Homemade Pain Medicine?

[hotglue01]

Hi everyone,

I'm sad to report that I think my Buttercup is preparing to cross the rainbow bridge. I took him to the vet last week for his distended stomach, but the vet said that he isn't in pain and that it was likely constipation, although the possibility for tumors in his stomach couldn't be ruled out. Since adding an ultrasound to the bill would put me at over 1000 USD, I had to decline.

Signs that Buttercup is slowing down include his stomach getting a little bigger again (it went down a bit last week before the vet visit), and that he's sleeping very deeply these days. Before he'd wake up pretty easily if I had to check on him, or he'd be awake in his chamber house with his ears all perked up, or he'd be out and about. But the past few days, he won't even stir when I give him pets on his stomach or try to pick him up-- and only then will he finally wake up.

I'm wondering if there's anything I could give him to make him comfortable here at home, if he is in pain. Any advice?

Thank you for keeping me and Butters in your thoughts, if you see this <3

[bella33]

If you are able to, moving him to a smaller cage might make him more comfortable. Or even putting his food and water closer to his sleeping area so he won't have to travel as far.

[hotglue01]

Thank you for this. <3

His water dish is on top of his multi-chamber house, and maybe now I'll put his food on top of it too so he won't have to go so far and forage. I think I'll start to give him some of his favorites: peanut butter, broccoli, apple, spinach. In the meantime, I'm grateful every second I get to share this earth with him. He's my little angel.

A question: if I cut up an aspirin into quarters and gave it to him, it'd be bad, right? Or would it be OK?

I'm sorry, too, if this counts as starting a new thread on the same topic. I suppose I'm just asking about end-of-life care, so it's different than his poor stomach.

[ForgetfulBreeze]

NO. Do not give Buttercup ibuprofen, aspirin or Tylenol. You can go back to the vet and either ask for gabapentin or meloxicam for the pain, or your vet may be able to fill it with a call.

Your baby may need to be put to sleep if you think he is uncomfortable, I’m sorry <3

[hotglue01]

Thank you for this.

I won't give him any medicine for humans... I was just secretly hoping one of you all would say it was OK. It's just hard because I have no control over how he's feeling and his overall trajectory.

Again, he doesn't seem to be in active pain -- no whining, limping, etc -- but he's just slowed down so much. But I did hear him gnawing on his multi-chamber house last night, and despite all the other chew toys and yumyums I have given him over the years, that remains his favorite meal, lol. So that made me happy (even though I had to ask him to stop at around 3am).

I'll keep everyone updated. <3