TRIPAWDS: Home to 22969 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

Join The Tripawds Community

Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:

Instant post approval.

Private messages to members.

Subscribe to favorite topics.

Live Chat and much more!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
I guess this is "the crash" :(.
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Member Since:
17 November 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
4 July 2017 - 9:23 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Well, our sweet boy Zato was doing GREAT the first few days after surgery.  He's been taking Gabapentin, Carprofen, and his antibiotic every day. He was getting around beautifully and was happy and waggy-tailed.  I know from reading others' posts that usually there is a crash sometime during the first week.  I also know that the first two weeks are usually rough for most dogs.  I assumed, based on the first few days, that he was just going to zip through it all unscathed.  We haven't let him overdo it though.

But the poor little guy has been having a rough time since the weekend.  It's like all of a sudden he's in a lot of pain.  His incision looks good (but I'm sure it hurts!).  His appetite is still good.  But he's just gotten so uncomfortable and when he tries to move and turn around, he whimpers, which is so traumatic because he is such a quiet dog.  When he walks he just seems so uncomfortable and so very different from the first few days.  He's licking his lips a lot, which is a sign of pain from what I've read. I started giving him Tramadol twice a day but it doesn't seem to be helping.  Richard and I keep looking at each with the, "Did we do the right thing?" look.  

Although I know this is probably normal, it's gone on for enough days for me to start getting distressed. This is normal, isn't it?  He's due to get his stitches out on the 10th, but I may call the vet tomorrow and ask for something, I don't know what.  I want him to feel better NOW and be Zato again!crying

Tracy & Warrior Angel Zatoichi 💓

Zato was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October 2016. He triumphed through radiation and amputation with dignity and grace. After living a life of love and happiness, Zato earned his angel wings on February 19, 2018.  Read his story here.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
4 July 2017 - 10:07 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Generally you'll see a crash around day three, and even further into. day five, six. The hospital meds are completely out of their system, a d by day sixish is when some of the soreness may really start to show. The new muscles being used are bei g put the the test in a rapid-fire way.

Even when you don't think they are overdoing...they almost always are. It just takes the slightest tweak, the slightest strain, to throw all muscles I to a tail-spin and COMPLETE rest for a couple of days usually does the trick. Je really just still should be doing potty breaks and nothing else. Has Zato been doing just potty breaks...no running..no jumping..no stairs..no extra walking?

Now, avout those pain meds! Tramadol once a day??? OW!!! Of course I'm no Vet and not giving Vet advice, but this early on he should have at least been on every twelve hours, and many times every eight hours!! How often is the Gabapentin? Generally that's twice a day too.

Try gentle massage up and down his spine...his back...his shoulders....his legs...notice any tension points? Before he gets up, try gentle massage all over, and very, very slight stretching. Maybe a warm towel out of the dryer while you are massaging him.

YES, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING! It's just hard to recognize that when our pups show signs of pain! 'And alerays remember, this is MAJOR SURGERY a d it hurts! Add muscle soreness and stiffness, and probably a tweaked back or neck or shoulder (just guessing).

But certainly give your Vet a call a call if need be.

HANG IN THERE! This is still the "rough" part...even if those first few days looked "perkier", assuming there are no underlying issues, a "crash" is normal!

STAY CONNECTED! Update when you can. And get the Tram in at a minimumof every 12 hrs. You might stagger the Gaba so that, rather than being given together, one is given an hour or two after the other.

Lots of 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!

Member Since:
17 November 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
4 July 2017 - 10:14 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thank you, Sally!  His take home meds were Gaba and Carprofen twice a day....but since he feels bad, I started giving him Tramadol twice and day and adding a third Gaba dose.  We've been carrying him up and down the porch steps and only letting him walk to go to the bathroom.  It's breaking our hearts!  Hopefully it will pass soon...

Tracy & Warrior Angel Zatoichi 💓

Zato was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October 2016. He triumphed through radiation and amputation with dignity and grace. After living a life of love and happiness, Zato earned his angel wings on February 19, 2018.  Read his story here.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
4 July 2017 - 10:30 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Sounds like you're really on top of things...good job!

Can you pinpoint any areas of soreness?

Oh, and you mentioned the "licking" Sometimes that can be nausea too. Tummy seem okay? Everything feel normal there? Been pooping and peeing okay?

Have you had a chance to "test" for soreness anywhere?

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!

Member Since:
17 November 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
4 July 2017 - 10:39 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

There are no sore spots I can find. He seems the most uncomfortable when he turns around trying to find a comfy spot to lie down, so I don't know if he's just flexing something near the "bad" shoulder that hurts him...no problems going to the bathroom but he is standing a little differently, like something is bothering him (again, where the leg was or maybe he tweaked his neck).  He's eating everything I bring him. I'm trying to keep him still so I just bring the food to him!

Tracy & Warrior Angel Zatoichi 💓

Zato was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October 2016. He triumphed through radiation and amputation with dignity and grace. After living a life of love and happiness, Zato earned his angel wings on February 19, 2018.  Read his story here.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
4 July 2017 - 12:14 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Just the...no vet thing again...and not giving Vet advice or diagnosing, etc.

Since her is doing so well otherwise, eating, bathroom, etc, it really does sound like a neck or back issue. It is soooo easy to tweak something rin the neck & shoulder area, and back too. I'm sure whichever way he tries to turn to moves (if it is neck) causes pain. And needing to bob the head up and down a bit for momentum has to hurt too.

One more thought, massage gently around the incision and see if indicates any pain like a stitch poking him, or something like that.

In tbe mea time, we MUST have pictures of Zato being served his meals in bed!!! 🙂 🙂

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
4 July 2017 - 12:21 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Drats I hoped he would sail through too, but as Sally said it is not at all uncommon. I know you've been good about limiting his activity, that's obvious because you shared so many insights about his movements, habits, etc. It does sound like it's a matter of being sore from the new gait. I say this because all of his other habits (eating, relieving himself) seem normal.

Keep him rested and calm (but don't play around too much with the Gabapentin dosage/timing until you talk to your vet OK? It's a more complicated drug to administer than Tramadol). Talk to your vet tomorrow and get him into rehab therapy OK? Remember the Tripawds Foundation will pay for your first rehab visit , sounds like this would be a good time to get him in.

Let us know how it goes OK? You and Zato WILL overcome this totally normal situation. Hang in there.

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

Member Since:
17 November 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
4 July 2017 - 1:01 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thank you guys so much!  The only thing I changed was to give the Gaba every 8 hours instead of 12, which the vet said was ok to do before, but I haven't messed with anything else - but you are absolutely right, jerry, it's not a good idea to monkey around with that stuff! I will definitely give them a call tomorrow. I don't want to hurt him trying to help him!

On a happier note, I had a great phone consultation with Dr. Loops yesterday and Zato's remedies are on the way!

Tracy & Warrior Angel Zatoichi 💓

Zato was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October 2016. He triumphed through radiation and amputation with dignity and grace. After living a life of love and happiness, Zato earned his angel wings on February 19, 2018.  Read his story here.

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online: Edward_1, Christopher_4
Guest(s) 201
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17730
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256797
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG