Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Shooter had an abcessed tooth removed today (poor guy can't catch a break). They said he had some "issues" coming out of the anesthetic so gave him morphine. They didn't say what the issues were. I brought him home and he was pretty loopy and just wanted to lay down so I put him in the yard and did some quick horse chores. When I checked on him his mouth was bleeding and there were some clots. Called vet and was told to put pressure on area keep him quiet. Pressure works for a little while but keeps seeping blood. Also, he is very restless and is crying and crying. Is this a side effect from the morphine or could he be in that much pain from the extraction. He is alsovery agitated. Ideas?
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Oh no, poor Shooter! I don't have any experience with morphine but I wouldn't be surprised if that behavior (crying and agitation) is related to it. Those kind of drugs can do some weird stuff to you.
I wouldn't think it would be the extraction itself either. I've had both dogs and cats have teeth extracted but they never acted like you describe Shooter.
Hope he feels better soon and you can get the bleeding stopped.
Marla and Daisy
OOPS! Just noticed this is under "ask a vet". I'm no vet so ignore me!
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
That's ok Marla, any words of advice and encouragement work for me!
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Darn it! Poor Shooter!
While you're waiting for sme answers here, why don't you give the "emergency vet" people a call and ask them. I know that many dogs here n the site had the fentynal patch (morphiner) after surgery and it made them quite loop and space and just plain weird.
I would re-ask them about what to do about the tooth!
Things are a lot more urgent with our famiy of dogs n tihis site and they need to understandi it! We want Shooter feeling better nw!
I'm sorry Luanne. I'm sre this is all in the "ormal" range but our tripawd dogs dn't like wastng tme n this crap!
Also, was the vet fulh aware of the meds Shooter s takng?
Sending you love. Stay here and see what gets posted. I'm sure there will be some answers foryou!
?ove,
Sally and Hapy Hannah
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!
Usually the extraction site can be sutured closed using the gum tissue (like a flap) over the hole so bleeding should be minimal. Sutures should be soft and will dissolve.
If I remember right your dog has the genetic MDR mutation? That can sometimes make them sensitive to a few anesthetic drugs. Morphine can make any dog dopey and vocal (dysphoric) and that should wear off quickly.
Usually if the tooth is abscessed the dog is given an NSAID like Rimadyl to reduce post-op swelling and sometimes an antibiotic such as Clavamox or Antirobe in case of bone infection.
Pam
Thanks Pam. They have given me Cephalexin to give him twice a day, but no NSAID.
Great memory - he does have the MDR mutation. I completely forgot about that creating the sensitivity. He seems much better now. Is still really dopey, but not crying. We were able to keep a gauze pad on the site for about 1-1/2 hours and are keeping watch to see if it is still bleeding. As far as I can tell there are no stitches-it was an upper back tooth.
Once again this place is life saver and best psychiatrist I know.
Thanks everyone!
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Darn. it's bleeding again.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Oh Shooter! I just saw this, I'm so sorry you had to get that done. OUCH!
I hope the bleeding stops quickly. Please keep us posted, we are thinking of you and sending magic Tripawds healing juju your way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Happy Hannah wants Shooter to have her stuffed duck to chew on. She thinks it will make her gums feel better
Feel better Shooter! We love you!
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 Hannah -hoping just the thought of that beautiful duck will stop the bleeding.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Just an update on Shooter. His bleeding continued and he was crying constantly so at 2:30 this morning we drove an hour to the emergency vet and they gave him some pain meds. They didn't feel the bleeding was that bad (?) so didn't do anything with that. He slept most of the way home, but the blanket he was laying on had a blood pool on it. Got home at 5:30am and he (and us) slept till about 7am and he started crying again and his mouth was bleeding more. Got him to his normal vet about 8:30am and they now have him on pain meds and keeping him quiet so hopefully the tooth socket will clot. She is also checking with the cancer specialist who did his amputation to see if there is anything else she may be missing or may need to do.
He's a tough boy and will get through this. I just wish he didn't have to deal with it on top of what is already going on. Just sending our Shooter Bug healing thoughts.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Been watching for your update. Guess the good news is "they" don't think kt's anything to worry avout, but to your tripawd family, we're frustrated as heck!
GRRRRRRR,
Is Shooter sataying at the vet now? I was unclear on that.
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!
"They didn't say what the issues were"
I really hate to be the odd man out on this, but at what point do you leave the vets office with this an an explanation? There is no such thing as no knowing what happened to my TJ before, during or after surgery or at ANY POINT he is in a vet's care.
Throw a fit, refuse to pay, ask other people in the waiting room if this ever happened to them... make a scene if your request, then demand, for what 'the issues' are.
You have to stand up for your dog... do so respectfully and calmly... but if you have to throw a fit by all means make it so.
I hope your hound is better, and next time you demand to know EXACTLY what is going on.
TJ! You've got one strong advocate on your side fella' You rock!! I'm gonna' "sic" you on my "specialists"!
For me anhway, sometimes when I'm in the middle of the chaos of the vet's office and in the middle of the "crisis of the moment" and staff helpers are checking us out.......it's ot til I get home that I think of the tweny million questions! But you are exactly right and have great points for us all. Thank you! Isn't it time for pictures of TJ? Yeah, I think so.
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!
Non-dog related story that is the root of my pet-peeve (no pun intended).
About 6 years ago I get Lasik to correct vision problems. That night my eye is bothering me so I rub it GENTLY. A clear disk pops out of my eye onto my cheek, and my vision gets blurry. I freak out thinking the flap came off or my retina popped out... I call the Doc at 1:30AM and explain what I have in my hand.... 'oh, I forgot to tell you that we put a contact lens on your left eye to protect the flap'.
After realizing I was not blind... and counting the number of years of stress I just endured I decided that I don't leave any doctors/vets office without know EXACTLY what's up. If they vet/doc is thorough up front then I have only a few questions, if any. If I hear something like 'I wouldn't worry about...' its on like donkey kong. I must have spent 15 minutes on the saggy post op 'blood boob' hanging from TJ.
I am generally up to speed on things before I take TJ into the vet... so my questions are generally few.. but the Vet doesn't have to suffer a stress filled night with a hurting dog.. and I try and avoid it at all costs.
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