Is Simbadol safe for my senior dog's arthritis, or is it harmful?

Question

Are there any circumstances under which an elderly 15 year old dog should be given an injection of Simbadol for pain relief due to advanced arthritis in back? My understanding is that Simbadol is for use in cats only, but yet my dog was given an injection of Simbadol four days ago and it seems to have almost killed him. Lost all appetite, refuses water, lethargic, very unsteady on feet, weak, disoriented, blindness. The injection immediately knocked him out and he has still not recovered. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 15 years and 3 months old | 11.6 lbs

Lauren Barry, BVSc, MRCVS, DVM · Accepted Answer

I am worried about poor Quincy. You're right to think that Simbadol is for cats, it's a high dose, longer acting version of buprenorphine, an opiate pain reliever. Buprenorphine is also used "off label" but the regular strength variety is usually safe in dogs. All opiates can potentially make a sick or debilitated dog worse, per the veterinary formulary, so using a lower dose in old dogs is recommend. Speak to your vet about why they chose Simbadol, and your concerns that he seems to have deteriorated. I know your vet would not have wished to cause him harm, and I'm sure intended for Quincy to be more comfortable.

Is Simbadol safe for my senior dog's arthritis, or is it harmful?

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