Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

…up like she got a shock, sometimes she turns and looks at the area like something is stabbing her.  When it would first happen I thought it might be phantom limb pain, but I don't think so now.  It's hard to find the right balance of enough exercise without overdoing.  This is why we spend a lot of time on food

…did not bother me because as a new amputee they need lots of sleep and rest. After several doses he was much less groggy and it did help him with phantom limb pain. I was able to wean him off after about 3 weeks. 

If Leyla's remaining front paw has edema (swelling), you should contact her doctor. We have

…Grayson is having issues.  And yes, it definitely  sounds like phantom limb pain.  Obviously  we are.not Vets so a Bet can best determine the cause.  Perhaps you can video the episodes and send.

Gabapentin is proven to be

…sign, now that the hospital meds are out of the system.

It did sound like she may be experiencing  some phantom pain
.  Check out the link to phantom limb pain.

Contnue to assist her to help her stand.  For now, maybe bring her food bowl and water to her rather than ask her to get up.  Let her save that

…that it's not commonly used in veterinary medicine in the States. Thanks for looking it up!

About her pain: see if your vet will read about this phantom limb pain study by an Italian researcher.

…and stress free energy.  Kip needs that type of reassuring  energy to help him heal.

Sounds like he's resting well.  What did your Vet say about phantom limb pain as opposed to "panic attacks"?

Hang in there!  You've got this!!!

Hugs 

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

…also check out links on phantom limb pain.  The brain is still send oit signals to nerve endings  that no longer have a let to go to.  A dog will helps suddenly  and act as if he's trying 

…. This is perfect!! Exactly how I have done it

No stump banging Ziggy! But it sounds like he is getting around just wonderfully   I am glad the phantom limb pain, or whatever pain it was is gone. Hard to tell if it was ouchy from the infection or the phantom limb but it is gone! Is he still on gabapentin? 

…alligator jaws" trying to clamp his mouth shut between syringes. 

One other interesting thing I've noticed - the episodes of what we thought were phantom limb pain have stopped entirely, or at least they have so far. By this point in his last recovery he'd already had several, that was one of the first things

…reduces nerve pain and helps prevent phantom pain in cats and dogs.
Amitriptyline is another drug for both species that can help reduce phantom limb pain, as well as anxiety.
Amantadine is also shown to be an effective pain reducer.

 

Cats like Leo deserve quality pain control

Dog and

…with me. 

Last night was difficult she began to wake up go to move and whine and freeze. She has done this a few times today. (Vet said not Phantom limb pain, just simply she’s woken up from a deep sleep and forgot her limb isn’t there). 

So today; she’s hardly moved and went outside for a toilet break

…bone so he would be at high risk of pressure sores.

Incidentally I think that may also be what's causing a lot of those fits that we assumed were phantom limb pain. We kind of suspect that there are times when he's playing and lands wrong, or his brother kicks or bites him or he hops down from a low perch.

…noticed a difference. She was in my face and anxious throughout the night but then perfectly fine once it was daylight. 

Her vet discussed both phantom limb pain and also a possibility of some sundowners going on. Lana would get up and walk around some at night in our bedroom before all of this but she wouldn

…of his healing process.

The happy news? Ziggy is adjusting absolutely beautifully. He's had a couple more episodes of what we guessed might be phantom limb pain and oddly he's a lot more prone to growling when he gets scared, but we figure that's because he knows he's not 100% and also possibly due to the

…may be phantom limb pain.  Keep an eye and if it continues call her doc. She may need medication adjustment,  ok?

Everything else still good?

…us at some point. By the way- hello and a very late welcome .

It sounds to me like Keira is showing some pain signs, and the yelping sounds like phantom limb pain.  At 5 weeks out the pain from surgery is usually gone, including phantom pain
, but we do see here in older pups that they need pain management
…

…meds or supplements for her arthritis? 

If she isn't taking gabapentin right now it might be helpful, it works on nerve pain which is what causes phantom limb pain.  You can discuss with your vet. 

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

…reach through this monitor and give you a bear hug! Seriously, my heart goes out to you. So the limb goes, and the Gabapentin is to help them with phantom limb pain. It is usually temporary and the gaba helps a great deal. Some deal more than others, its a crap shot as to if this will be an issue but one good

…. Almost every time he walks, he does a little dance and starts freaking out looking behind him to the amputation spot. We’re not sure if he has phantom limb pains, his hind leg is cramping, or he has anxiety over walking. 

He also won’t eat his dog food for us. The vet recommended baby food or some wet dog

…. It's so heart breaking and they are so intense. I spoke to a friend of mine who had his own leg amputated to gain some insight.  He said that yes phantom limb pain is real and can be intermittent but it seems to decrease as time goes on. He said in the first few months, they're were "weird" sensations.  They

…add that to the list of 200 questions.  Please make sure he has enough meds to last about 2 weeks.  Gabapentin works well and it helps to control phantom limb pain.  You may or may not need that much for pain meds,  and you may need more.  This is where it becomes very individualized but it sounds like your

…out of concern for kidney damage.  She's getting Gabapentin twice a day.  She doesn't seem necessarily painful, although we wonder about nerve or phantom limb pain when she gets spooked for no apparent reason.  Her attitude doesn't really seem depressed she just is very wary of being out from her corner She is

….  The stitches/staples could be pulling or poking too.

How much does she weigh and what is the dose amount, the frequency?

Also, check out phantom limb pain.  I think you'll find her behavior similar.   It comes on quickly and the dog will yelp and try to move away from the pain.  It usually lasts at

…in any pain when these episodes occur - just startled and then able to settle quickly.  I reached out to his surgeon who said it doesn't sound like phantom limb pain, but it is hard to tell since our pups can't speak to us.  I am trying to track the episodes now to see if I can pinpoint a particular time of day

…amp site. 

You might try a little massage around his neck and shoulders when it happens.

I read somewhere (although I can't find it now) that phantom limb pain can happen for years although that might be in people- so I've always wondered if Elly still gets jabs of pain now and then.  It could happen while

…reassurance and sometimes not.  This is a recent development and was not a behavior he has exhibited previously.  I thought perhaps this could be phantom limb pain, but again, he doesn't appear to be in any pain, doesn't make noise, and isn't showing any other symptoms, such as licking or muscle spasms.  Any

…& Jerry, I can't thank you guys enough. Genie had some issues with phantom limb pain. She would suddenly wake up from rest and run with her tail inwards like she is terrified of something. She would lick her suture area on and off

… the pain managed. 

Okay, take some deep breaths and know that she is zonked out now and NOT in pain! 

Check out this link to phantom pain
.  Phantom limb pain is something  that occurs sometimes  after limb amputation. The cut nerves are still firing  off signals to a leg that is no longer there and it

…(sp??).  Drinking amd peeing are important,  but pooping and eating  sometimes are a little off.  "Jolting up" is often a sign of painful phantom limb pain syndrome and the Gabapentin will help with that.

Did they take her temperature?  While no outward signs of infection I'm really glad they FINALLY

…spread.  

The first month or so post-op was very difficult.  He was obviously in pain and when we ran out of pain killers, he would have phantom limb pains frequently.  The meds and the pain made him not want to eat and just getting him to drink a little bit of water was a huge ordeal.  We turned to

…according to what I have been able to research.  She is still acting like she is in pain.  This has been attributed to frustration and/or phantom limb pain.  She is walking backward, which I've been told is normal?   However, she isn't making much progress toward recovering.  She just does not appear