Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We are on day 8 now tank is getting around really good I took him for another sniff the other day up the borrow pits and he was determined to jump on the ute no matter what he tricked me as well he put his paw up for me to lift him on and as I dropped the lead he quickly took off to the other side and jumped up to my horror he did it quite easy as when he had enough of sniffing and eating grass he went off a head of me and the other 2 dogs and jumped up again I called him but he ignored me u think he was pleased with him self after that he had a very cheeky expression he is still having episodes of being vague and then wanting to be alone again he used to play a game with the other dogs who can be King of the trampoline the two girls were playing and TJ the youngest barked at him to come play you could see the disappointment in him he put his head down and went in the kennel and layed down facing the back I tried to pat him but he just wanted to be left alone after that yesterday he had very bad spasms in the shoulder area where it was amputated I sat with him and put a cold pack on to try and help but he was in pain and he wasn't real happy but after an hour or so they seemed to settle down a bit I thought this may just be the nerve endings healing but I am unsure if this is a common side affect of amputation and what may help to relieve it as he was clearly uncomfortable and I couldn't do much else for him
Try not to worry, Day 8 is still very early in recovery. I'm happy that you're trying your best to keep a close eye on him so he doesn't overdo it.
Have you tried massage to help alleviate his pain? Here are some tips you might find useful:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you Jerry his Stitches came out yesterday and there is a 3cm hole that is still open and weeping that will still take a few more weeks to heal up but the rest of it healed nicely I asked for more previcox for tank as night time his spasms are affecting him the most so I swapped from morning to night time doses to help him settle at bed time when he's not going through a pain stage he's full steam ahead he dragged me into the vets yesterday and he still refuses to let me put him up on the ute as he has to do it himself so he has now decided he can jump down too and race the girls out of the gate so time for a harness to hold him back as his manners have disappeared and he refuses to heal at the moment which is the recall that I use so in a couple of weeks when we start walking a again I will work on his behaviour I can't believe the weight he lost 8kg he was 34 kg and down to 26kg which is where I will keep him at as he is still thin but not skinny this is a video of him at 4 days after amputation https://youtu.b.....XRoy2kHI
He really is getting around so great, Tankman. Looks really good and spry.
Is he taking Gabapentin?
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Oh my gosh he's romping around there! Wow!
Yes, time to hold him back so he doesn't overdo it. I like that you're observing his behavior. That front leg really takes a beating so you definitely want to protect it by not letting him jump from furniture, etc.
He looks fantastic though, good job! Mind if I share your video on our channel?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow! That video is just four days after amputation?? And he's happy too! ,Really is a great video to show anyone faced with amputation for their pup. Look at him go!
Way to go! And good luck on trying to make him slow down for a bit longer!
Hugs to that sweet pup!
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!
He looks amazing!
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
He has only been on previcox and antibiotics I spoke to them the other day when his stitches were taken out and asked about using endep (I take it for chronic neck pain and migraines) if he is still getting spasms to calm the nerve endings down a bit which can help if he is having any anxiety or depression issues as well the temp vet said it was an option and then he mentioned gabapentin if he starts to suffer phantom pains and that he numbed the nerve before the amputation to help stop them.He does look like he's coping well but there's always just as many bad moments he has in between the good ones I'm on leave at the moment so I have been home with him tank has started to run and hide under the trailer for what seems to be no reason and still lay away from anyone's but it's a pain issue for him and his way of dealing with it.It still disappoints me that I can medicate and treat all types of injuries and when needed the vet is always available but when he lost his leg it's something I can't fix and it still bothers me now that I can't help him even though I tried with the first to operations I just have to be there with him and work it out as we go .Tank is taking care of his own exercise though we go for a drive and he will do his bit of sniffing and looking around then once he's had enough he will go back to the crate in the ute and wait for us so there's lots of up and down side to it all.
Feel free to share his videos it's all for a good cause here's a quick one now at day 12 today we went for a drive this arvo he gets up himself but has finally realised that me lifting him down is the best option
Oh gosh! i gasped as Tank jumped up into his "ride"! I have to say, it looked effortless though! Glad he lets you help him down! Smart boy!
You are doing EVERYTHING possible for your boy! Know that to be true! Your love and commitment to Tank's well being comes shining through!
I'm not a vet, but it aappears the "issues" he is having, the hiding, etc is all pain related. Gabapentin is DEFINITELY worth a try! It appears Tank's pain comes on quickly a d that's exactly the kind of pain Gabapentin helps with. It may take a day or two to kick in. Many dogs here are on stronger pain meds than Tanknhas been on. Generally Tramadol, Gabapentin and Rimadyl. Many are on them in some amount for two, even three weeks. Some less.
Another thought, he could be having a stitch causing some discomfort caused by certain movements. That certainly has happened sometimes.
Just throwing these things out there. Again, I'm not a vet, but I really believe all these issues are temporary and will be resolved. Better pain management with the proper drug may be the solution. This is a huge major surgery and it hurts for awhile!
I may have mentioned before, but it took me three weeks before I finally felt like I could say I had done this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her! Hang in there! The good moments will continue to become more and more consistent!
This video is definitely an inspiration to anyone fearful about how well their dogs can do with three legs!
Hugs to all!
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!
Thank you I spoke to vet yesterday and have decided to put tank on endep starting at 25mg a day to help settle down his spasms and phantom pains as they are quite reactive and he is showing signs of discomfort when he is having an episode I have decided to give it a try as money is a bit tough at the moment and I just can't afford to get gabapentin as they have to order it in and he is the only dog in the area that would use it so I need to buy the whole lot at once.So I will try it for a month then wean him off if it is not working by then the finances may be better.Has any one else tried or used it before for amputation they told me it was an old style of drug but still had its uses.
Have not heard of Endep, but that doesn't mean anything! Maybe others will chime in who jave heard of it. That's a shame that the Gabapentin is available there.
You can try very gentle massage all around the incision area many times during the day.
Other than the phantom pain , it sounds like Tank is doing very well this early on.:-)
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!
Tank at day 16 still going well he lasted 10 mins today and we were on uneven ground so he is a bit tired now hopefully next weekend he can come for a drive down the cane farm for a sniff and eat some fresh sugar cane leaf thats the dogs favourite.
Another video
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Aww the video won't post. Try embedding the entire YouTube URL on a line by itself.
It looks like Endep is also known as Amitriptyline here in the U.S. It's quite common. In Dr. Petty's Guide to Pain Relief, (we highly recommend having a copy of this book) he says:
The most common side effect is sedation.
Side effects are not common. One possible side effect is that amitriptyline can make it difficult for some animals to urinate by tightening up the detrusor muscle, which is the muscle that normally keeps urine from leaking out. If a dog has incontinence issues it may not be appropriate.
Anything with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor should never be given with it, such as:
- Tramadol.
- Some flea, tick and mange prodcts contain a serotonin reuptake inhibitor called 'amitraz' and should not be given with it.
- SAM-e and St. John's Wort also should never be given with it.
He goes on to say:
"It is important that both you and your veterinarian must be cognizant of using any other product along with amitriptyline, even pet store products and dietary supplements. Make sure your veterinarian checks those products for compatibility and safety."
Fingers & tails crossed that it works for Tank!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
thank you this should work day 16
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What a lovely video and gorgeous dogs you've got there 
Tank has recovered so well, it is marvellous to watch him hopping around as if he never had 4 legs 
Big hug and cuddles to your fluffies
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
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