Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Marshall had a hard time getting up his morning and has stiff back legs. Any idea what's causing this? I feel like he is declining so fast and one of these days he won't be able to get up or walk. The puppy got here this morning . I was hoping for a more excited reaction from marshall but he is also having a rough morning so maybe if he feels better later he will want to play.
Could be leg cramps...just sleeping on them "wrong" .aking them kind of number? I remember Barret's mom noticed he was javing simiar problems one morning, she took him to the vet and they determined his legs had merely "gone to sleep"!
As long as you arent seeing any real signs of pain, I would try giving him a gentle message all over, up and down his legs, his back, etc. Is he moving okay once he does get up?
It sounds like , for whatever reason, he is having one of those "down" days on thisup and down journey. Perhaps he will perk up later today or in the morning. I KNOW this is soooooo jard and I wish we could make it better for you.
When you jave a moment, we would love to see a picture of Marshall and the puppy!
Take care, stay connected, we are right by your side.
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!
Hmm. Is there any swelling going on? I like Sally's idea to give him a massage. Watch for any reactions when you touch his body, see if one spot is sensitive, watch his reactions. Hopefully the puppy will perk him up!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I would definitely say massage ... shelby had one hind leg and it went out because she was super stiff back there. Massage out those kinks!!!
alison with the spirit of shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little jasper too)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
When Murphy gets stiff in the hind legs, it is usually because he is sore in his back, right at the base of his tail. He tends to be better once he is up and moving around.
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!
Marshall loves the puppy!!!! By the afternoon he perked up to show the puppy the ropes. He had a hard time this morning getting up again. He doesn't seem painful but he also hides pain well. I'm torn on giving him tramadol bc it changes his personality so much. What are your thoughts? I would give it to him without hesitation if I knew that he was in pain.
Our Murphy also gets stiff back legs after laying for awhile. He loves to stretch and arch his back..we laugh at him because he will moan & groan so loud! lol We rub & massage down his back & hips to help loosen up the muscles for him and he seems to love it - that's when he arches even more. It's gotten better...I was really worried for awhile that something was wrong with his back knees or something and we had them x-rayed but they're ok. 
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
marshallsmom13 said
Marshall loves the puppy!!!! By the afternoon he perked up to show the puppy the ropes. He had a hard time this morning getting up again. He doesn't seem painful but he also hides pain well. I'm torn on giving him tramadol bc it changes his personality so much. What are your thoughts? I would give it to him without hesitation if I knew that he was in pain.
I am stiff when I get up in the morning!!! Ha ha! 
I am thinking that after resting all night, Mr. Marshall is just feeling a tad stiff in the joints and nothing a good massage can't fix. When Shelby had problems getting up, they showed me that she had a super tight remaining quad (as a runner, I do get this) so a healthy massaging seemed to loosen her back up. So I really think that is what it is... Is he on Metacam? That is less severe than Tramadol but also a painreliever, I believe I was told.
Glad he's having fun with the puppy!!!!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Remember that dogs hide their pain very, very well. If you don't like what Tramadol does to him ask your vet for something else, there are other options.
Glad the puppy helped!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
He's on Prednisone so he can't take Metacam. The Vet suggested gabapentin. Do you think that would work for pain? I thought that was phantom limb pain. She said that we could put him on morphine if we needed to. He does hide his pain well. How long does tramadol last?
Is his stiffness while gettingnup any better with the massages?
I can only share my experience with the Gaba and the Tram. For Happy Hannah the Tramadol was a dose every six to eight hours. This was during the surgery recovery time. I be l ieve the Gabalentin was every twelve hours, but that was in conjunction with the Tram.
I do recall that after phasing her off the lain meds at the two week mark, I put er baxk on Gabape tin during the third week as she was still having some pain...not lhantome lain, just surgery pain. . The Gaba alone seemed to do the trick.
Others. .ay have better jnsight and suggestiins. My penny's worth is I'd try these lain meds first before the morphine.
Sending love
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!
Gaba works for many dogs, I would give it a try.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Quad pug Tani was on gaba for severe arthritis and it worked very well, its worth a try. She also got adequan injections, it is an anti-inflammatory but since its injected maybe its OK with pred? you could ask your vet. It's expensive and doesn't work for every dog, but maybe it's an option.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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