Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I would be way more calm if the moaning would stop because I don't know if he is in pain or what is going on. Every once in a while he yells out.
I know...I really think some of this is just the drugs in his system. You may need to help him readjust. You may even have to do it for him. Go slow, stay calm and strong, talk to him. He may just have to pee and not know how to get up. It really could be that simple. Please have a little faith and take a deep breath. You need to be strong for him right now.
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Do you want to talk? You can pm me your number I will be happy to call you.
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Jackie has given you excellent and very knowledgeable advice.
Certainly, if you have concerns, contact your Vet as we are not Vets and not giving Bet advice. That said, Jackie has worked in a Bet's office and has been with Animal Control, and has seen a lot of animals recovering from surgery , etc.
Seeing a dog or cat come out of the anesthesia fog and heavy hospital meds for the first 24 to 48 hoirs is really, really hard to watch!! Although the moaning and yelling is certainly unsettleing to say the least, he's probably so whacked out he has no idea he's efen doing that .
My Happy Hannah DID spend the night in the Clinic (24 hr staff) and her first three nights home were still full of whining and restlessness and almost no sleep.....for either of us!. I thought I had made an awful mistake! This was before I found this spectacular community to pull me back from the edge many times during her recovery.
As strange as this sounds...amd it does sou d strange....you will sort of get used to this anesthesia3 withdrawal and recognize that it does NOT last furever!! Yes, you'll have this going on for awhile, but it will fade slooooowly.
Chocolate, eat chocolate, all thru the night and into the morning. It helps!! Continue to breathe. And, as Jackie said, step away and splash some cool water on your face.....something to help take your stress level down a notch.
Extra hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS Again, if you have any concerns, call your Vet. We are not Vets and not giving Bet advice. You are there and observing things first hand, we are not. Do you kmow what pain meds or injection they gave him before sending uim home? When did tjey tell you to start the pain meds up again?
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!
Last night was terrible. He moaned and was beyond restless the entire night. Thank god for Jackie, she talked me off the ledge big time and I could never thank her enough for that. I still feel like I made a horrible mistake seeing him the way that he is. Hopefully that goes away as this gets better. There was basically NO sleep for either of us last night. He stared, huge eyed, at me and moaned THE. ENTIRE. NIGHT. Around 3am he decided it was time to start trying to scoot all around the downstairs, dragging his back half behind him, I think he was trying to get comfortable but who knows. He finally settled in front of the fireplace but if he slept for a total of 30 minutes last night I would be shocked.
So far today has been slightly better. Called the vet this morning about last night and they pretty much told me 'well we told you it was going to suck.' The moaning isn't constant now thank goodness, it comes and goes, especially I think when he wants or needs something that he can't get himself. He started to attempt to walk on his three legs but needs a lot of help from me. He kind of lets out a loud (seems angry) meow when he wants to get up and move and I kind of help him onto all 3 then hold his back side steady and he steers the way. He is absolutely adamant that the couch is where he wants to be and has made that very clear. One thing I'm not surprised about is that his appetite is back to normal. I wish he would just close his eyes and sleep, he must be exhausted! I could not have done this without everyones support on here.
Our biggest challenge is the litter box. Tried telling us he had to go but couldn't get him to use it so he pooped all over his blanket (at least he went) but has yet to pee (wondering if that is common).
CONGRATULATIONS!!! yOU MADE IT!!! YOU GOT THROUGH THE NIGHTMARE NIGHT!!! Yoi are stronger than you realize!!😎
Soooo glad Jackie was able to bring you back from the edge!! I know her invaluable support meant the world to you!! Nice job Jackie!😗
EATING AND POOPING ARE HUGE VICTORIES SO EARLY ON!!! YAY!
Keep an eye out for peeing and drinking. And yes, wherever he pees and poops right now is just fine! He'll start using his litter box sooner or later. No worries there.
If being on the sofa helps him relax, then that's where he needs to be. Just make sure you are with him so he does no jumping up or down.
I was one of many who wondered what in the world I had done to my dog! I thought I'd made a huge mistake.....Until her sparkle started coming back sloooowly but surely!! I knew then as you will soon realize, I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her💕
You are both exhausted right now, but you voth eventually will get some sleep! It took three looooong nignts before my Happy Hannah settled enough to sleep for a couple of hours! Sleep happens!!
Thanks for the update and for sharing some of the victories!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
I would not wish last night on anyone, that was horrible and not at all what I was expecting. Certainly hoping the next few days are better. He has already slept the majority of the day so far ever since he was able to lead me to the couch- which is clearly where he wanted to be. I am definitely happy to see him be able to relax and close his eyes.
Peeing is my next concern since he has yet to do so. No interest in water but is eating wet food that I have been sneaking water into when I can. Fingers crossed, I would prefer to not end up at the vet tonight!
Yes, I add water to my cat's evening meal every night now. They get a small amount of prescription kibble in the morning and wet grain free
at night which I mix with very warm water and they really enjoy it! I add the Bisque and water sometimes and that goes over very will also. The majority of their diet now is definitely wet and Andy has been great, no sign of blockage, no uti 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Well we ended up back at the vet because someone refused to pee... so he was the lucky winner of having his bladder expelled for him! Luckily no blockage, incision looks good, and they said he is tolerating pain well. Just got home from the vet and he polished off a bowl a food! Hoping for an easier night!
Did they show you how to do it in case you need to? I'm glad he is settling down now
Hopefully you'll both sleep tonight 😉
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
They did not but they said if for the next few days this is what we need to do then I will just bring him in the have it done. Only took about 5 minutes, no charge... Luckily vet is only about 4 minutes up the road. As much as I hate taking him it is nice to have them give him a once over to see how he is doing. I also asked about that other pain medication (I believe gabapentin) and they said that if they felt he wasn't doing well on this one then they would consider switching him. The said that one puts them in a much more delirious state and they would really like to avoid that happening, they want him more conscious and alert. I would love to sleep tonight. E has had the pleasure of sleep the majority of the day today while I watch and make sure he is ok!
Good for you for staying on top of things! You REALLY are doing a good job of handling the first rough days of recovery.
Rule #-1 When Elvis sleeps, no matter what time of day, you sleep!
You sound a bit nore confident now, a bit more relaxed.....you're getting into the "zone of recovery" and that's so commendable!
Elvis is a very handsome boy, even with shaved backside...pretty big backside at that!😎
Hugs and hoping for some good zzzzs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
I commented on your blog but it says it's waiting moderation so I'll repeat my self here. You're doing a great job! Elvis is very lucky to have you.
Your big fella is doing it his way. I also have a big, black beauty who is very talkative and a big whiner at the vet clinic. I'm sure he would be a moaner too. Yet, my tiny princess Mona, who had her front leg amputated 4 years ago, never made a peep during her recovery but would race around the house. She even peed in my desk drawer and escaped from the house for over 24 hours. I guess we’ll never know how our pets will respond.
The only thing we can do is try to make them comfortable. You are doing great and I hope you can get some respite care so you can take a break.
Hugs to all,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Good morning,
I hope you and E were able to get some good rest, OMC what great pictures! You are doing a great job with him, who would have thought things could/would change so drastically in 24 hours?! 
If it is better for you to take him down the road then I say go for it. I understand the comfort you can have by them seeing him frequently enough to be able to monitor his progress.
I second Sally's motion... if you are home with him for a few days and can sleep when he does that will do you some good too! You sound so much more relaxed, I knew you would do just fine
I hope you both have a restful, uneventful day 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Wow... my Dad came to see him after work and it was like a new kitty. Purring, meowing to talk to him, and alertly tracking him all over the room until I traded spots for him to sit next to him. After we had his bladder relieved at the vet yesterday he was much more comfortable! The biggest surprise of them all was that he slept peacefully ALL NIGHT LONG! Not one whimper, not one whine! What a difference 24 hours makes! He still isn't getting around very well, seems to have a hard time tucking his back foot under him to try and stand but has figured out that he can scoot most places he wants to get to... which I would assume given his size is about all I can ask for thus far. Although I ran into the kitchen for no joke 2 minutes to get a drink and he was not on the blanket I had left him. He was at the base of the couch trying to jump up! I was shocked!
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