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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My male bullmastiff (Oswald) had left hind leg amputation 11 days ago. He came home on post-op day 3 and was very weak on his rear leg that day. By day 6-7, he was doing great and seemed so happy. But since day 8, he has been extremely restless, pacing back and forth and asking to go outside and just standing there or wanting to lay in the heat for a long time. He then starts panting a lot and it takes so long for him to settle down. He was originally taking 1 1/2 Previcox per day and two Tramadol twice a day before and after surgery. He has since been switched to Previcox only. I thought maybe it was the Tramadol causing the issues but he hasn't had any since late Sunday night (about 40 hrs ago). Should I be concerned, should I take him into the vet? I'm just so worried about him. I haven't slept hardly at all since he's been home and it's starting to take a toll on me. He is scheduled for staple removal Monday, July 24.
Welcome and best wishes for Oswald!
Please always do consult your vet with any serious concerns. But many of the symptoms you describe do sound like the typical recovery roller coaster. You will find many pain management posts in the Tripawds News blog for help determining if he is expressing signs of pain. Panting, pacing, and also staring are all common side effects of tramadol too, which could take 48+ hours to fully work itself out of the system.
Check Jerry's Required Reading List and the FAQs or see the Tripawds e-books for more recovery and care tips to help keep Oswald comfortable, and please keep us posted. Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
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Well hello Oswald the very handsome Bull Mastiff!!! Loooove that name for him!!
You jave come to the right place for support, understanding and a lot of first hand experience!!
YOUARE NOT ALONE!!! We understand the stress, the fear, the exhaustion, the lack of sleep, the worry...ohhhh heah...we understand it all too well!!
Just to give you a "reference", my big chunk of love Happy Hannah was athere 125 lb Bull Mastiff rear legger. I joined this community kn Day Six with a thread title so ething kike: SIX DAYS AFTER AMPUTATION AND I FEAR I'VE MADE A HORRIBLE DECISION (this was before we were limited to # of characters in title 🙂 :-))!! It took me THREE weeks before I could finally say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!! As Admkn said, check with your Vet if yoy have any concerns.
Two things nump out immediately in your post. What type of activity has Oswald been doing? He should just be resting, resting, resting and going out for leashed potty breaks and then more rest. No walking much, no running, no jumping, no stairs, no getting up in sofa, etc. It is sooooo easy for a dog, especially a large dog, to tweak a muscle this early on.
The other thing that stood out is LACK of pain meds. Certainly not a vet, vut it appears he is in pain and/or ma have tweaked something. My Happy Hannah was on TRAMADOL, GABAPENTIN, RIMADYL for three weeks ( with some tapering going into third week. This IS MAJOR SURGERY and Previcox is not enough to curb the pain.
Talk to your Vet kf course, but you might see how he does on Tramadol more frequently (3 Xday) lower dose) and/or adding Gabapentin to the mix.
How much does Oswald weight? What were his doses of Tram? Try massaging all over...neck.shoulders. back, et and see if he shows any tension in those areas? If he does have sore muscles, the warmth of the sun maynhelp.
Update when you can! We MUST have pictures of this sweet voy!! 🙂
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Eating, pooping, peeing, drinking okay?
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!
Thank you benny55 for your response. Since my post, he has calmed down and has been able to rest. You are correct in the fact that he tries to do too much. He wants to get on the couch and tries regularly. He has been eating like normal, drinking, and pottying with no issues. Since amputation he is now 116 pounds. Since surgery, he has been on Previcox 227mg 1 1/2 per day and Tramadol 50mg 2 tablets twice a day. Now he is only taking the Previcox. He seems to be doing well. He slept a lot yesterday (thank goodness). I just hope he continues to do well and gets back to his normal goofy self. That has been my biggest worry. I want him to live out his days happy.
I see your Happy Hannah lived one year and two months after amputation - how wonderful!!! Did she have chemo as well or amp only?
Glad to hear Oswald is resting comfortably today. He really sounds like his recovery is pretty "normal"...even a little ahead of the curve! If he starts ro show pain again, you can always add the Tramadol back.
What is it with dogs and couches? Keeping them off "their" couch really stresse them out!! Oswald will soon be back on his couch in no time!
It's soooo jard to be patiw during the recovery. But before you know it you'll see Oswald return to one of his old habits...And then another and then another! PROMISE!! It took weeks, but I remember the first time Happy Hannah got up to greet me at the door! I cried tears of joy! 🙂
I'd love to post you some pictures of Happy Hannah, but photobucket erased everything I've ever posted of her. Do not EVER use photobucket!!
Yes, Happy Hannah had four rounds of Carboplatin and sailed through them!! Even though I expected some minor side effects every now and then, she never had any!
Did those treatments have anything to do with her extended quality time? I have noooo idea! It's really a crap shoot. Some have gotten less time with chemo, some more. Some less ti e without chemo, some more without chemo. It really is an individual decision. Happy Hannah didn't mind car rides and she liked going to her Vet.
Give that sweet smoochy goofy boy a hug and extra treat for me!
Higs!
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!
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