Hello everyone!

My name is Nina and I'm a very proud owner of a three month old french bulldog named Bella. I have a few questions that I need answered and everyone's help is greatly appreciated. Bella just had surgery last week in which she had her front left leg amputated. The first couple of days I got her back she was adjusting fine and running around being her playful self. But these past few days her personality has changed greatly. She will not respond when I call her name, she is screaming non-stop (day and night) and just seems very uncomfortable.  It's breaking my heart because I do not know what to do. I took her back to the vet and he gave me more pain killers for her and I have been giving them to her as prescribed but nothing seems to help. Well, the gist of what i'm trying to ask is are the screams normal and if so, what can I do to help with her recovery? When I look at her she looks so sad and depressed which makes me cry and that doesn't help with the situation. She is getting her stitches removed one week from today. Thank you in advance for all your help!!

Welcome Nina and Bella. Bella is adorable. What you are describing sounds like phantom pain to me. Many of our pups here suffered from it after their surgery as well. The drug that is usually recommended is called gabapentin I think.

Here is a link that Jerry posted last month regarding phantom pain. This explains the causes and management of it.

Discuss this with your vet and ask about getting the gabapentin.

I hope Bella gets to feeling better real soon. Please keep us posted.

Fortis'Dad