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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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Advice needed on pain medication
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Member Since:
11 August 2017
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17 August 2017 - 9:48 pm
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Hi, this is my first post here. If it's under the wrong category, I apologize. 

On 7/23, my year old chihuahua (former foster) and I were in a car accident when someone ran a stop sign. His leg was broken. He unfortunately got an infection and his skin was necrotic. He never showed any signs of pain or discomfort. There was no whining; it just started to smell. His leg was amputated five days later on 8/10. The shelter through which I was fostering did not inform me. I was heartbroken, and he is now a foster fail as of yesterday. 

Today is 8/17; I took him to a vet who put him on Buprenorphine. I gave it to him around 6pm. He also took Heartgaard and Nexgard. At around 9pm, he began obsessively licking his legs--NOT his sutured leg--the remaining three. I've seen him chew on his toenails a bit persistently, but nothing like this. If his tongue and leg were two sticks rubbed together, he might have started a fire. 

All this is to ask: does Buprenorphine cause this? I know for certain he's had Heartgaard before, but the Nexgard is new. His food hasn't really changed, although I mixed in more of the food that I was transitioning him to before all this happened. He wasn't acting like this last night. I'm stumped. No pun intended. :-/

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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18 August 2017 - 9:07 am
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Hi and welcome, what's your dog's name? He's so lucky to find you! 

The #1 thing you can do whenever you suspect that your pet is having medication side effects is call your vet. Since we aren't vets, we can't tell either way what might be happening and we wouldn't feel right doing that. So, if you haven't already please call them OK?

I do know that Burprenorphine is a mild opiate and that one pain signal animals give when they hurt is obsessive chewing and licking. It could also be an allergic reaction. So as you can see, I'm no vet, so let your vet know what's going on and inquire about something stronger. Amputation is a big surgery that calls for big drugs, even a small dog may need stronger meds right now. 

Keep us posted oK? Your future posts won't need approval so post away.

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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18 August 2017 - 12:16 pm
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Just a quick hello and a HUGE thank you for giving this sweet dog a loving furever home!

DITTO Jerry.  This IS MAJOR SURGERY AND IT HURTS!!   Most dogs here, regardless of size, have Tramadol and sometimes Gabapentin to helpmwith the pain, as well as Rimadyl and an antibiotic.   IF possible, I woukd delay giving any more "drugs" like Heartquard, Nexguard, etc. during this recovery period.  Of course, nit a Vet so discuss with him.  His body needs every bit of energy to recover and not be processing drugs thru his system unless they are for oain...which it sounds like he needs very badly!

STAY CONNECTED and update us when you can.

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!

Durham, NC
Member Since:
16 September 2015
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18 August 2017 - 6:52 pm
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For what it's worth, you can safely administer 1 mg of Benadryl per pound of body weight if you suspect an allergic reaction or just want to stop the "itching". It could be a pain reaction as well, but benadryl being an antihistamine can be helpful and it's harmless. A standard tablet is 25 mg and they split pretty easily in half, so if your pup is 12 lbs or more, that's the cheapest way to go. Otherwise, you can get children's benadryl, which is 12.5 mg per tablet and split that. Generic is just fine.

I'm not a vet but my dog took benadryl every day for the last year of her life ... some days she took 50 mg 2x daily to help with her mast cell tumor (they are itchy and loaded with histamines) and she was just 55 pounds or so.

Keep us posted and good luck!!

Amy & my adora-bull angel, Izzy heart

Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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18 August 2017 - 10:25 pm
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Hi and welcome. I'm sorry to hear about the accident, but congratulations on your 'failure'.

So- when you got him from the shelter after the amputation he wasn't on any pain meds?  It's hard to tell with all the recent meds but it does sound like he is in pain.  I would talk with the vet about what you are seeing, and if you notice any other signs of pain you might need to push for better pain control.

Here is a blog post about recognizing signs of pain in dogs and cats. I know how hard it is to recognize the signs when you haven't had a pup for very long- it takes awhile to 'learn' them.

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:
11 August 2017
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19 August 2017 - 11:08 am
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Thank you all for responses. Have been reading them, but had some trouble logging back in so delayed reply!

My chihuahua's name is Dobby. He has been with me since March. He's had a rough life. Fairly certain he got his start at a puppy mill, because he would not walk on grass when I first got him. Was found as a stray. Had demodex mange and tapeworm. Recovered from that and was neutered. Recovered from neuter surgery, then was in the car accident with me. Surgery on leg, then infection, then amputation. He's probably had two good weeks where he hasn't been on medication. 

Anyway, took him to the vet. Was suggested that I give him Benadryl, but I'll have to get the children's tablet as he's only 4.75 lbs. Could also be that he hasn't had a proper bath in a month! Vet reckons that he doesn't need strong painkillers at this point. Dobby was prescribed an anti-inflammatory, and that seems to be working. He finished his antibiotics today. 

Since Dobby's life has basically been suffering, I worry that he's become accustomed to it, and he doesn't whine. Vet also suggested that the licking could be psychological, as he's been through so much and has had his safe routine upset. I've noticed that he's barking somewhat less, is more clingy, and is eating like he has not eaten in a week!

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