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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Hero is screaming :-( advice please
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Member Since:
5 September 2014
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16
14 September 2014 - 2:47 pm
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Hi all,

Hero only screamed once today so far, at about 5:45 am. Hopefully the gabapentin is working. We have a 4 month old baby and I go back to work from maternity leave tomorrow. :-( Thankfully, my brother came up (he telecommutes) and is able to stay with the dogs. Next week my mom is coming to stay with them, and Hero will not have been alone for the first 2 weeks after his surgery. When did you leave your pup alone after the surgery? Did you take any special precautions? (crating, etc). 

Thank you! I had to run some errands today and was sick about leaving. 

Hopefully the gabapentin is working and we're on an upswing. I was able to get him out to pee with my brother's help and he's been resting ever since. 

Thank you, 

Erin and Hero 

Member Since:
31 August 2014
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14 September 2014 - 4:17 pm
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Oh poor Hero ! i hope he will start to feel good soon.  My Valkyrja started to have pain and screaming on day 5 after surgery so she got morphine patches but they did not work as good as they did before surgery so they decited to give her Gabapentin every 8 hours and it takes 3-7 days to start working, she gets Amitriptyline antidepressants 2 times over the day too and will be on that for the next 5 months ( i think it's doing a lot for her).

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15 September 2014 - 10:27 am
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Hey Erin how did your return to work go? Hope everything is fine and the gabapentin fully kicked in. Most people find that their Tripawds sleep all day the first few weeks, you're so lucky your brother is able to stay with Hero. When left alone the best thing to do is keep them in a confined area. Some crate, some don't but if Hero isn't used to being crated than why stress him out? I'm sure Hero loves the company with your brother being there, let us know how it goes and tell him if he needs anything he can come here.

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

Virginia
Member Since:
14 March 2014
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15 September 2014 - 9:48 pm
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Lexie had phantom limb pain on and off and like Jack, we found out muscle spasms were a key factor. Gaba + Methocarbamyl helped (both it and Gaba are cheap at Costco btw, and you don't have to be a member to get drugs there). Massage really helps and when your vet says it's okay post op, it would be good to do some physical therapy...ideally with a professional evaluation with a PT vet if you can but if not, check out the sections in the eBook and Maggie's blog posts with video.

We left Lexie at home on her own after about 5 days and our regular dog walker came mid-days when we were at work to check on her.

Also, if you haven't yet check out the incision photo gallery. What may look worrisome in a couple days I'd often normal (as long as it's not a seroma ).

Great that you have family who can check on Hero. Good luck and keep us posted. It does get better!

Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.  

Member Since:
22 August 2014
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16 September 2014 - 8:02 am
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Theo is still screaming once in awhile, but it's always in the middle of the night if we try to reposition him (because he's a bed hog), so I think it's the vulnerability he feels not being able to get up quickly when frightened at night, or a muscle spasm from waking up so abruptly!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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16 September 2014 - 9:36 am
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I think you're onto something about why Leo is screaming when you move him...it would be a pretty instinctual thing for a dog to cry out when s/he's feeling so vulnerable. It will get better though, promise.

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

Member Since:
5 September 2014
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17 September 2014 - 7:35 pm
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Hi friends,
Thank you for your replies! I am doing my best in getting re-oriented to work, getting our son to the babysitter and working out the commute. It is working out well, but we are all still getting into a routine! I am very thankful that my little brother is staying this week and my mom is staying next week.
Hero's first chemo appt is this Wednesday - he'll be on dioxyrubicin (sp) infusions. Does anyone have any experience with this they'd like to share?
Hero hasn't had any phantom pain screams since last week! His one week am-paw-versary was yesterday! He is going for longer walks outside and is gaining strength. I was so proud of him. He isn't getting up to initiate a walk or go to the door, but he is responsive like he used to be (wag his tail) if you ask him if he wants to go for a walk! He is getting tired of meds in peanut butter but it is working. I am wanting to take tramadol three times per day, two pills to one and a half pill three times daily - but am really terrified of the phantom pain . He is on gabapentin now - three this week, two next week, and one the weeks after three times daily.
How long was your dog on pain medication and gabapentin following the amputation? How did you taper the tramodol and gaba?
I need some sleep. Thanks so much, friends.
Erin and Hero

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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17 September 2014 - 10:37 pm
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Hi Erin,

I always like to taper off any pain med.  Technically you don't have to taper off of Tram (no physical withdrawal usually) but I find it better to reduce the dose a bit and see how my pup responds.  Tripug Maggie took 2 or 3 tram doses a day for 10 or 11 days, then we tapered to one dose a day for 3 or 4 days, then stopped.  My quad pug Obie was on tram for weeks after his knee surgery.  I started tapering a couple times only to have to go back up.  I went from two doses a day to one dose a day, then after 7 days stopped.  (Having been through an amputation and a knee surgery the amp recovery was way faster and easier!).

You need to be very careful to taper off the gaba- talk to your vet about a schedule.  Stopping gaba too quickly can cause seizures.

I'm glad to hear that Hero is doing so well!

And now if I may put my moderator hat on- you should consider starting a new thread when Hero starts chemo.  A new thread with a new title will help members keep track of where you are on this journey.

 

Karen and Spirit Maggie

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

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