Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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She got her surgery on the 14th!
Gets her staples out on the 29th,
as of now I’m only giving her two out of the four meds they prescribed. Tramadol and trazodone were doing more harm than good at this point and the vet okayed my decision.
Gabapentin has not been stopped or lessened and carprofen is once a day rather than twice a day now. This was after talking to the vet, I’m not making these calls on my own!
I’m just at a loss here 🙁 it’s very discouraging. It’s almost as if that screaming is her new excited bark.
She was doing so well with no episodes. I’m just scared it’s something brain related.
She did jump on the furniture today with no problem! I didn’t let her, my roommate sneezed (she is DEATHLY afraid of sneezes. It’s super silly and I have no idea what caused it. Every time she hears a sneeze she runs to me at full force and buries herself in whatever crevice of my body is available) so she ran and jumped up trying to hide herself. It happened so fast but she did great! No yelps or screams or anything!
Ok, i know you're keeping in touch with your vet. Every being is different, all i can suggest is continuing to keep in touch with your vet. She may just need more tweaking, it's still very early into this process for her. Amputation is major surgery and it hurts. They may suggest another medication, I'm not a vet but it really sounds like some pain may be breaking through in between doses, maybe not, just my suggestion. I know what it's like to have a furbaby bury themselves into you for comfort lol. That's not always a bad thing 😉
Check in with your doc, see what they think. But clearly be an advocate for their discomfort. Somebody has to and that somebody is you. Your doc may be great at suggesting an alternative, but i personally lived having to fight for it. Take that for what it's worth, ok?
I hope you have a peaceful evening, please think about what i said and let me know how you do.
❤️❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Still giggling a bit at Romy's fear of a sneeze!😁 We have "thunder shirts" to help them ease the fear of thunderstorms Not sure if there's a market for a "sneeze shirt"!
If you can, try and video one of these episodes and send to your Vet. Post here too. Maybe someone has some insight.
I know it's a long shot, but sometimes a staple is left in. It HAS happened before. Not a Vet but highly doubts this is anything "brain related". Nerve related is also a possibility.....maybe there is a nerve ending exposed or is jumbled up somehow. Just throwing a couple of things out there.
Stay connected and update as you can, okay? This will get sorted out.
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!
My little Tripawd is afraid (or was afraid) of pretty much everything that moved...but I don't think sneezes. I don't think I've heard that one before- I just love the individual quirks our pups have!
I get what you are saying about Tramadol- I gave it to my TriPug Maggie once and she didn't sleep for 12 hours, and Pugs are known for sleeping! She wasn't vocal, but really freaked out- she acted like something was following her.
One thought on the gabapentin- my quad-Pug Tani was on it to help with her arthritis and as I remember I was told that it works better when given in conjunction with something like carprofen (aka rimadyl). Maybe reducing the carprofen has lessened the effects of the gaba? Tani was always on both so I don't have experience with just gaba.
It does sound like phantom limb pain from what you describe- some have more trouble with that than others. Maggie never had phantom pain .
You might try keeping a log of her episodes- maybe you would be able to identify a trigger. Hopefully it is something that she will get past very soon.
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
I know it’s the weirdest thing. As a puppy she was fine and the older she got the less tolerant she became to sneezes. It’s certain sneezes though...when I sneeze she couldn’t care less. 😂
no idea where that came from!
The episodes have been spreading farther apart! Like I said this was the first one in two days of nothing.
I was thinking the same about the staples. She still has all her sutures and staples in so it could very well be a possibility.
I’m definitely going to give the vet a call tomorrow and see if they have any more insight. Like I said it seems to happen when she’s startled so maybe there’s a muscle cramping up or something when that happens.
Thanks guys! I’m just eager to have my pup back 🙂
Didn't realize all the stitches/staples were still in. That could definitely be the cause, especially if it's pretty much only when she moves quickly. They could be catching, or sticking her.
Really don't think you have anything serious to worry about. Obviously you don't wamt her hurting though, regardless of the cause.
Try gently massaging all up and down her spine. her shoulder and neck area. If she is getting some cramping because of right muscles , this should help.
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!
.. Just got a visual.... "Sneeze Shirt" 
Massage is a great idea, also sometimes some cool or warm compresses on/around the incision help make it feel better and the bit of damp takes that tight feeling of skin pulling and eases it a little. They get quite dry and prickly feeling before it is time to come out and they may pinch a bit.
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Hi everyone! Just wanted to give an update on the pup 🙂
she got her stitches out on the 28th and has been doing FANTASTIC! It’s like she did a 180 and returned to her normal self. Begging on her hind legs, demanding attention, smiling, and even taking trips to grandmas and petco again 🙂 I’m so unbelievably happy with her progress! She’s still wearing the T-shirt as she is still super interested in her amputation site. There like one or two teeny scabs but she tends to lick the tiny nub of skin where her leg used to be and chatters afterwards. Hopefully she’s not upset 😂
but once all her fur is back she will be her beautiful self. (Even though she’s a beauty all the time) 😉
thanks for all the support guys! Here’s a pic of my babe still getting princess treatment 🙂
WOW!!! She looks fabulous!! Isn't it amazing how something like suture/staple removal can make such a world of difference?? You have done a great job with her and you hung in there like a trooper even when she worried you to death. Romy girlie.. you are BEAUTIFUL!!
I am so happy to see this post, you made my morning!
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
OOOOOMMMMMDDDDD!!! BEST PICTURE EVVVVER!!! 😎 SOOOO CONTENT AND SOOOOO PLEASED WITH HERSELF!!😁😁😁
This update has me grinning ear to ear 😁 Made my day!!
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!
She cracks me up, what a face! We are thrilled she is doing so well and getting back into her adorable groove. Thanks for the pupdate!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
That picture just embodies her personality so well. Independent but loves the attention. Definitely does things her own way. As they say aussies are the jesters of the herding breeds. (And they cannot be more correct!!)
I’m so happy to have my pup back, zooming to the door at full speed when I get home 🙂 I know soon it will feel like she’s always had three legs and right now it’s a reminder of the horrible day witnessing her get bit by the car. But we’re in it together 🙂 don’t know what I’d do if she weren’t here! ❤️
OK- that picture made me think of Angel Abby. The face is very similar and the 'pose' is just like the artwork from Abby's mom Jackie!
Here is the design:
You can read more about Angel Abby here. Abby crossed the Bridge in January 2012.
It must have been so awful to see the accident! My current Tripawd Elly was hit by a car when she was 7 months old but she didn't join my pack until she was 10 months old so I didn't see the accident and she was fully healed (at least physically) when I adopted her at 10 months old.
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
Hi guys! Just wanted to give another update on the pup!
its been about two months since she had her stitches removed and has been gaining so much strength and speed. I’m fact, losing the front limb didn’t seem to slow her down at all 🙂
seeing her progress every day helps reassure me that I made the right call, and reminds me of how far we’ve come in this recovery. From waking up at night to her screaming and just in general not enjoying life to running as fast as she can again every time I walk in the door. It’s amazing 🙂
if I had chosen surgery for her she would’ve still been in a cast, confined to a crate, doped up and still have three months of recovery time to go! To think about everything that happened in just two months really puts things in perspective!
anyway here’s a recent photo of the pup without the T-shirt, lookin her best! Her fur has grown in even more since this pic but I just love this one of her. My little beauty!
Good morning Steph and Romy!
Oh my dawg she looks WONDERFUL!!!! Look at that beautiful, strong tripawd stance 💪💪💪 It is so good to see you pop in with such wonderful news... you made another morning as I sit here at 530am grinning like a silly fool 😁😁😁
I remember it was quite a stressful stretch there for a while, but you both hung in there like troopers, so very happy for you!
Sending big hugs and chin scratches to your beautiful girlie
Jackie and Huck
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
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