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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Meet 4 yr/old Senna
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Member Since:
7 October 2015
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7 October 2015 - 7:44 pm
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Hello,

My name is Kyle, my wife and I are the loving owners of Senna.  She's a 4 year old, Belgian Malinois and recently retired police K-9.  This past Monday we had to have her front left limb, to include the shoulder, amputated.  She had a shoulder injury last year and after multiple different therapies and surgeries, the vets felt the only solution to get her comfortable was amputation.  We brought Senna back home Tuesday and have had, what I feel, the typical struggles with her.  She's no active (pain meds), not a huge appetite or thirst (not doing much but resting), BUT still wants pets like theres no tomorrow.  Our only concern is the lack of bowel and urinary movements.  She hasn't pooped since she came home (ate a decent bit over the last day and a half) and peed last night, but nothing today.  Usually she drinks water constantly, but has been pretty light on water intake.  We've taken her out plenty of times and she doesn't seem interested to go and DOESN'T squat to try with no success.  I guess my concern is whether she should need to go by now?  Like I said, when we've gone out she hasn't tried to go, she just sniffs around and then wants to sit and get pets or go back inside.  Really just curious if this is kind of the typical thing and if she needs to go, she'll go.

 

Thanks,

Kyle

 

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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7 October 2015 - 8:15 pm
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Hello and welcome to Tripawds.  Your future posts will not have to wait for approval.

I wouldn't worry too much about the poop yet- the pain meds are constipating.  My little pug Maggie didn't go for 5 or 6 days after surgery.  Peeing should be happening I think, but if it was only today she might be a little dehydrated or uncomfortable on her feet. I would give the vet a call and let them know what is going on.

When you take her out are you using a sling or helping hold her up?  I know some pups won't go if their people are too close or touching them.  Conventional wisdom is that they will go when they have to, but on rare occurrences a pup will need some help to get the potty routine down.

 

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Member Since:
7 October 2015
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7 October 2015 - 8:47 pm
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She's been on a leash.  She's dealt with a heavy limp to refusal to use her front left limb for the last 5-6 months.  The thing that makes me not worry is that she peed twice yesterday, once when leaving the vet and then again last night.  She struggled with the stance outside the vet but figured out a wider stance works halfway through.  We're hoping it's a little dehydration but we're going to talk/go to the vet tomorrow.

 

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Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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7 October 2015 - 9:13 pm
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Se

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!

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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7 October 2015 - 9:24 pm
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Sorry...really having trouble with replies!!

Senna is absolutely beautiful!

As Karen said, delayed pooping is not unusual at all and nothing to be concerned about. You may try a tablespoon or two of natural pumpkin to help get things flowing.

As far as peeing, the fact that she has gone is good. Definitely do talk with the vet though as you may have to manipulate her bladder with pressure...under a vet's direction of course! She may surprise you and pee in her bed tonight...it happens!

My Happy Hannah never missed a meal, but she did not want to drink water without some form of enticement for almost two weeks! Putting a scoop of ice cream and swirling it around in her water bowl finally did the trick.

Once Senna gets over recovering from surgery she is going to feel sooooo much better than she has in months!! You will be amazed at how good she will feel with that painful leg gone!

Try and get some rest and update us when you can. And we would love to see more pictures of pretty Senna!

Hugs to all!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

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!

Member Since:
3 September 2015
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8 October 2015 - 8:03 am
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Levi had done "the big 4" (pee/poop/eat drink) all within 24 hours of coming home from surgery, much to our huge relief. But, as others have said, I understand how rare that is (esp. the pooping part). We are 3 weeks post-surgery and back to about 95% of normal. You're getting through the toughest part right now.

Here's hoping hero dog Senna gets those bowels moving soon!

Levi was diagnosed w/likely osteosarcoma at 7.5 years old in 7/2015 and became a Tripawd on 9/11/15. Loved life until he broke one of his front legs on 2/12/17. As x-rays showed clean bone, we decided to repair the leg. He recovered well, but in June of 2017, started to limp on the same leg. X-Rays showed return of OSA in the front leg. Levi crossed the rainbow bridge on 7/20/17, after over 22 months as a happy Tripawd. 

Member Since:
7 October 2015
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8 October 2015 - 8:18 am
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Well we took her to the vet this morning and had some of our worries put to rest.  They weren't concerned with a lack of pooping and really think she may have peed and we didn't notice (searching the master bedroom now).  They think some of her anxiety/confusion could be with too much pain medication and suggested dropping the amount she takes (surgery and therapy was done under our agency's contract vet) .  She doesn't show any signs of active pain, gets around just fine. The only thing we've noticed is around eating time or shortly after she has, I guess, a freak out.  Yelps, whines, cries and runs around the room for a good 20-30 seconds and then she's fine.  Vet thinks dropping the pain medication may drop the anxiety/freak outs, so we'll see!  She was also given about 1/2 a liter of fluids subcutaneously just to keep dehydration away.  She's back home now getting pets and laying around.

 

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Member Since:
7 October 2015
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8 October 2015 - 9:26 am
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Snoozing away after she came home.

 

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After picking her up at the vet

 

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And she fell asleep a couple times like that!

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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8 October 2015 - 10:30 am
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That first picture...OMD! Now that's a comfortable dog!

Glad you got the reassurance from the vet as far as peeing goes.

Check out phantom pain here on the site. It's when the nerves are firing off to the limb that is no longer there and it causes quick, unexpected jolts of pain. They come and go quickly vut they cause the dog to yelp and to try and "run away" from the pain. This sounds very much like what your girl is experiencing. If it happens again, ask your vet about Gabapentin. It's a drug that seems to block that pain sensation to the brain. Many dogs here are sent home with Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimadyl and an antibiotic. It's really important to give the pain pills consistently. If the pain gets ahead start, it's harder to get under control.

For now, complete rest, just going out for potty breaks and being spoiled and loved!

Don't worry about the pooping. I think the record here was seven days! As I mentioned before, ou can try a couple of tablespoons of organic canned pumpkin pulp. There was just a post about that. I'll try and find the link.

Thank you so much for updating us snd sharing these great pictures of your pretty girl. She looked pretty darn happy getting out of the vet's office and getting home!!

Hugs to all!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

PS...here's the pumpkin link....maybe.....http://tripawds.....13153f1a15

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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10
8 October 2015 - 12:00 pm
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Ohhhhhh what a gorgeous pup! We love love love Senna! 

Glad to hear the vet wasn't too concerned. They're right; pooping is something that will happen, some dogs take a while (even 5 days sometimes!), those pain meds really stop things up. Try adding pumpkin! Here's a post we just did about it:

http://nutritio.....cats-dogs/

Also, olive oil, a bit of metamucil, anything with fiber will get things moving along.

We have another police dog family who just joined us, take a look at Lacey's story.

Let us know if you have any questions OK? We're here to help.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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8 October 2015 - 1:21 pm
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She is beautiful!

I'm glad you got your concerns addressed with the vet, it gives you confidence that you are on the right track with Senna. 

I'm with Sally on the possibility of phantom limb pain.  What pain meds is she on?  They can do a number on our pups. On tramadol my pug Maggie acted like a ghost was after her, but that was a consistent reaction on her part.  If Senna does yelp and jump around again do check with your vet for gabapentin, it seems to work for most pups.

She has been through a lot of surgeries and I'm sure on lots of pain meds due to her injury.  Can you compare how she is acting now to the other surgeries and pain meds?

 

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Member Since:
7 October 2015
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12
8 October 2015 - 3:54 pm
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She's on Tramadol, Gabapentin and Rimadyl.  She's never had the vocal pain/scare before, though she has definitely had the groggy, not really drink eat before.  Now getting a little worried because it's now evening and she still hasn't peed, been drinking more water and had the 1/2 liter subcutaneously, no urine.  Tail tucks under when she's outside and she begins panting a lot, feel like she's getting stressed out while she's outside and maybe that's leading to not wanting to go?

Member Since:
7 October 2015
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8 October 2015 - 5:18 pm
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Well huge update!  Just took her outside and she pooped and peed!!!!  I think it oddly had something to do with the polo shirt we had her wearing to cover up the compresion sleeve/jacket the vet put on her.  We took the polo off, just trying anything and within about a minute she pooped in the neighbors yard (don't worry I cleaned it up)!!  Then we walked around to the backyard and she peed for quite some time!  Obviously super excited she got everything out, my wife was so excited she stuck her hand in her pee since it's dark and we wanted to make sure she wasn't just straining to go.

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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8 October 2015 - 7:20 pm
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Yay for poop and pee!!!

Funny what we celebrate around here, but those are big milestones on this journey.

 

Be sure you are not acting stressed around her- she will pick up on that.  I had that issue with pug Maggie when she wouldn't eat- I got really stressed and she didn't want to come near her food dish if I was there.  I finally figured it out and we did better.

 

Keep up the good work Senna!

 

Karen

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Green Bay, WI


Member Since:
18 May 2014
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8 October 2015 - 7:40 pm
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She is absolutely beautiful! This journey is a roller coaster, and it sounds like all is progressing "normally". Hang in there, better days are comin'

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"

http://nitro.tripawds.com

"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior

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