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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Hello, this is my first post here. I put this on facebook and was suggested to try here:
Hi I have a question for my fellow Tripawds parents. My little Bug is almost one year post amputation, he lost his back left leg, the last two days we've been having some scares. Yesterday he started to head outside he yelped and started screaming. He clung to us, was panting, shaking, real tense. He calmed down after an hour. We called the vet and they suspected phantom pain syndrome. Then just a few minutes ago he yelped outside and was screaming when we picked him up. His other back leg was real tense and the muscles were bulging out more than usually, his back leg is real muscular. Could he be having muscle spasms due to the colder weather? Once Bug settled down his leg muscles seemed to have relaxed too. I'm planning on taking him to the vet tomorrow morning, but wondered if any one else had this happen.
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Tell us more about Bug- how big is he? how old? what kind of pup? why the amp?
A year post amp seems like a long time to develop phantom pain , but I suppose it could happen. Is the knee OK in the remaining back leg? Do you know if the patella luxates? The first thing that I thought of was a slipping knee cap. When that happens in quad dogs they usually yelp and hop on their good back leg- often the knee cap re-seats itself and the pain goes away.
He could also have strained something in his one back leg or even his back. I think you are wise to take him to the vet and get him checked out.
Let us know what the vet says tomorrow.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
This was posted several months ago. Its been a rough few months for us and I haven't been able to get back on. Bug is a little over one year post amputation. He lost his leg due to a deformity in his hip, instead of being round it was flat on one side and was ripping his kneecap out of place. As I mentioned above he was fine till one night when I let him out, he yelped and it hasn't gotten any better. We've been to several vets, even took him to Purdue's small animal hospital. All of his test, x-rays, spinal taps, blood draws have come back negative. Prednisone seems to be the only thing that seems to help. If increasing it doesn't work the only other suggestion in euthanasia. He isn't even three yet and we don't want to lose him. If any of these sounds familiar to anyone maybe it can help us. He will start to tense up, shake, pant, scream when touched. His nub will start twitching rapidly. He doesn't like to lay on the side where the missing leg is, will let you place your hand on the stump and it seems to calm him and slow the twitching down. Could this be phantom leg syndrome, just in an extreme or even possibly nerve damage there? He has been tested for seizures and neurological issues, even infections, but I don't think anyone has check around stump for answers.
Wow......actually seems to have many symptoms of phantom pain even though itmis over a year after his amputation.
How often does it happen?
How long does it last?
Is it related to exercise st all?
Does it ever happen if he's asleep?
Prednisone has anti-inflammatory properties....do you notice any swelling at all?
Has your vet mentioned trying Gabapentin? It is most certainly worth a try. Its a pain med that blocks nerve lain from going to the brain...or something like that. It's very effective for phantom pain .
Sounds like Bug has A LOT lf life left in him yet!! I KNOW this is hard to watch and tnis so frustrating not to be able to figure out the lroblem. You are a WONDERFUL advocate for Bug!!! Hang in there...we'll sortnthisnout!
You may consider posting this under "Ask A Vet" for more insight.
Sending lots ofnhugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
The only other thing I can add is to ask if you have seen a rehab vet. I am kind of like a broken record on this, but it has helped our Murphy so much that I keep recommending it to others. Murphy has occasional back problems, and his rehab specialist has been wonderful in pinpointing where they are and in using various therapies to get him going again.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Aww I'm sorry to hear about Bug. Yes, if you haven't already, get to a qualified rehab vet immediately. You're in a great area for care, see this directory for some certified practitioners. It sounds like a physiological issue that rehab vets are far more skilled at diagnosing and resolving through pain management , exercise and diet. We know of many examples where rehab vets helped dogs overcome issues like this that general practice vets have not. Here are some blog posts that explain why they help:
Canine Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Therapy Tips for Tripawds
Veterinary Rehab and Conditioning
And yes, he could definitely be having muscle spasms. Dr. Petty explains why in this article.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh, poor Bug.
Okay, I am NOT a vet and I can't stand the sight of needles and blood, but wanted to put my 2 cents in, just don't ask for change!
Years ago I tore out my knee and had to have surgery with extensive therapy and one of the things that's stuck with me over the years is that of all the cells in our body, nerves take the longest to heal, if they heal at all.
Now I know we're talking about fur-babies, but on some level this could be related, nerves start to show repair approximately 1 year after being traumatized. Therefore, if a nerve was damaged causing numbness, maybe it could explain how there could be phantom pains a year after amputation where feeling is starting to be restored.
Just an "out-there" guess.
Praying you get to the bottom of Bug's suffering soon.
Pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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