We took our Mika to the vet last night for an ear infection. The vet suggested she give him something to help him sleep, which was fine with us, but I think she gave him far more sedative than necessary. He was completely loopy last night and was out of it all day today until just a bit ago. I just checked the invoice, and it lists 80mg of Tobugesic, which works out to about 1mg/lb.(!) That seems like way, way too much of something which is essentially morphine. Is this normal practice?
Reg: 08-29-2006
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In our hospital we give Torb prior to or following a major surgery or a major trauma. Never for ear infections. Seems a little extreme, IMO, and it certainly sounds like it was too much for your dog.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Loc: North-Central coast of California
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We took our Mika to the vet last night for an ear infection. The vet suggested she give him something to help him sleep, which was fine with us, but I think she gave him far more sedative than necessary. He was completely loopy last night and was out of it all day today until just a bit ago. I just checked the invoice, and it lists 80mg of Tobugesic, which works out to about 1mg/lb.(!) That seems like way, way too much of something which is essentially morphine. Is this normal practice?
I found some dosage info for Torbugesic (butorphenol): 20 – 40 mg for sedation and 50 – 80 mg for anesthesia was mentioned in one protocol (for a different procedure).
Was this given in order to enable the vet to clean out a badly infected ear full of gunk? I took a rescue in once who had a severe ear infection when she came to me (inflamed inside; full of a grayish infection secretion; painful enough that she yelped when that side of her head was touched), and the vet did administer an anesthesia-level dose of something similar so she could clean it out and the dog would also remain under the influence (so to speak) for the period of throbbing and pain from the cleaning.
She was wobbly for 24+ hours.
Ear infections can be extremely painful. I'm not just theorizing this; I had one myself when I was 16 and it made me cry.
So maybe the vet was administering what was essentially an anesthesia-level dose.
The pup got the shot just before leaving and only to help him sleep. The infection was/is minor. So it does sound like she overdid it. No harm, I suppose - 24 hrs. later and he's just about back to his usual self. Oh well, one more bit of knowledge to put away until the next vet visit. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
I know that 10mg of any opiate makes me sleep just fine - what he got would be by weight the equivalent of 160mg for me! I imagine he was pretty numb to say the least. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Loc: North-Central coast of California
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The pup got the shot just before leaving and only to help him sleep. The infection was/is minor. So it does sound like she overdid it.......
Then unless that was a typo on the bill...... yep, I'd agree with you. I'd ask, though. I'd want it explained.
I'm not a health professional, but, like you, I want to understand everything my vet does to/for my dog. And maybe the stuff I read is inaccurate, too. I'd ask.
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Torbugesic Dosage?
#113783 - 09/13/2006 07:22 PM 
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