 and allergy injections.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Some things like metamucil, shots, prebiotics, EPO and L-glutamine don't even count : ) So right now JD and I are on about the same amount of medication . Relax. Zantac will help with any GI problem as you know. Really it's not so much. Give JD a hug.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There's the voice of reason, talking me down. Thanks, F. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

: )

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Debb, what dose is Oscar on? JD weighs about 83 lbs and they said to give him one and a half or two 50 mg tablets (so 75-100 mg) every 8 to 12 hours. Maybe the dose is too low.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Oscar is 45lbs. and is getting 75 mg. every 8 hrs.