Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Mabel had her front right leg amputated seven days ago (mast cell tumor). She is able to move around, is great up the stairs, but shakes a lot and is barely eating - just a small portion of fresh chicken each morning. Reducing pain meds has helped some. We had a good day yesterday, but back to shaking and eating next to nothing today.
Would love any advice on how normal this reaction is. She just seems so sad - understandably - but I need more advice on how to help her.
She has a middle-aged wirehaired Jack Russell.
Thanks!
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
What meds is Mabel taking? It sounds like she may be having pain. My pug Maggie was on tramadol and an anti-inflammatory for two weeks after surgery. I know that pain meds sometimes cause issues, but in my mind are necessary for healing. Be sure you are in contact with your vet about how she is acting- there are other pain meds that can be tried.
Unfortunately pain and reaction to pain meds can be similar- it is really hard to get a good balance. She is probably not really sad- but just trying to get used to her new normal- new Tripawds get very tired very easily. It may be too early for stairs also- our surgeon said no stairs, and walking only for potty and eating was allowed the first two weeks.
Maggie lost her left rear leg to a mast cell tumor. She was given a prognosis of 6 to 9 months after surgery because there was cancerous mast cells in the lymph node removed with her leg. She lived almost 4 years and did not pass from mast cell cancer. You can read Maggie's story and about her treatment in her blog, the links are in my signature below.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Sorry to hear about Mabel...my dobe, Nitro, didn't eat for at least a week after his amp surgery. We resorted to spooning yogurt down his throat. He finally showed interest in his fav treat - chicken jerky, so we let him eat all he wanted of that just so he had something in his stomach. Gradually his appetite returned (especially after pain meds were decreased. Hang in there...it does get better.
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Hi Mabel's mom. This first week is a nightmare for all tripawd families. Amputation is a major surgery, and so we can't skip the pain meds, but they do come with after-effects. I would ask the vet about the shaking. Lack of appetite can also be from the drugs. Small portions several times a day can be an option, and until appetite is back go for healthy fresh food, like the chicken you are feeding, liver steaks, etc. Another option are the canned special foods for dogs that are recovering from surgery - Hills or Royal Canin.
regards from Brazil - Daniela & Johnnie
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
Hi Mabel's mom,
So sorry your sweet girl has been diagnosed with the ugly "c", but you will have the best and unending support here......
We all know how traumatic this situation is with our fur babies, but eventually it gets better.....while my precious Tripawd Lab girl Polly had no difficulties at all, some others do after amp. It is usually just a matter of pain management
, and healing process to get our pups and kitties to a comfortable place.
I am hoping Alison and her journey with sweet Shelby will jump in to help you out....her Shelby was part Jack Russell and had similar difficulties, so I know she can put your mind at ease.
Keeping you in my thoughts,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Welcome, Mabel's mom, and so sorry that you have to be here -- but you couldn't be in a better place under the circumstances.
I'm surprised that the vet didn't mention limiting stairs. My guess is that learning to balance on three legs + stairs may have resulted in some muscle spasms. I'd suggest no stair action or as little as possible until she has more time under her belt and at least until after the stitches/stapes come out. She may be pulling at them with the stair activity.
Not sure what meds you're on, but for many in the post-op phase, Tramadol isn't enough. It might be worth talking to your vet about adding Gabapentin and possibly Rimadyl. Also, if she's middle aged, is she on any bone and joint supplements? They take a few weeks to kick in, but can really help. If she is having muscle spasms and continued shaking you might want to ask your vet about Methocarbamyl/Robaxin too...it's a muscle relaxant.
Hang in there and please keep us posted. The first couple of weeks are tough, but it will get better!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Welcome, Mabel's mom, and so sorry that you have to be here -- but you couldn't be in a better place under the circumstances.
I'm surprised that the vet didn't mention limiting stairs. My guess is that learning to balance on three legs + stairs may have resulted in some muscle spasms. I'd suggest no stair action or as little as possible until she has more time under her belt and at least until after the stitches/stapes come out. She may be pulling at them with the stair activity.
Not sure what meds you're on, but for many in the post-op phase, Tramadol isn't enough. It might be worth talking to your vet about adding Gabapentin and possibly Rimadyl. Also, if she's middle aged, is she on any bone and joint supplements? They take a few weeks to kick in, but can really help. If she is having muscle spasms and continued shaking you might want to ask your vet about Methocarbamyl/Robaxin too...it's a muscle relaxant.
Re. not eating, I'd try some other extra-yummy stuff...canned food, even smelly cat food mixed with dog food, if your vet is okay with that. One of my friends calls cat food 'doggy crack.' Lexie ate well until recently, and I tried some Beef and Bison roll from FreshPet (in a refrigerated section at many pet and even grocery stores). It smells like cat food but is formulated for dogs, and it's in a roll. Sometimes it takes some trial and error to find the right thing that they want.
Hang in there and please keep us posted. The first couple of weeks are tough, but it will get better!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Hi there! I hope today is much better. Everyone pretty much said what I would suggest too; let your vet know this is going on, it's probably just a matter of adjusting her pain meds. Also, how much exercise is she getting? She shouldn't be doing anything more than going on short, leashed potty walks right now, unless she's under the care of a rehab vet. If she's getting too much activity this could be causing her behavior too.
Hang in there, it gets better. Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just catchingnup. You've already gotten good advice...especially about pain meds and not over doingnit.
The only other thing I would add is just make sure she has no fever and that she is drinking. Do lots of homecooking..chicken, macaroni and chesse.....
Please update when you can on Mabel. She sounds adorable...would love to see pictures!!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
Hi Mabel and family, everyone has given such good advice I just wanted to say DITTO! Often when they seem sad, its just the pain medication making them dopey. It is such a doozy trying to get the right concoction for every dog, they are all so different. Like everyone said, its probably best to keep her off the stairs for awhile if possible. My Jake also didn't want to eat/drink much, so I would mix baby food chicken with water and warm it up, and do that throughout the day. Sometimes their taste buds are dull, so maybe try warming up little bits of food and giving many times throughout the day (like Sally said, chicken, mac and cheese etc).
Please keep us updated!
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
krun15 said
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.What meds is Mabel taking? It sounds like she may be having pain. My pug Maggie was on tramadol and an anti-inflammatory for two weeks after surgery. I know that pain meds sometimes cause issues, but in my mind are necessary for healing. Be sure you are in contact with your vet about how she is acting- there are other pain meds that can be tried.
Unfortunately pain and reaction to pain meds can be similar- it is really hard to get a good balance. She is probably not really sad- but just trying to get used to her new normal- new Tripawds get very tired very easily. It may be too early for stairs also- our surgeon said no stairs, and walking only for potty and eating was allowed the first two weeks.
Maggie lost her left rear leg to a mast cell tumor. She was given a prognosis of 6 to 9 months after surgery because there was cancerous mast cells in the lymph node removed with her leg. She lived almost 4 years and did not pass from mast cell cancer. You can read Maggie's story and about her treatment in her blog, the links are in my signature below.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Karen, would you mind sharing the link again?
Hi rebeccaho, welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Which links are you talking about? The ones about Maggie? You will find the links in my signature below this post, just click on the red text on either side of the black pug.
Are you dealing with mast cell cancer in your pup? Please consider starting your own topic so we can better help you.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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