Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

…. 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

…love your sense of humor. So sorry you had those phantom limb pains yesterday, but it sounds like your pawrents are all over it. Not only are we counting on one paw but we have toes left now!

And to make it

… some gate off an area. 

Discuss pain management
early if you can. They should get antibiotics, some kind of pain medication, and gabapentin for phantom limb pain. I say this now because too many people are sent home with nothing or next to nothing and most of these furbabies do best with a good pain regimen

….  They can give you oral doses that you just drop on the gums every 8 hours or so for when the hospital drugs wear off. Gabapentin helps them with phantom limb pain and the combination works very well at keeping their pain managed. 

Most pets are on painkillers and gabapentin for 2-3 weeks,  some animals

…usually have the antibiotics you spoke of,  pain meds like buprenorphine, and gabapentin for phantom limb pain. 

Where are you from? 

…when you were out. It's obvious you are doing everything you can.

Here are a couple of possibilities (some repeats from Jerry and Sally):

phantom limb pain. Nerves were cut. I witnessed a couple of strange growls and hisses from Mona. My other cat Eli even thought it was weird because he ran to me

…had to not prescribe it? If he/she feels it is safe, it is a real go to drug for post amp patients as it blocks nerve receptors and helps prevent phantom limb pain. It surely cannot hurt to ask, right? 

I hope you get a good report today, will check back periodically for updates. Hang in there!

Hugs,

…going to your regular Bet, as well as getting a third opinion! Shhh....secret.....I'm  not very impressed with the Surge saying it could be phantom limb pain snd YOU had to suggest Gabapentin!

Now, back to that suture at the incision.  Like Jackie, I thought that had been addressed also.  To me, that

…not trying to scare you. I would rather see you well informed than to get a sucker punch that you didn't see coming. Gabapentin is a great drug for phantom limb pain, most are on it for 2-3 weeks, some longer. It blocks the signals from the nerve endings, but it is not a pain medication .. so to speak. Couple

… There seemed to be no apparent reason and it only happened a few times that I saw. I assume it was still the healing of the nerves that were cut or phantom limb pain. Jerry gave some suggestions on how to manage it.

A month after Mona's amputation I took her in for chiropractic treatments and learned how to

…someone can help me understand what's happening and how long this will last. The vet said it could just be her adjusting to the balance issues, or phantom limb pain, but I would love to hear from someone who has been through this. My heart is aching for her, and I'm so frustrated because we went through with the

…hospital meds are out of her system now and this is when the tweaking of,pain meds can  get a little tricky.  Check out the link on phantom pain
(phantom limb pain).  The brain is still sending  signals to the nerves that were attached to a leg that is no longer there.  Out of the blue a dog will basically

…give the two meds at different times rather than at the same time.

I would think the surgery pain would be gone after two weeks so perhaps it is phantom limb pain. A number of cats here were prescribed Gabapentin (which Sally referred to). I also gave Mona hot and cost compresses on her surgical site and

…studies that didn't involve your dog. Some dogs will follow those outcomes, some won't. Try not to focus on it, because Bundy is his own dog.

PHANTOM LIMB PAIN: how many of your dogs have had this? How long does it last? I would just HATE to trade one pain for another in his limited months left. 

Here

…the ‘health of his other knee’ and I’m left thinking UMMM CAN YOU CLARIFY PLEASE?! If he only has 3-6 months left does that really matter? 

PHANTOM LIMB PAIN: how many of your dogs have had this? How long does it last? I would just HATE to trade one pain for another in his limited months left. 

HOW

…longer.  Huck was on pain meds for about 3 weeks,  many are on for 2. He took gabapentin and buprenorphine, they worked well together for pain and phantom limb pain.  You might consider talking to your vet and discussing her pain management
for the rest of her recovery.  

Im not a vet,  but if she stays

…2015 and it was very informative. It does happen in cats that have had amputations and can be mixture of the incision gets itchy, frustration, and phantom limb pain. For my cat I believe it's frustration at not being able to scratch the itch which sends him into a panic attack sometimes. I try to catch it

…ask them about gabapentin.  I am not a vet, and I know she's older,  but most of us control phantom limb pain very well with gabapentin.  

Hard to say if the shivering is brought on by the medication in her system or phantom limb pain but it's truly worth