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.
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I'm so glad that I found this site as I was considering amputation and then preparing for the surgery. My dog, Jack, is a two year old Basenji mix who had a traumatic injury to her elbow / shoulder when she was very young. Her elbow healed poorly and over the past two years, arthritis set in and progressed to the point that amputation was the best option.
She had the surgery on Monday and has done well up until tonight - she's been eating, gone out to use the bathroom a few times a day, etc. I think the hospital meds have finally worn off and she's starting to feel the effects of the surgery. The vet sent her home with tramadol - 50 mg 3x a day- which she tolerates well, but I don't think is enough. She's starting yelping every time she moves, and screams if she has to stand up. I called the vet, who recommended adding in Rimadyl, but wasn't familiar with gabapentin. Has anyone else been sent home with only tramadol? Do you think adding Rimadyl will be enough? I'm worrying about a long night ahead...
Hello and welcome! SO sorry to hear that Jack (a girl...love it!) had to lose her leg but based on what I'm seeing in that photo, she looks like a spunky little thing!
It does sound like she's at that point where the hospital meds are wearing off. It definitely sounds like some better pain management is necessary. Some dogs do need more than Tramadol, some need different combos of dosages. Definitely talk to your vet first thing and request some help with controlling the pain. I hope you get some sleep, try to rest and let us know what happens.
Also would love to hear more about Jack!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
JACK IS ADORABLE!!! Can't wait to see more poctures of that cuteness!!!
My Happy Hannah, a big chunk of love Bull Mastiff, whined and cried and was restless for days! And it seemed to even worsen after day three...around the time the hospital meds wore off.
She was on Tramadol, Gabapentin and Rimadyl...and many, many dogs here are on that combination for at least the first week or longer.
Hmmm...don't know why your vet isn't aware of Gabapentin...did she do the surgery?
Check out links here to phantom pain . It's when the nerves are still adjusting and sending crazy painful signals to the limb that isn't there. It's oten described as a dog suddenly yelling and jumping n up as though trying to move away from the pain. It usual k y comes in wuick short spurts. Gabapentin is generlly effective with this type of pain, as well as general surgerynpain.
This IS major surgery and humans would be in the hospital for days and days, and probably on morphine most of that time!
Just try and comfort her and let her know you are by her side. I remember those sleepless nights all to o well! Keep a bag of Hershey Kisses by your side and eat by the handfuls...it helps!
Let us know what the vet says about managing the pain. Maybe you co u ld take her in for a wuick second opinion to someone who is familiar with Gabapentin and that can be added in...
Recovery is tough. Stay connected to us. You are not alone, okay? It does get easier!!
HUGS!!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Hi all- thought I would update this to let you know what worked in case it's helpful to anyone else in the future. We added Gabapentin, but didn't see much of a difference in her pain level. By 10 days after the surgery, she was feeling much worse than immediately following the amputation and I took her back into the vet. He prescribed methocarbomal, in addition to upping the Gaba and continuing tramadol and rimadyl. Adding that on made all the difference and her muscle spasms and most of her pain has subsided. She sleeps all the time, but the spark is back in her eyes and she's interested in being near me and curious about food.
For those of you who have had similar issues with phantom pain - how long was your dog on medication and what signs should I look for to know that she's ready to back off the medication?
Darn..so sorry that adorable Jack is having these issues!
I'm. REAL K Y glad you've found a med mixture that is working!!!
Cane really provide any specific insight other than...under your Vet's direction....you could slowly try backing off of one med at a time...lowering the dose slowly...and see how that works. Again, with your Vet's direction!
I'm soooo glad to hear Jack IS feeling better and eating! I'm sure the drugs are making him on the sleepy side and, once you can reduce them, that will subside too.
Ohers will chime in with more experience on this than I.
Thanks so much for the update...we've been wondering!!!!
HUGS!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
That is very helpful info, thanks! I'm so glad the drug is working. I will try to remember this info for future members in the same predicament:
According to Vet Info:
Methocarbamol Overview
A muscle relaxant drug is the best option for combating regular muscle spasm problems. Methocarbamol, also know by the brand name drug Robaxin V, is a powerful muscle relaxant. It is not completely understood why this drug works to prevent your pet's muscles from spasming, but it is highly effective.
When selecting the brand name drug Robaxin for your dog, note that there are two types available. The standard formulation of Robaxin is designed for use in humans and contains a slightly different chemical makeup and dosage than the standard Robaxin for dogs. The veterinary version of the medicine is technically called Robaxin-V. Do not provide your pet with the human formulation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bad news- she pulled out all of her stitches while I was at work today. She wears a Ruffwear jacket and hasn't shown any interest in her incision until now, but today she ate through the jacket to get to it. She managed to pull out the entire top row of stitches - I could not believe it!
I'm so discouraged. I thought we had finally turned a corner and now we're headed back to the vet tomorrow to get staples put in. What am I going to do! How long does a wound like this take to heal?
JACK!!!! JACK YOU WERE A NAUGHTY GIrl TODAY!!!! Was it itching y i u that much that you even chewed through your RuffWear Jacket? WOW! That was some itch!!!
To tell you this does happen more often than one might think is of no consolation at all!! It may be that she may not need restiitching if she has another row of stitching undernrath.
Do you think itr possr that perhaps the jacket somehow caught on her stitches or rubbed her amputatio site to the point she felt like she needed to gnaw it off?? It is odd that, after all this time she decided she needed to pull them out!!
Try not to be discouraged. This two...three weeks of recovery does turn back into a more normal routine fairly soon!!
How does the incision site look? Any leaksge, swelling, gapping holes?
Okay...deep breaths...B R E A T H E!!! Jack is recovering and her sparkle will be backn in full force soon!!!
Let us know how to m orrow goes, okay??
(((((((((((((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))))))))))
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
I agree- 16 days post-surgery is a long time to wait to pull out stitches. We didn't fully figure out how to control her pain up until Monday, so my guess is that she finally felt good enough to move around / start investigating her incision.
The vet called to say she's not going to replace the stitches. There's a lot of gaping and leakage and it's a bit infected, but she thinks it will heal on it's own as long as Jack's not licking the incision. So, she's back to wearing the comfy cone and I'm back to receiving the stink eye.
Thanks for the encouragement - it does help to know that it happens all the time.
Oh dang! I'm so sorry! Yah, the cone of shame is just the way it's gotta be for most new Tripawds. You're not alone, trust me, lots of doggies have done this. The cone really stinks for them but it sure saves a lot of extra time and vet visits. Poor gal!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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