Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat. Explore 17+ years of forum archives for stories and answers to questions about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery. Enjoy fresh discussion and connect with members in the new Tripawds Support Circle.
Join The Tripawds Community
Register your free account to join the Tripawds Support Circle. Connecting with members and getting the support you need is now easier than ever with the Circle app!
✅ Easy Photo Upload
✅ Direct Messaging
✅ Subscribe to Topics.
✅ Live Chat and much more!
Forums Locked: Search archives for answers & join Tripawds Support Circle to keep discussion going!
Log In
Members
Hi everyone!
I posted Marie the chihuahua's [long] story in the Share Your Story forum. Overall, her recovery has been going well and she is doing a bit better everyday. Tripawds.com has been such a comfort through this challenging time!
Her overall pain levels seem to have gone down considerably from the first few days, and we were even able to slowly decrease the amount of Gabapentin from 2ml to 1.5ml without any changes. (She lets me pick her up with ease now, and she is not slipping or falling as much as she did at first!) However, yesterday, and into last night, she started to suddenly yelp loudly out of nowhere while she was sitting or laying down in her bed. None of these times did she appear to move or do anything that would naturally cause pain. Could it be phantom limb pain? What are other signs of phantom limb pain, and should we continue to manage that with Gabapentin? Is there anything else these yelps could signify? While we've made it through the toughest parts of recovery, I know we are still not very far out on day 9.
She is supposed to get her stitches out tomorrow, so I will definitely talk to them about this then. I'm hoping there is also relief once those are removed!
I have also made her an appointment on Wednesday with her regular vet; I just want a follow-up after all of the medical issues Marie has been through lately. I also plan on asking for information about rehab services. Her regular vet is highly trained in holistic medicine, so I'm hoping to get some information on what could benefit her there too. I will share if I hear anything good!
Thank you all
11:45 am
Moderators
Helpline Hosts
18 October 2009
Offline
It does sound like phantom limb pain from what I've seen here. And gaba is the 'go to' med for that. Her stitches could also be pulling a bit.
I did a blog search on Phantom and got these results.
When Maggie had her amp she was on pain meds a full 14 days although we were tapering a bit the last couple of days. Dogs are pretty good at hiding pain, it may be that you have decreased the pain meds a bit too early for her. Chat with your vet and maybe see if increasing the dose up again helps. Or maybe the frequency of dosing.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
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
Find me now on Tripawds Circle
1:37 pm
Moderators
Helpline Hosts
Bucketeers
22 February 2013
Offline
Yep, ditto Karen. Phantom pain comes with sudden yelps out of rhe blue, often with the dog trying to get up and "run away from the pain". It comes on quickly and leaves quickly. The brain is still firing off messages ro nerve endings that no longer have a leg to go to causing the big OUCH! Gabapentin is the drug that helps stop that. So, as Karen indicated, Marie may need her dose of Gaba back up a little for a bit longer. It could also be a stitch could be causing the Yelp too. But they're coming out tomorrow, so that's good.
You're doing a great job with Marie! And she's doing a great job of adjusting!!
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!
8:38 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
Offline
Yeah, agree that this could be a sign of phantom pain . Your vet will be able to confirm. Usually it can be treated with Gabapentin and if it's possible for you to get her into acupuncture, that can make a tremendous difference too. This article by Dr. Mike Petty explains more:
https://tripawd.....care-tips/
I'm so glad you'll be able to meet with your vet and ask about rehab care. Let us know what happens, keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
