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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Well, right now I'm worried sick about the nerve pains, they seem to intensivy in frequency. I really think it is nerve pain, because of the shortness of his reaction. Like someone is slamming his elbow to a doorpost by accident, if you know what I mean.
But the way he growls, it's more like he's been hit by an AED. His heavy growling seems the cat equivalent of cursing. Normally his growling is the sweetest soft growl I've ever heard, but now it sounds really vicious.
Is this normal? Will it decrease and pass of?
Phantom limb pain is not "unusual" and usually dissipates with Gabapentin and "time" Apparently the nerve pain is equivalent to a sudden shock. It's intense but fortunately the actual pain lasts seconds. The after effects though involve the cat or dog shaking, running away from the "pain".
Talk to your Vet avout adjusting the Gabapentin dose and see if you can find the right path to pit a stop to the nerve pain. Right now the brain is still firing off signals severed nerves to a leg that is no longer there.
Also ask the Vet about adding. Buprenorphine into the mix.
I know it's hard to remember this is still very early in recovery from a major surgery, all while adjusting to three.
From the way you have described the feisty. free roaming Freek, the "growling" may simply be frustration that is normal routine has been interrupted. I know it's a challenge to try and keep him calm and not very active.
Try gently, very gently massaging around the incision (not on it). Also ask the Vet about warm compresses, or maybe even cold.....but check with the Vet
Hang in there. Recovery doesn't blast furever. It really is too early to expect him to be back to his Happy self quite yet. Healing requires rest, vutnit sounds like he prefers not to rest!
Hugs
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!
Thanks for your support!
I've spoken to the vets the last two days. Freek started after surgery with twice per day 50 mg Gabapentin and once a day meloxicam for cats 0,5 mg/ml for 4,4 kg. Tried 3 times a day, but since yesterday afternoon its 4 times a day 50 mg Gabapentin and I'm allowed to make dat 75 mg if necessary. But 50 mg every 6 hours seems to be okay (fingers crossed).
Yes, sleeping a lot, but in between the real Freek is coming back. His enthousiasm while he hopped to the front door, even he's tail up in the air, thinking I would let him out made me so glad. And feeling so sorry I couldn't allow it. Today I'll try giving him some benchtime outside.
Right now apparently he's teasing Vicky, my other cat, she's in drama queen mode. That's a good sign too. 😉
Your vets sound terrific. I love that they prescribed the Gabapentin and gave you instructions about how to fine-tune the dosage and timing. I hope it continues to help.
He does sound like other than the phantom pain things are going well. I'm sure Vicky isn't pleased about that, lol!
Well, I'm not sorry for Vicky as long Freek doesn't really touch her. Drama queen mode useally starts before he has done anything more then getting close to her or after she was the one provoking him. Just setting boundaries en it sometimes seems she wants me to correct Freek, when she started it.
She's really a very sweet cat, but she came to me because she kept on being agressive to her chronicly ill sister when she lived at her previous owner. When Freek came home and she hissed at him whenever she came near, I was a little bit afraid she would act the same. But they're okay now. Having a roommate medicated, means she get's extra delicious food (because of medicating) too.
The practice of my vets is really terrific. Very cliëntcentered, always taking their time with the owners, knowing when they can make a joke, really very sweet paravets.
So glad to kmow things are getting better.
Interesting dynamic between Vicky and Free. Never a dull moment, right?
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!
Oh bummer I can't see it either. Facebooger is weird about sharing photos on other sites (they don't like it). Here's how adding images works.
Basically you need to:
- upload a photo somewhere like your own Tripawds blog, or a public image hosting site like Imgur.com
- then copy the image URL (or just tap the image and copy it if you're on a mobile device)
- return here, and paste the image into your forum post.
If you'd like help let me know!
Looking so stylish and handsome. Love those beautiful eyes.😎 I do believe I see a touch of "wild" in those pretty eyes.
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!
2 Guest(s)