Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
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Sally, I'm no saint. I think I'm just a glutten for punishment. Heh. But thanks for your kind words.
Renee, we did talk about amantadine but since we know that Cora does well on gabapentin and that she does not always react typically to meds we wanted to stick with the gabapentin for now. And I would say today she's very close to her normal energy levels. This includes wanting out and in and out and in and out and in. This includes going on a route in the yard I would have sworn she couldn't do. That seemed hard and unnecessary and going that route inspite of my efforts to redirect her. And she's eaten with gusto and seems to think I should give her a second dinner. 
So I'm feeling super relieved. I did give her tramadol because she has had some mild meltdowns and I want to eliminate her pain and calm her nervous system down. It does strike me more as something more close to phantom pain
as several times the meltdown seemed to come when she was at rest.
We didn't talk about acupuncture because she wasn't tolerating anyone but me touching her at all. And even me she was being reactive to at times. It is certainly something I would be interested in exploring. The last time I researched it, the length of the drive I would need to do made it seem a poor option. But that was back when Cora hated the car. We have now found a way to make car rides ok for her and she is often a better traveler than Floyd.
Topher
Vet Assistant (in school to be a licensed vet technician)
1.5 years Oncology department, moved to rehab & sportsmed December 2024
Tripawd Angel, Cora the Determined <3
I am so very glad you had a better day!! Cora is lucky to have a mama that is such a super glutton for punishment ( saint has less syllables and is more applicable, but I will humor you 
)
Hoping for yet another good day, keep up the great work and I hope you are able to get YOU some rest 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Wow that Cora knows how to give us all a scare! I'm so happy she's feeling well.
I was under the impression that amantadine and gabapentin could be combined for a better effect. You may want to discuss that with your vet (and let me know if this isn't the case).
As for acupuncture, that is great news she's able to go in the car now. I've probably asked you this before, but have you ever looked at a ThunderCap (formerly called a Calming Cap) for her? It works miracles for Wyatt in the car, when we do his nails, basically anytime he's stressed.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes you can combine both amantadine and gabapentin. Amantadine is not as cheap as it used to be so I don't use it that often anymore but I gave Tazzie both drugs before and after her amputation and my older dog Kona took both when her arthritis was very bad.
Pam
SOOOOO GLAD THINGS ARE SETTLING DOWN!!
It vlows my mind how tuned into "everything Cora" you are
Clearly you have her heart just as much as you have hers...and has ours
Anf you can still be a SAINT and a gluten for punishment!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Awww, you guys are all great. 
Yesterday was rougher again and I was super stressed. I think that because she was feeling better I let her move around too much? We added in deramax because of the arthritis last night. Today was much better (see video) and she was also a complete love bug. Some days Cora is a go-getter, wants to conquer the world, and doesn't want to have anything to do with her papa. Some days she could spend the whole day leaning against me. Heh, I like those days.
Renee and Pam - I probably misunderstood about the amantadine. I will ask about that. A bit more on meds. She's also on fluoxetine. I don't know if it makes any difference and have thought about weening her off more than once. Or at least trying, to see if it's making a difference. I may try once things stabilize since she's now getting so many meds. It will make it easier for both of us. I figure we will go up on the gabapentin to 300 mg three times a day, which will drop the number of pills and make it easier. And, my next career goal is to get my veterinary medical clerk license so I can dispense medications so this is all great learning for me
Renee - You have mentioned the thunder cap before. I tried that on Floyd... oh man, my dogs like to make my life interesting. Floyd figured out to get it off in less than 10 minutes. So, we had several times where I tried it with him and he got it off and then...lol, he got it off when I wasn't looking and it disappeared. That was a few years ago and I never found it. No, he didn't eat it but what he did do with it? I have no idea. Cora is blind so I don't think it would help her. What did help is two things. First, setting her up in a very small area with a very comfy bed. The bed makes it impossible for her to stand so she doesn't try and I think it probably makes some of the bumps less uncomfortable. The roads out here stink. The other thing was going back to Cora basics. Until she falls asleep I tell her what's about to happen. So, "curve" and "bump" are her cue words. That way she isn't taken by surprise by what happens.
Hmmm... I always forget how to post videos but here is Cora this morning
Topher
Vet Assistant (in school to be a licensed vet technician)
1.5 years Oncology department, moved to rehab & sportsmed December 2024
Tripawd Angel, Cora the Determined <3
That is a great point! Humans can tell you if they are feeling crappy coming off medications but animals can't. They just act out and maybe it's because of side effects from medications instead of pain reoccurring.
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Sweet Cora, it was good to see her hopping around. I'm looking at her front elbow and wondering how much it's been checked out for issues? From what Dr. Marcellin-Little told us, dogs who lose a leg at a young age are more prone to elbow issues as their front leg starts bowing out a bit. Just thinking out loud.
That's a funny story about the ThunderCap! Wyatt knows how to get it off too so we have to watch him closely when he's wearing it. And duh, I forgot about Cora being vision impaired, you're so right, it wouldn't make a difference at all!
Dr. Pam can answer about the medication interactions, I'm not sure how all 3 would react other than to make most dogs really sleepy.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes, good point about the prosac and if I do it, it will be very slow. The vet already mentioned that and I know it from my research too. And if I can get a good med routine going I may not at all
Renee, yes, it's interesting you mentioned that about her front leg. I always worry about that leg because of how much strain she puts on it and I know there's one point in the video where you can really see that. That's the leg that we have most closely monitored over the years. She doesn't react when checking that leg for pain so that's why they didn't do rads of it. I wish I'd been less over all stressed or I may have mentioned getting rads of it. Given her reaction to the sedation and waking up and all that, the idea of her getting more rads scars the poo out of me. I'm not in a rush to do that again.
One of the higher vets in our practice is actually going to review Cora's file. Because her reactions were so atypical and she's so atypical he wants to take a look. I will be interested to see what he says.
Today she is truly the normal (for her) Cora and it's so flipping great. I just had to stop typing to let a very cheerful Cora out. I am willing to bet in a few minutes she will be back in and ... sure enough, she is.... back and demanding a second dinner
Topher
Vet Assistant (in school to be a licensed vet technician)
1.5 years Oncology department, moved to rehab & sportsmed December 2024
Tripawd Angel, Cora the Determined <3
Just catching up. I am SO pleased to hear that she is feeling so much better, and demanding a second dinner! Truly, a dog after my own heart.
It will be interesting to hear what the senior vet says. I do admire the thoroughness and care with which you balance all the different factors. Cora is one lucky girl to have such a devoted and knowledgeable papa.
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
