Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Hi Scout,
What's a pizza bone? Whatever it is it sounds yummy!
Ok, tell your Mom, don't freak out.
I dunno, maybe you wore yourself out and pulled a muscle? Took on too much at once? I'm not a vet, and neither are my pawrents, but if it was me in your situation, I know that as long as I was eating and pooping as usual, and there wasn't any icky stuff coming out of my stitches, Mom and Dad would give it a couple of days to see if it went away. If it got noticeably worse in that time, they would definitely call my vet.
Massage with cold-pressed castor oil is good for muscle aches. It works great on my bum knee. Maybe your Mom could try this in the meantime?
Let us know how you are feeling OK?
-Jer
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey, Scout. Tasha here. I had a couple bad days about the same time after the amputation that you are. I was really happy to be pain free and did a lot of moving around and stuff as soon as the anesthesia drugs wore off. Then I got kinda weak and not feeling so good. My vet said that we are using muscles in ways we haven't used them before, so it was probably just soreness from that. And it is surgery, so it takes a bit to recoup. Also, the Tramadol can make you feel dizzy and nauseous. I was peeing and pooping and eating and no fever. So, mom had to make me rest a bit more for a few days and it got better. Then when I finally stopped taking the Tramadol, it was pretty hard for her to keep me quiet. There were so many smells I had missed! So we had to do a few days of Deramaxx. It was kind of up and down for a couple weeks, but soon it didn't hurt at all. If you don't feel better after a couple days, or if you get weaker, I think your mom should call your vet. Tasha
Tasha
thanks tasha and jerry,
Today is more of the same. jerry a pizza bone BTW is a crust from a pizza, yummE!
I just feel lousy, but finally late today ate two bowls of dog food and pooped, so I think that will help. Mom is thinking it's the drugs, sometimes she thinks I sit up and it's like I can't see right, and she wonders if it has blurred my vision? But I am still licking faces and stuff. Just don't want to move. Like, did some stairs the first day, and now, I just stand there and look at mom. Amelia said, "Mom, make him do some for himself" and i want to and will, but mom gets it's just not yet. Now, I have my tail between my legs and feel very much not like scout the wonderdog.
I do have one problem that needs a little advice. My elbow on the other side, the good side, it getting a pressure sore on it, anyone have a wrap they recommend, we have ointment but mom is of course worried about sores? Mom got a tempurpedic mattress topper today (cheap at Target), cut it in half and put the one half on the other and I will tell you this thing is HEAVEN.
I agree, I came home two days post amp and was doing too much. i mean, i didn't chase squirrels or anything, just walked around alot and such. Surgery is a BIG deal, and anesthesia can make you feel lousy. Mom just is afraid I won't become my old self again, and more so, the pain free dog she hoped for when she made this tough choice.
She is going to take me to the vet tomorrow for a "peace of mind check," she gets rather anxious about these things, so it's okay, I get a car ride out of the deal anyway.
lauren
Hey Scout, just remember to take it easy. It's still early! Overdo it and it will hurt. I took a few faceplants that freaked out my mom when I was getting back in the swing of things. It's all part of learning. My dad carried me down the stairs in our old house for a couple weeks before I showed him how I could do it by leaning against the wall for support. You'll get it down, Just give it time.
Take things one day at a time and tell your mom not to dwell too much on anything. Worrying won't make it any better, only time will at this point. The pooping thing was tough at first for me too – kinda like balancing on a 2x4 – but if you got that down, you'll be good to go in
no time.
My people just recently noticed that I'm starting to develop a callus on my elbow from plopping down hard. Can't really think of any suggestions for that, other than the fact that my Dad often uses my harness to help me lay down gently.
Your new mattress bed sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing that tip.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Scout...Zeus here...you know, I'm almost 2 months post op and I did a chin dive on the carpeted stairs this morning...Mom doesn't even freak out anymore - just tells me to pick myself up and try again. It doesn't happen all that often, but it still does sometimes. Some mornings I'm more stiff than others, yesterday we ran a lot, so I'm a little sore today...it's part of the process. BUT with that being said, have your mom call your doctor if she feels in her gut that she needs to. As time goes on, your mom will know what is minor aches and pains from being a tripawd versus potential concerns. Mom's theory is always to be safe than sorry....we drove to the Vet many times the first 3 weeks just for a "check up". Peace of mind is priceless.
It's hard to be on the drugs...just remember that - they have an affect on us dawgs like they do on our pawrents...keep us posted and take it EASY 🙂
Love ya
Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Hey, Scout's mom, this is Tasha's mom. I wanted to tell you that I take Tramadol and have for quite a while. It can make you dizzy and make you feel really disoriented at times. I sometimes sweat a lot and get dizzy still, and I have taken it for several years now. The side effects mostly go away after a while, but I remember I was pretty unhappy at first. I imagine it is the same for dogs. I know Tasha did a lot of panting and looking agitated and it was always about 2 hours after the Tramadol. But we hung in there and made it through the 10 days. She finally learned to just lie down and nap until she felt better. She slept a lot of the time and my vet said that was to be expected.
Don't be too hard on yourself for worrying. It comes with the job. I was sure that her front paw was swollen, but I didn't have the other one to compare it to. So off to the vet we went. Since she sees hundreds of paws a week, to her it was a no-brainer. No swelling at all.
I think your new mattress will help a lot. Tasha has foam in her crate and she sleeps on a baby bed mattress by my bed. We have had no problems with pressure sores or calluses. You could wrap it with Vet-wrap, but I'll bet just the mattress will help it go away.
Tasha and mom
Tasha
thanks tasha's mom.
Yeah, I think it's the drugs too, just woozy. but here is the good news, I did two "old scout" things today and it made my mom's heart soar. mom woke up and I was sleeping on my back. Now, I did that all the time several years ago(and looked so cute) but hadn't done it in the last year becasue that darn elbow hurt too bad to sleep that way. Mom felt it was a good sign she made the right choice, that I could snooze in the night in my favorite position.
then, when it was time to get amelia from school, i perked right up, went right out the front door, down two steps and into the car. Now, mom is going, why earlier today did I have to carry you down those steps...hmmm...but she said no worries, whenever I stop and hesitate she will always give me a lift.
seems there is always a question of the day. mom's doc said that after today she should only use metacam or tramadol "as needed for pain." she can't tell much with me, I am not a whiner. Before she knew I limped and moved that paw around alot but I'm not a crier. Anyone have advice on how long to give drugs? How will she know I need it? She thinks she'll stick with the metacam at least until the staples areout.
I'm still sleeping alot. healing is tiring business.
Scout
lauren
scout the wonderdog said:
Anyone have advice on how long to give drugs? How will she know I need it? She thinks she’ll stick with the metacam at least until the staples areout.
Scout
Hey Scout,
We dogs have a hard time showing when we are in pain. I know that when I'm hurting, I'm really hurting. It's hard to know when to slow down. It's up to Mom and Dad to keep my activity in check, even if I appear to be back to my old self, because I can really ovedo it. And when I do, I really pay the price.
Mom and Dad try to stay in tune with my pain level, by looking for little clues. Like if I decide to lie down during a walk, or if I pant a lot when I'm just laying around.
They just took me off Tramadol, as I'd been on it for a month due to my bum knee. This is the second day I'm off it, and I think I heard Mom say she might put me on it again. I just didn't seem to have my usual amount of energy today. She's going to give it one more day and see how it goes.
It's probably a good idea to stay on regular pain management until the stitches are out. Not too much so that you overdo it, but just enough to keep you feeling OK. Once the stitches are out, your Mom might want to try experimenting with slowly lowering your dosage.
Just take it one day at a time, and stay in tune with each other.
Good luck!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
thanks Jerry!
Mom is going to keep me on the metacam for a while, I was on it pre amp, and it helped a lot. the tramadol seemed to be what made me woozy so we're trying to discontinue that.
today just more of my old self showing up again, and mom is tickled. I am becoming more social and seem to be getting my old smoochy-smoochy self back. mom worries because I still am sleeping an awful lot, but I'm just enjoying the new couch privelege.
And today was the first day since surgery that I ate a snack, like a people snack. amelia left a cheezit on the floor and I gobbled it up, now that is the old me.
Hope everyone had a good day, I had a good day.
Scout, the starting to feel wonderful again wonder dog
lauren
Great news, Scout! It's so wonderful to hear you're on the road to being 100% again.
Keep up that resting, it really helps when you do want to go run and play. I know I rest a lot more these days, but mostly that's just the getting older part. We mature dogs need our beauty rest!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
yeah.. I never had couch privledges before...gotta love those 🙂
Keep getting your rest and take care pal ~
Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Hola everyone (amelia taught me that spanish)
Oh my gosh you guys I just had to write this am! I woke up and the fuzzy woozy shakey legs tramadol was gone from my head! Mom was thrilled because she got up and I was sitting by the door just llike the old days. I even acted a little miffed that she picked me up to take me downstairs without asking me first, i was ready to go!
We took a short walk (half a block), my first since amp.! I saw a squirrel and watched him a while, wagged my tail at a neighbor and pooped (finally mom said it's been over a day!) Came in, drank water and had a snack and now am napping. but the old "routines" are emerging and that is encouraging.
Personally, I think the cheezit gave me super strength and mom should consider giving me more, what do you guys think? 🙂
scout, the feeling pretty darn wonderful today wonder dog
lauren
Oh that is great news buddy, glad to hear the old you is back.
It's all of those little things that we take for granted, and once they're gone for a while, we really miss them. When they come back, it's like once little celebration after another. Congrats!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
guys,
my mom recieved sad and confusing news today and she needs your support. As you know, we had my leg tissue and bone biopsy done in the fall and they said it was not cancer. that it was okay to pursue pain managment on the leg. Today mom got the call that the leg was cancercous, synovial cell.
She feels awful as she feels waiting these six months probably gave it time to metasticize and that I was in pain so many months. the vet had no explanation for why the biopsies were normal. we go tomorrow for chest xrays and such.
It is a very sad day at our house and mom can't stop crying.
Scout
lauren
Let's all just hope for the best for tomorrow's chest x-rays that the lungs are clear.
Don't look back for "should have", "would have", "could have". You made the best decision you could based on the information you got at the time.
Scout need your guidance, and right now, just focus charging ahead and fight the battle with Scout.
Please keep us posted.
Jessie
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