Save time spent searching, download the new Tripawds e-book for immediate answers!

Bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for more amputation recovery advice and care tips.

Review the Tripawds Featured Blogs for the best three legged dog care product recommendations.

Tripawds is a user supported community. Please do what you can to help keep it online.

Please consider registering
guest

Log In RegisterMembers

Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search:

— Forum Scope —



— Match —



— Forum Options —




Wildcard usage:
*  matches any number of characters    %  matches exactly one character

Minimum search word length is 4 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters

Topic RSS
Night time restlessness
13 August 2010
12:33 pm
Member
Forum Posts: 20
Member Since:
3 August 2010
Offline

Hi all,

Yesterday was Cassie' two week ampuversary, and she had her stitches removed, she really is doing very well.  We are patiently waiting for her harness and boots.  Really hoping the boots  will give her some much needed traction in the house which is all tile and hardwood.  Not a tripawds best friend.  I have rearranged our carpets strategically to help her out as much as I can.  Still a lot of bare floor for her to deal with.

Anyway I have a couple of question.  She is very restless during the night.  Is this normal?  Will it get better?

13 August 2010
12:37 pm
Member
Forum Posts: 387
Member Since:
14 June 2010
Offline

Hi Cassiesmom,

I don't know about "normal" but Ajax was very restless and had a hard time "settling" for at least a week after the stitches were removed.  I think he just couldn't get totally comfortable.  Once he realized he could lay on his amputated side (at 3.5 weeks), I think he felt a lot better – I think he was holding himself in tension to "balance" a lot of the time …

Just our experience.  We will be 4 weeks post amp on Monday.

13 August 2010
12:43 pm
Member
Forum Posts: 94
Member Since:
27 January 2009
Offline

I had the same problem.. I gave meds at night to knock him out so he got a good nights sleep.. I used gabapentin one pill at night only for 4 weeks. helps with phantom pain too. First 2 weeks, I gave one pill every 8 hrs plus tramadol.

Hope things improve but happy the stiches are out! yeah!!

Jenna & Zak

13 August 2010
12:47 pm
Member
Forum Posts: 387
Member Since:
14 June 2010
Offline

Oh yeah – ps – we hated the tramadol so weren't using it – when we went to get the stitches out we got some more rimadyl, which helped

13 August 2010
12:52 pm
Member
Forum Posts: 94
Member Since:
27 January 2009
Offline

oh.. ditto on what Kazy said.. lots of tramadol made Zak pant a LOT! I used the Gabapentin far more for his pain relief. ask your vet if you aren't using it. I think it could be helpful..

Hope you get a good nights sleep tonight :)

Jenna & Zak

13 August 2010
12:57 pm
Here and Now

Team Tripawds
Forum Posts: 7754
Member Since:
25 April 2007
Offline

Is Cassie still on any pain meds? If so, she'll certainly sleep better once off them. If not, she will likely do better as she regains her strength and becomes more comfortable.

Looking forward to your feedback on how the Harness and Boots help!

"Dogs are born with three legs and a spare."
— Jerry G. Dawg (10/98-10/08)
Please Support Your Tripawds Community!
Have you started a Tripawds Blog yet?
Looking for quick answers? Download the new Tripawds eBook for the best tips and advice!

13 August 2010
1:01 pm
Member
Forum Posts: 20
Member Since:
3 August 2010
Offline

Not sure if this is a Canadian, US thingor just vet preference.  Cassie was on Metacam, and only for 10 days.   She has been drug free since last Sunday.  I was concerned about it but she seems to be doing fine.  Even started to eat better once off the meds.  The restlessness has been since day one.  She has been laying on her injured side for quite awhile now.  Has to really think about it to get layed down.  But actually seems to prefer it once she is.

13 August 2010
1:07 pm
Member
Forum Posts: 94
Member Since:
27 January 2009
Offline

Every one has a different take on things.. I guess that's why these boards are so helpful.

I thought it was better to make sure he wasn't suffering & had done lot of research on pain online & with my vet. I used meds for almost 4 wks.. only at night during the last 2 wks. We had a great recovery with no probs eating etc.. That drug gabapentin is the one I recommend most to newly amp'd dogs for relief. Most who've used it, have told me it was helpful.

Jenna & Zak

13 August 2010
7:12 pm
Portage Lake, Maine
Member
Forum Posts: 915
Member Since:
8 December 2009
Offline

I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Gabapentin!  That drug got Maggie thru a TERRIBLE night of pain before her amputation date.  She remained on the Gabapentin(along with Tramadol) after amputation. 

Gabapentin ROCKS for pain.

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

Diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma 10-12-09, amputation of left rear leg 10-20-09
maggie.tripawds.com

"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get back up."  ~ Vince Lombardi
 
 
13 August 2010
9:32 pm
Member
Forum Posts: 94
Member Since:
27 January 2009
Offline

Tracy – I couldn't agree more. Its the one drug I'm always trying to get people to use. It was the best thing for Zak & would go to it again if we need a pain pill.. especially helpful for amp's because of the help with phantom pains.

Its so funny.. when you find something that works well.. you just want to shout it out to everyone.. Use this, use this!! lol.. :)

Jenna & Zak
12 yr old Rtvr 
Dx front leg 1/24/09
Amp 1/29/09
Carboplatin SR 2/5/09, 3/6/09, 4/3/09, 5/1/09
Doxorubicin 6/12/09, 6/26/09, 7/17/09, 8/07/09, 9/01/09
Chest X-rays; 2/5/09; 5/8/09 clear; 8/7/09 clear;
10/28/09 clear; 12/31/09 clear; 4/9/10 clear; 8/6/10 CLEAR
Forum Timezone: America/Denver

Most Users Ever Online: 165

Currently Online: Maxidad, AngelAbbysMom, Dakota Dawg, chuey
87 Guest(s)

Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Top Posters:

AngelAbbysMom: 1503

Emilysmom: 1231

fightingforsammy: 1120

jakesmom: 1111

Cooper: 976

10711: 942

riosmom: 939

Cherry: 930

Member Stats:

Guest Posters: 443

Members: 3492

Moderators: 8

Admins: 3

Forum Stats:

Groups: 4

Forums: 22

Topics: 5893

Posts: 81542

Moderators: betaman (91), tazziedog (1233), hugapitbull (3175), testmod (7), Tazzie (1338), cometdog (4160), krun15 (2022), etgayle (1605)

Administrators: jerry (7632), admin (7754), jim (47)