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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First off Zoey is doing AMAZING! Day 13...peeing, pooping, walking, standing...all without assistance! The desire to play is returning. And Hallelujah we got those awful staples out! Off all meds except Gabapentin 2x per day. My remaining question is about the phantom pains. I've read a lot of discussions but I still have lots of questions. On day 3-4 she was having them 12 times per day and they were longer 30 seconds or so. Now we only have 1-3 per day and they last about 5 seconds. But these still scare my kids (and me) bc it is such a real painful yelp...usually while resting. Here's the questions...I know all dogs are different but how long do these usually go on for.? Weeks? Months? Forever? Am I being impatient? I've read about the massage, but isn't 13 days too early to touch the incision sight? Is the gabapentin doing its job--we take it at exactly the same times everyday?
I was asking the same question in my forum "Baloo's Mets." He is getting them 2-3x per day and about 30seconds to a minute long, but it's the most awful thing I've ever heard and seen. It's so loud I feel like my whole neighborhood can hear him. My vet just increased his gabapentin 200mg 3x a day and the dosage goes by weight (Baloo weighs 65lbs). I don't have an answer yet about this, I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone in this. I wish there was something more we can do to help. It's heartbreaking. Being on this forum and talking to people who are having similar situation helps a little. At least I know I'm not a lone, and neither are you.
Sorry about those pains. No you're not being impatient, I know it's hard to go though, but yes all dogs are different. Nope, not too early to work gently on the incision site and it could help tremendously. See these posts:
http://tripawds.....?s=Massage
And also see what I said to Baloo's Mom:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ask your vet about increasing the gabapentin. I use a higher dose for post-amputation than I do for arthritis so I usually start a 65 pound dog on 300 mg every 8-12 hours. You can also add amantadine which seems to help some dogs.
Pam
Great progress! I don't think Blaze experience phantom pain . I kept him on the pre surgery dose of pain meds for the week after surgery, then gave him the discharge dose week two. He was on max dose of tramadol, rimadyl, and GABA. He took amantadine for a few weeks prior to surgery but he hallucinated so I got him off that!
I wanted to to ensure Blaze felt no pain during recovery.
Mary
baloo9 said
I was asking the same question in my forum "Baloo's Mets." He is getting them 2-3x per day and about 30seconds to a minute long, but it's the most awful thing I've ever heard and seen. It's so loud I feel like my whole neighborhood can hear him. My vet just increased his gabapentin 200mg 3x a day and the dosage goes by weight (Baloo weighs 65lbs). I don't have an answer yet about this, I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone in this. I wish there was something more we can do to help. It's heartbreaking. Being on this forum and talking to people who are having similar situation helps a little. At least I know I'm not a lone, and neither are you.
Wow! I just read your story! What a lucky guy to have you! Thank you for the support. Phantom pains are SO scary and it helps when someone completely understands. Tho I am sorry you are experiencing this too:( Speedy recovery and comfort to Baloo!
Thanks everyone. The pains seem to come at about 30 min before it is time for our Gabapentin dose. So I am going to see if we can go to 50mg every 10 hours instead of 12hours (she's only 10 lbs so I don't think we can increase dosage.) I REALLY appreciate your encouragement!
My amputee is about 2 weeks post op and is experiencing multiple episodes of screaming out, even if he is sleeping. By reading this forum.. it seems he may also be experiencing those phantom pains.. how long did those last for your tripod?
Any words of encouragement or experiences helps.. this is so heartbreaking !
my doberman is going on 4 weeks post amputation and starting to experience what i'm pretty sure are phantom pains and i was also wondering how long will he continue to have these. It is heartbreaking to hear him whimper like that. Should i consult our vet on getting him on Gabapentin? Rimadyl is the only medication he has been on other than an antibiotic right after surgery. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Karen P
Bentley is our eight year old Doberman, diagnosed 7/13/16 with osteosarcoma tumor on right front leg, became a tripawd on 8/1/2016. His recovery was amazing, he was rockin it on 3! Bentley lost his fight to this nasty cancer when it metastisized into his spine, we had to let him go 11/13/16 exactly 4 months after first diagnosis. He was the perfect best friend, i'll miss him forever. :(
We did not have a real problem with phantom pain - a yelp here or there. He also used to lick the bed a lot where the leg/paw used to be. All of that stopped - it's been months since I have seen those behaviors. Most dogs with more phantom pain go on the gabapentin, which is designed for that type of pain, so definitely talk to your vet.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
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