My dog has an inflamed knee and her veterinarian recommended she undergo surgery to fix the cause of the inflammation. For now the doctor gave me a supply of Buprenex for pain management.
While she's on the drug she doesn't eat or do her business. I can't tell if she's drinking either. She is almost always sleeping or half-asleep, with a very stoned look, having sluggish movements and even aborted maneuvers.
When I ask for her attention she peps up and is her attentive self again, but only for a moment. She is quickly subdued back into her medicated state.
She is a 5 lb chihuahua, orally receiving 0.1 ml of Buprenex every 8-12 hours, with the goal of managing pain during healing or until having surgery.
I've decided to do the surgery after understanding what this treatment option is like. But I won't be able to get advice or schedule the surgery until the animal hospital opens again tomorrow.
So, I'm asking about Buprenex here because it is now day two where she hasn't taken in or expelled anything, and I'm not sure if this is normal or enough of a concern to stop treating her pain. I have worries such as:
- Is this normal, considering she is so inactive?
- How long can she go without eating or using the bathroom?
- I haven't seen her drink, what should I be thinking in regards to that?
- If she moves as if in pain (limping or hopping gingerly, walking awkwardly, bottoming out instead of supporting her weight on the bad knee) but has a normal appetite and digestive cycle, is that better than how she is now?
