Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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It has been one week since Maggie's surgery. Since dogs are able to hide pain pretty well, how am I supposed to know when I can stop giving her pain medicine every eight hours religiously? She continues to be pretty lethargic most of the day and then she perks up in the evening. Can I try stretching to 9 or 10 hours at this point?
Kim
If you think she is ready I would first stretch the dose out during the day so you can watch her for signs of pain. If she seems uncomfortable then go back to 8 hours and try again the next day. Thats how I tapered my quad pug off tramadol after knee surgery.
My Maggie was on pain meds for two weeks after her amp, but the last 3 or 4 days I was tapering down.
My Maggie was quite a drama queen so I always knew when she was sore. But my current pugs are much more stoic. Obie will sit without laying down, or will lay down then sit again- its hard to explain but he wants to lay down but can't get comfortable. Tani will lay down, is clearly tired, but won't sleep. Unfortunately signs of pain and the side effects of pain meds look a lot alike. But if your Maggie seems more chipper in the evenings, and still comfortable she may be ready to have a little less.
Was that any help at all?
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
Hi, Maggie's Mom -- I would keep a meds and symptoms log (can just be piece of paper if it works for you) with when you give the meds and then jot down how she seems to be feeling every 3 to 4 hours. Obviously you wouldn't do that overnight unless she wakes you, but every data point can help inform your decision. Also, how old is she? Does she have any other conditions?
We didn't discover Lexie's hip dysplasia and arthritis until her cancer, and post amp we kept her medicated on an ongoing basis but with lower, less frequent dosages.
Have you read up on PT options or talked to her surgeon or vet about PT? Some PT vets are now saying it's better to start PT with newer Tripawds sooner than they used to recommend.
Best of luck to you and your girl, and have a wonderful Christmas with her!
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.
Most dogs are on pain meds for about 10 days after surgery. Tapering off is wise, just be sure to check with our vet and monitor her for signs that she's hurting. Most dogs will try to do too much, too soon after surgery so watch for pain indicators like restlessness, panting and whining. If she starts showing those symptoms, let your vet know and find out the best way to get her back on schedule with stronger doses. Unforttunately for many of us it's trial and error to learn how much or how little pain meds our pup's need, and forhow long. You'll get there though!
Hoppy Howlidays!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kim How is Maggie doing. Have you tapered the meds. Remember she is still a fresh post op and some days will be better than others. Let her behavior be your guide. Is she eating, peeing and pooping OK?
I dropped Maggie's meds back to every twelve hours and some days are better than others. Ugh. The problem is that the meds make her dizzy and unbalanced so she doesn't want to get up and move around, which is also not good for her. Otherwise she is doing well. She gets around on her own other than up and down stairs. She can pee/poop on her own without the sling. Her remaining front paw still swells periodically. She gets her staples out on Tuesday when we go see the oncologist to discuss chemo.
I feel like my head is going to explode with all these decisions I need to make immediately - pain meds or no pain meds, chemo or no chemo, K-9 immunity
, apocaps
, what kind of harness, do I try making her food, can I afford a holistic vet and a PT, if I pursue one or both when should I start? Aaahhh! 
I just want what's best for Maggie.
Absolutely understood. It's a crazy ride for sure, but you're really doing great. Remember don't second guess yourself. That only adds more stress.
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Kim I am in the same boat with you! Blaze had surgery 12-23 so we are just five days post. I have kept Blaze on the same med dose he had pre amp. Which is more than was prescribed on discharge. I didn't want him to experience any pain! I now know he was in terrible pain pre amp. Now he sleeps so soundly, most of the day. Which is good because he can heal and not over do. But last night just before I went to bed I got him up to go out and realized he peed his bed while sleeping!
I might try reducing the meds a bit but with his grumpy personality I don't want him hurting!
did you get Maggie's path report?
mary
Of course you want the best for Maggie! And there are a lot of decisions to make.
It might help to break it down- First decide on chemo or not. That seems to be the immediate need.
If she is getting around OK without a harness then wait on ordering one. Some dogs never need one. Use your sling to get her in and out of the car and up and down stairs for now.
You don't need to change her diet right away. In fact, if you do decide to do chemo you shouldn't change her diet at the same time because if she has some tummy issues you won't know if it is because of the chemo or the diet. Our vet didn't want us to change anything.
Same goes for supplements- in fact you might consider keeping the same diet at first and adding one or two supplements in at a time.
There are lots of choices and decisions, but you don't have to make them all at once.
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
Thanks, Karen. There are a lot of decisions to be made and I do need to prioritize them so I don't make myself crazy. I am really on the fence about the diet change. I'm sure the oncologist won't be thrilled about me changing her food at this point, but I am so nervous to wait 12 weeks to get the wheat out of her diet. We waited to treat Maggie's tumor because she had an infection and now the cancer has spread to the lymph node.
Mary - how is Blaze? Maggie is getting around a little better though she still seems to be in some pain. She is still getting pain meds every 12 hours. The oncologist said the tumor was grade 3 with a mitotic index of 20. Not good news. I need to do some research about the chemo drug she is recommending before I decide if we're going to follow through with that treatment.
Kim
Our vet specifically asked that I not change Trouble's diet until after the chemo. His fear was that if she began to have complications, he wouldn't know if it was a change in diet or the chemo. Just a thought.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Kim, you don't have to rush into anything right now. You've both been through so much. Take each day as it comes, unwrap it for the gift that it is, and just do your best without going insane. That's all our animals ever want for us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kim thanks for asking about Blaze. It's been one week today. He is getting around ok but all he wants to do is sleep! He doesn't seem to be in a lot of pain except when my younger guy accidentally bumped into him. I know he is in some pain because he is grumbly. I just want this part to end!
how long did you wait for your path results? Did it confirm OSA or some other cancer?
mary
Kim I found this research that discusses tumor grade and additional therapy, chemo, and survival outcomes.
http://www.onco.....arcoma.pdf
I hope this helps you make decisions.
Mary
Thank you so much for the link, Mary! I will look into that. Maggie had a mast cell tumor. When they're a grade 1 or 2 they're pretty treatable but it gets much trickier at a grade 3 and the prognosis isn't nearly as good. Maggie was very lethargic for the first few weeks after surgery too. I was really worried after reading about other dog owners who couldn't keep their dogs quiet and I couldn't get Maggie to get up. It's been two weeks now and she is finally a little perkier. I started her on K-9 Immunity a couple of days ago too, so I'm not sure which is the cause but I'll take it! She went up the stairs all by herself today - no sling!
Kim
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