My 3 yr old just had shunt surgery, have questions

[TammyV]

My 3 1/2 year old Yorkie had surgery 4 days ago. She is normally very active and wild, I understand this was a major surgery and that’s why she isn’t quite herself. But every time I feed her or give her meds her body shakes for a good 30 minutes, has this been normal for other yorkies that have had this surgery? I watch her sleep and her little body just twitches, Ive called my vet with my concerns and the answer I got is “oh its probably normal”. My baby is picky and has been very sick so all my vet and i could get her to eat is Gerber chicken and apples, the surgeon told me to continue with that. I really need advice from those whom have been through this with their babies. I’m very worried about her. The vet also has her on tramadol, she hates it and every time i give her a dose it kills me to see how it effects her. She drools, sleeps and spits.

[KatysMom]

HI TammyV,

Thank you so much for the love and care you show your little ones.

I do not have experience with liver shut surgery, but know it is an active topic here on YorkieTalk. Also have not had experience with tramadol.

If my little baby had been twitching/shaking for upwards of thirty minutes at a time, I'd be a royal mess--so my heart is breaking for you! Being told "it's probably normal" would not be a comfort to me at all.

Was the surgery performed by your gal's ordinary vet, or by a specialist? I'd be asking for more information from the vet and, if I still wasn't satisfied, would be making calls to a different vet for second opinion.

More than one thread on YorkieTalk concerning liver shunt encouraged pet owners to join what seems an active Yahoo Group dedicated to the subject.

Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support

If that link does not work, just search "Liver Shunt" from the Yahoo Groups front door. The group I'm referring to should be one of the first groups in the return list.

[KatysMom]

There are several YorkieTalk posts about tramadol. As well, many articles on the net.

Anna Burke, "Tramadol for Dogs: Uses and Side Effects," 2016, AKC.org. Author lists a series of side effects including drowsiness, anxiety, and tremors. Emphasis added, "These reactions range in severity, but play it safe and call your veterinarian if you dog experiences any of these tramadol side effects."

Quoting from the article,

Tramadol does not have the anti-inflammatory properties associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It does not treat the underlying cause of the pain. Instead, it alters the way the body perceives pain, giving the patient some relief. As a result, it is often used in conjunction with another drug, such as the NSAID carprofen (Rimadyl), or as an additional pain management strategy for chronic conditions.

You are four days post op. Praying you are able to learn whether the drug is ineffective for her pain or if she is having a bad reaction to it.

[TammyV]

Thank you for the information.

[TammyV]

Thank you I will do that. Her surgery was performed by a specialist.

[KatysMom]

Originally Posted by TammyV

.... the information.

Please keep us posted. We care.

[Lovetodream88]

They just came out with an article by skeptvet that says dogs don’t have the drug in their system as long as humans and it doesn’t work all that well. The drooling and spiting after giving it could be because it has an extremly bitter taste. You might want to call the surgeon or your vet and ask for a different pain medicine. Shaking generally means pain so I’m thinking maybe the medicine just isn’t working well for the pain.

[TammyV]

thank you for the information, it is only after she eats. I stopped giving her the pain meds, it not only made her spit and drool due to the taste but it would knock her out and her body would twitch. I just don’t think it was agreeing with her. When Stella was 4 months old she hurt her foot and i took her to the ER, It was sprained but the vet tech gave her a pain killer but she gave her 10X too much and she was hospitalized for 3 days and almost died from the overdose. I don’t feel comfortable with the way her body is reacting to this med. She seems so much more alert without it but her shaking after eating or taking her other meds is scaring me. I worried about how her body is doing post surgery. Ive called the specialist and her regular vet. Feels like no one cares and I’m just a crazy worried dog mom. Just want to know if any of this is normal.

[KatysMom]

Originally Posted by TammyV

thank you for the information, it is only after she eats. I stopped giving her the pain meds, it not only made her spit and drool due to the taste but it would knock her out and her body would twitch. I just don’t think it was agreeing with her. When Stella was 4 months old she hurt her foot and i took her to the ER, It was sprained but the vet tech gave her a pain killer but she gave her 10X too much and she was hospitalized for 3 days and almost died from the overdose. I don’t feel comfortable with the way her body is reacting to this med. She seems so much more alert without it but her shaking after eating or taking her other meds is scaring me. I worried about how her body is doing post surgery. Ive called the specialist and her regular vet. Feels like no one cares and I’m just a crazy worried dog mom. Just want to know if any of this is normal.

Hi there. I am worrying with you.

Were I in your shoes, I would take her to an ER. You wrote, "I worried about how her body is doing post surgery." I am too.

Praying for you.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by TammyV

thank you for the information, it is only after she eats. I stopped giving her the pain meds, it not only made her spit and drool due to the taste but it would knock her out and her body would twitch. I just don’t think it was agreeing with her. When Stella was 4 months old she hurt her foot and i took her to the ER, It was sprained but the vet tech gave her a pain killer but she gave her 10X too much and she was hospitalized for 3 days and almost died from the overdose. I don’t feel comfortable with the way her body is reacting to this med. She seems so much more alert without it but her shaking after eating or taking her other meds is scaring me. I worried about how her body is doing post surgery. Ive called the specialist and her regular vet. Feels like no one cares and I’m just a crazy worried dog mom. Just want to know if any of this is normal.

I’m sure after surgery she is having pain so if you stop the tramadol you need to have a replacement pain medicine so please don’t stop that medicine until you have a replacement.

[ladyjane]

I found that my Teddy Bear recovered quickly from liver shunt surgery. I don't think he was on pain meds after a few days. He had liver shunt and bladder stone surgery at the same time.
Not sure what that twitching is, but I would not assume it is pain. Is she panting when she is awake? Is she hunching over? I would say that might be more indicative of pain. As for Tramadol...it is impossible to give and, for the life of me, I don't know why vets give it to small dogs because there is no way it can be compounded to taste ok. I recently bought chews that I thought would work if they swallowed them whole...but they don't work. I always ask for other meds....but these days vets are staying away from the Tramadol anyway because the studies have shown it to be less effective. They often use Gabopentin along with Metacam. I have also used Bupranex in the past.
If you think it is painful for her, call your vet and insist on another pain med.
Here is a link to the story about my Teddy Bear in case you might be interested:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ver-shunt.html

[KatysMom]

HI TammyV,

Thinking about you and your little one. How are you guys doing?

--KatysMom

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by KatysMom

HI TammyV,

Thinking about you and your little one. How are you guys doing?

--KatysMom

I too was wondering how it was going?