Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Its just over two weeks since Bella's surgery. I am so grateful to this site and to all of you sharing your stories and providing such great advice and hope and love. I completely understand that the pain from her cancerous leg was terrible. But I'm starting to think she's depressed about the way she is now. The vet came to our home to take her stitches out on Weds and she said Bella looked great and the wound and scapula area was terrific. Bella definitely still needs some meds though. We started to cut down her Gabapentin and Tramadol last week but I think we enlongated the time too much as well as cutting down the dosage. We were worried she was too doped up and tried to figure out if it was the medication or something else that was making her so listless and unresponsive. I am probably just hyperfocusing on her and need to just leave her be for a bit, but I am just worried she is having PTSD from this surgery. I have to take my head out of this process and just let her heal and let life be as it should, but its hard to see her so out of it from meds or from depression. I will be able to be with her all day tomorrow so can see more. MY husband said she was out today enjoying the sunshine and the newly ccut lawn so maybe she just had too much fresh air today.
YAY FOR STITCH REMOVAL!! Inknow she has to feel vetter withnthosenout!
Keep in mind that Bella picks up on your energy. If you are confident, calm and give off a "I am your pack leader and you are safe with me" attitude, she will feed off of that energy. Dogs do not get depressed like humans, but Bella's demeanor can be affected if she is sensing YOU are depressed about her situation.
What do you mean by "out of it"? No tail wags, just laying around all day, no reaction to being told she's a good girl....that type of thing? Is she not willingly getting up on ner own, even for her meals, treats, etc? Thst may be a sign she's in pain. And, just to keep it interesting, (assuming she has no health challenges), if she's acting "out of it" it could, indeed, be a reaction to meds. Gabapentin can have a sedation effect on some dogs.
BTW, two weeks is still early in recovery for bigger pups.
Here's something to try, and it usually works. Have someone she likes come over and knockmloudly on the door and have that person call her name the whole time while knocking. See if Bella gets excited...tail wagging, getting up to go to the door, etc.
If Bella likes car rides, take her out to a drive thru for a cheeseburger. A change of scenery, being sround a positive strong energy can all help.
Imknkw this recovery thing seems like it will last forever...it doesn't! ,It took me three weeks before I could finally say I did this FOR mynHappy Hannah and not TO her! Bella is recovering at her own pace. Every recovery is different. There is no magical turn around just because stitches are out.
Stay connected and we'll look for your update. In the meantime, try and catch up on some rest and sleep yourself! Getting to this point is exhausting and stressful. Watchw and waiting for the sparkle to come back seems like an eternity! Can you think of one scenario, or maybe even two, where you've started to see Bella's sparkle come back? Make sure you stop to celebrate every little tiny sign of improvement!
(((((((((((((((((((((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!
The recovery period takes its toll on all of us. I think I still have somewhat of a trauma from it actually. My dog had similar issues. He wouldn't move by himself for about two weeks and we couldn't get him motivated. Now, ditto Sally, you do want to make sure she's not in pain or, the other extreme, woozy from the meds. But what did the trick for us was finding the right motivation. Manni has a doggy bff that our neighbor brought over (leashed of course) and Manni immediately tried to get up and show off for his friend. We then met up with the neighbor up to three times a day (I know, nice guy that) and from then on you could actually talk about improvement.
I'm sure this will also work with favorite people, trips, food and so on, as Sally said. It really really was all about motivation for us. And nothing came easy. You will get past this (honestly, if I could, anyone can...) !
All the best
tina & Manni
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Totally agree with Sally and Tina👌🏽
Make her days interesting (within her limitations) so she looks forward to whichever "surprises" are lined up for her.
It need not be too complicated.
A nice chat in the sun, good cuddle, ride in the car, friends coming, anything to motivate her and make her enjoy her day and look forward to the next.
Recovery will be over soon and you are all going to be deliriously happy, just give it time.
Sending you lots of kisses and tummy rubs to your sweetie 😘😘😘💕🐾🐶💕
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Thank you all so much! Everything you said makes perfect sense. This morning, Bella went down the deck stairs all on her own. I was amazed. My husband has been carrying her down, but Bella has been walking up. It was so natural and I could tell it made her feel better. We are going to take her out for a ride to one of her favorite spots and get a treat. Today seems better.
If I compare her behavior to what she was like before the surgery, I'd have to say she was sleeping most of the day and really not excited about getting outside (because of her painful leg). Now the painful leg is gone, and she is adjusting - but in a different way. You are all so right...I need to give her time and be grateful for the time we have now.
Have a great day!
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