Chloe did pretty much the same thing every time she wanted to lay down.  She would pace in circles, squat to lay, get back up, go in more circles and continue this until she was too tired and just gave up. She did this until her staples came out. I think that certain positions tugged on the staples and made it uncomfortable.  This was especially so if she was on the ground trying to roll from her regular side to her amped side.  

They will figure out what works best for them, it just takes some time.

-Chloe's mom

Is she on Gabapentin for pain?  Although Maggie was fine getting comfortable AFTER surgery, she had a heck of a time getitng comfortable and sounds JUST like your dog BEFORE surgery.  Once I put her on Gabapentin, she could relax…

Food for thought….my thoughts are with you!

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

Thanks everyone, sounds like what Ella is going through is pretty normal ! I think what everyone is saying about the staples is probably right on, they probably pinch and pull in certain positions and are just not comfortable. I know if I had 38 staples I would have a hard time resting too, poor little girl.

We are weening her off the Rimadyl now and she is still on Tramadol  3 x day, she really doesn't act like she has pain anymore? Not sure if that is possible or not so soon? She is sleeping really well during the day when she is on the couch but all night she tosses and turns. Maybe she is sleeping too much during the day and it makes her restless at night?

As far as beds go Ella is a bit spoiled, she had 2 very large memory foam beds, a orthopedic bed and a bed with a thick baby mattress in it that our friend gave to us – it was her tripawd Titon's. Then of course she had our king size tempurpedic bed, so I don't the beds are the problem!

Ella has a week left before her staples come out, sounds like long nights until then!

Angie (Ella's mom)

Geesh, mind if I come over for a good nights sleep!!! Gus was restless, up and down at night, pant, not much appetite when he was on Tramadol, he was on it for about 2-3 days and after we took him off we noticed he was not near as restless, We had him on rimidyl and gabapentin after that. might want to consider a different pain med, good luck, paws up, spirit Gus and Dan

I was just going to ask the very same question.  Eloise is 12 days post surgery and has been doing the same exact thing every since she got home from the hospital.  All night long she's moving from one spot in the room to the other, even sometimes going into my daughters room.  And she circles, circles, circles and then plops down for a few minutes only to get up and do it all over again.  She gets her staples out tomorrow so hopefully she will be able to get more comfortable then.  I'm also wondering about the Tramadol now though because she has become both restless and a very picky eater.  Is it possible it could be the tramadol?  She went from eating anything and everything so being so selective that I'm trying way too many different things and probably driving her crazy!

Guiness is going through much the same thing at the moment and he is 5 days post op. The only place her can get comfortable is on the opposite side to the amp site ay on his bed, and this isnt for long.

I asked the vet about it this morning when we went and he side that it is mainly dicomfort caused by the stiches/staples and the obvious soreness that they will feel, i am sure i wouldn't be willing to sit on any amp site if i had something amputated.

Its awful to see them pace and cricle etc, but it wont be forever lots of belly rubs and ear scratches are seeing Guiness through it all at the moment.

I hope Ella and Eloise are feeling much better soon.

Sending big hugs your ways

Toni and Guiness