[PyrNet-L] Fentanyl

[Impyrial@aol.com]

Hi,
My friend asked me to post this as information to any who may be using this 
drug.  Claude is a 11? year old pyr who was recently diagnosed with cancer.  
This is her (Barbara) experience with Fentanyl:

Just a quick note RE a narcotic pain medication used on Claude last week.  It 
was a Fentanyl 100 mcg patch with slow release over 3-4 days.  It may have 
relieved pain but nearly made him immobile in all aspects.  I am attaching a 
memo I sent to the vet on Tuesday for a blow-by-blow description of what this 
drug did to him.  Don't know if it will download for you properly formatted; 
let me know.  Basically, I refuse to give it again.  Just for the record if 
somebody else's Pyr uses this medication.

I wanted to let you know the effect that Fentanyl had on Claude. The 
following is an observation of his behavior on the drug:

Thursday	5/6	Visible signs of pain relief in the evening.
Friday	5/7	Difficulty getting up, standing, and walking.
		Balance problems.
		Ate some food in AM. 
Saturday 	5/8	Extreme difficulty getting up, standing, and walking.
		Balance problems.
		Sleeping.
		Heavy panting when awake.
		Not alert.
		No appetite; didn't eat (food offered AM & PM).
		Drank very little water.
		No bowel movement.
		Urinated AM and PM.
Sunday	5/9	Extreme difficulty getting up, standing, and walking. 
		Balance problems.
		Sleeping.
		Heavy panting when awake.
		Not alert.
		No appetite; didn't eat (food offered AM & PM).
		Drank very little water.
		No bowel movement.
		Urinated AM and PM.
Monday	5/10	Difficulty getting up, standing, and walking.
		Balance better.
		No extreme panting.
		More alert.
		Bowel movement in AM and PM.
		Urinated in AM and PM.
		Beginning to eat and drink (food offered AM/PM).
Tuesday	5/11 	Some difficulty getting up and walking.
		Balance better.
		Appears somewhat comfortable. 
		No extreme panting.
		More alert; raises head.
		Good bowel movement this AM.
		Urinated in AM.
		Eating and drinking water (ate AM meal).
Fentanyl appeared to have much too strong an effect on Claude, and I do not 
feel it is entirely safe on him.  
He appears relatively comfortable today having been out for a short walk.  He 
has continued to get his Rimadyl 125 mg twice daily.  Three Tylenol with 
codeine upset his stomach (refused to eat all day); two appears to work well 
enough for the night.