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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Nerve Pain or Phantom Limb?
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Richmond, VA
Member Since:
6 December 2014
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25 December 2014 - 9:32 pm
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I posted this on the FB page too, sorry for the duplication. Has any new amputees experienced nerve pain? My dog Wicket is 7 days post-op and has woken up in the night with what we thought were nightmares, but then it started happening during the day but worse. He screams for about a minute and then is fine. We can palpate the surgical site and no reaction. the vet thinks it may be nerve pain but they never see him react, it's only happened at home. We were given new pain meds but if anyone has any experience, please tell me how you coped with it? I try to calm him down but at the worst episode he has tried to bite due to the pain. Could this be due to him not receiving the proper pain meds right after surgery? The vet he did the surgery neglected to prescribe pain meds strong enough for Wicket's immediate needs. 

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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25 December 2014 - 10:53 pm
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Hi Wicket and family, welcome. We're glad you posted here too, the more feedback the better. Yes, we've seen many Tripawds experience phantom pain , just click on the phantom limb pain link for info and tips.
http://tripawds.....+limb+pain

Yes, current pain relief protocols state that pain relief administered both before, during and after surgery make a huge difference in reducing phantom pain risk. But if your pup's vet didn't do that try not to worry, most dogs get though it in a mater of weeks with gentle massage and relief with drugs like gabapentin.

Check out this article by pain management expert Dr Mike Petty, you'll find it helpful.
http://tripawds.....care-tips/

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

Mystic, CT
Member Since:
26 April 2014
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26 December 2014 - 3:30 pm
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Hi Wickets parent. You don't mention which pain meds your dog is taking. My Blaze had surgery 12/23/14 but was on many pain meds prior to surgery. He had a psychotic reaction to amantadine, hallucinating and very aggressive. I stopped that drug immediately! In humans this med can cause hallucinations. 

 

Mary 

Richmond, VA
Member Since:
6 December 2014
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26 December 2014 - 5:37 pm
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Thanks guys. When he came out of surgery they only gave me tramadol and carprofrin (spelling?). That was not nearly enough as he had screaming pain and tried to bite anything he could get his jaws on because it hurt so much, and he's never been a mouthy dog. We took him to an emergency vet and they put him on a morphine drip overnight and tried to transition to tramadol again, no bueno. So he went on a fentanyl patch That worked but after it came off he had screaming fits again, the worst ever so we brought him back to the emergency vet again last night. They gave us gabapentin and we're on that, tramadol and the carprofrin. That combo appears to be helping significantly. The episodes are more frequent but MUCH less severe and are over with more quickly. I'm hoping as the medicine gets in his system that the episodes space further and further out. 

As a side note - after the fact we learned there were some things that clearly weren't done either during or after the surgery from the vet performing the surgery (not my vet) and I am still waiting on an explanation as to why. I was fully accepting there could be complications, but I was not accepting of a certain lack of care that happened with proper pain management both during and afterwards. Needless to say, my primary concern is Wicket getting better. I took the articles folks sent me to the emergency vet to help pinpoint his problem. 

 

Sorry for the long post! 

Mystic, CT
Member Since:
26 April 2014
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26 December 2014 - 6:32 pm
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I am sorry to hear Wicket is having such an experience. How long was Wicket in the hospital? Gabapentin is a very important med that blocks nerve pain. Blaze is taking tramadol, gabapentin and rimadyl. While in the hospital they had him on many iv pain meds including morphine and ketamine. 

I was told to ice the incision to prevent swelling, but it also helps with pain. Perhaps you can do that?

mary. 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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26 December 2014 - 7:19 pm
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Glad you are here! Welco.! Nothing better than support from people with first hand experience!! So sorry sweet Wicket is dealing with pain!

If I may be just a bit "snarky" about the vet who apparently didn't prescribe the proper pain meds for Wicket. I certainly hope he never has . MAJOR surgery without proper pain meds!! Bet you'd hear him screaming all across the land! Okay...thanks for listening!!

It sounds like yoj are on the right plan now. Gabapentin is the drug of choice to fight nerve oain. You have some good links and advicefro. Jerry and Mary. I know it's beeaking n your heart to watch, but the pain meds should start to be benefiting him soon. The Gabapentin does build on itself so it may take a short bit of time to really be effective on a more consistent basis.

When you jave time, tell us more about Wicket. How old is he? Why is he having an aml.? Which leg? BTW, we LOVE pictures around here! His avatar picture is very cute.

Stay connected to us and please keep us posted, okay? We all care!! Recovery is n o picnic, even without the added nerve pain! But when recovery does takenplace and you start to see Wicket's sparkle come back, ohhhh my, the joy is just splendid!!!

Hugs to all! You're doing great and you are a strong advocate for your boy!!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

PS...Thank you for postingnhere...not all of us are on FB! You'll find the support here tremendously helpful!

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


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24 September 2009
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26 December 2014 - 9:22 pm
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Oh my gosh that was not a long post at all. I'm just so sorry you've had so many trips back to the vet, but very glad they have gotten the pain management under control. If more vets took preventive measures ahead of surgery this wouldn't happen, I'm really sorry you endured this, I know it has to be tough. You're not alone though, and you'll find lots of support here as you continue the recovery journey so don't be shy. Love that photo of Wicket!

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

Martinsburg, WV
Member Since:
3 June 2014
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27 December 2014 - 1:23 pm
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I hope Wicket is doing better now.  Has the episodes started to decrease??  I'm glad to hear that the emergency vet got Wicket on Gabapentin. 

One thing I learned from going through our experience with our Leland was how informed we as guardians have to be regarding medical care provided to our furkids.  I'll never again go blindly along with what the vet says and this community is a great resource for you in knowing what to ask and bring to Wicket's vet's attention.

Hang in there and I hope Wicket's recovery is progressing.

Sahana and her Angel Leland

Leland

November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014

May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!

Richmond, VA
Member Since:
6 December 2014
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27 December 2014 - 1:32 pm
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He is doing better. The episodes are more frequent but MUCH less severe. Before they were 8 or 9/10 on the pain scale and now they look anywhere between 2-5/10 and they don't last as long. Most of the time it happens when he gets up too quickly or is startled awake. It's the second full day on the gabapentin. 

Totally agree on being informed, and we tried our best beforehand. He originally went in for a mass removal and they just couldn't do it to the point of getting good margins/closure. So they quickly recommended the amputation and my winter break with school was starting which made the most sense for us since he'd need care at home. We had about a week of preparation going into it. Our vet and the emergency vet were all shocked at his lack of pain treatment afterwards and my vet was disappointed in himself for sending us there. It's a sucky situation all around but I am just thankful that Wicket survived and that this is hopefully a brief bump in the road. 

I have been looking up what to expect when he needs to start coming off the pain meds. Some sources say he should wean off and the pain should be gone and other places say he may still have intermittent pain. Any advice?

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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27 December 2014 - 5:17 pm
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I always like to wean my pugs off of pain meds.  And since you are on gaba be sure you talk to your vet about tapering off.  Gaba is one med you should never stop cold (if you have been on it for awhile).

My pug Maggie was on tram for about 2 weeks, but the last couple of days we were tapering.  If you taper down, and Wicket shows signs of pain you can go back up.

How old is Wicket? Does he have any other health issues like arthritis?  I think most pups are off meds for good in 2 or 3 weeks, but every dog is a little different.

 

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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