Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi there Tripawds Community
Stewie & I have a question... recently Stewie has been doing an odd behaviour. When he has had a long hard day he is tired when he gets home and will suddenly jump up and start nosing at the ground where he was just laying. When he lays back down, it looks like he is nosing at his phantom limb. (When I say nosing, I mean that he bobs his nose to the ground a few times) He doesn’t yelp out, but he is a little restless for a while.
This behaviour doesn’t happen very often, but I wonder if he is still suffering from phantom limb pain and if so, should I be putting him back on Gabapentin, even if he doesn’t do this very often?!
Here’s a picture of Stewie, hanging out and feelin’ just fine!
https://instagr.....1mTWfjm9a/
Sloppy kisses from Stewie👅🐾
& all the very best from his adoring pack,
Petra, Paul, & his feline siblings, Mr. Spike, Chester Molester & Miss Lily 🐾🐾
http://stewie20.....pawds.com/
Remember...“live in the moment!“ 
STEWIE!!! No more OUCHY, okay?
What stood out to me more so than phantom limb, is this happens after a long hard day and Stu is tired!
Just wondering if it could be something like a quick cramp, or maybe a kink jn his neck, something like that. It's as though he's "nosing" the floor to see what could be on the floor that caused his ouch!
Could be phantom though. SpJust seems like he would yelp and act more painful. Plus that would happen randomly...sleeping...sitting, etc
At least we got to see another grrrreat picture of smoochable Super Stu! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Love seeing that boy! 🙂
Love and 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!
Oh that handsome boy! Thank you for the Stewie fix.
He's definitely trying to tell you something. Good job being observant.
When you say "long day" what does that look like for Stewie?
I wouldn't put him back on the Gaba until he's assessed by a rehab therapist if possible. It sounds like it could be a spasm or cramp more than anything but they would be able to tell you if he has tight muscles, where they are and what's causing it.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I agree Stewie is telling you something . Love that huge boy! We take Purrkins for acupuncture and Chiro as needed. I have no idea if thats a option for you or maybe the rehab places do that too? Purrkins has needed Chiro 3 times in his year of being a tripawd kitty. I would think Stewie being such a big pup, things wold get out of whack for him too! Our Vet told us cats do not need adjustments as often as his Tripawd Dogs do.
Purrkins is tiny and low to the ground and he was out of whack. Just sharing in case it's a option.
Or as everyone has said something may be pinched or sore, you can call the Vet and see on Gaba? I only have the kitties right now as you know!
I hope you figure out what Stewie is telling you! Get some video of him when he is doing it, you can post it for others to see or the Vet if need be.
Hugs & big sloppy smooches to Stewie & rubs to the feline pack!
Holly & Purrkins
Hi Sally, Jerry’s Pack and Holly & Purrkins,
thanks for responding so quickly. I also appreciate your advice. Thanks for backing up my thoughts that this is not necessarily a normal activity for Stewie. Does phantom pain continue long after amputation?
The latest “hard day” consisted of a road trip to Kelowna, which is about three hours from here, he rides in the back of the truck and doesn’t tend to lay down very often ‘cause he wants to see what’s going on... (the nosy barker!😜) So by the time we get our City shopping done, it’s a long 10 hour day by the time we get home. We don’t have easy access to a dog sitter and he suffers greatly from separation anxiety. (His anxiety is the only thing that I haven’t been able to change in the time we have had him. And because he had soooo many different caretakers, before he came to his furever home, he doesn’t want to spend any time away from us and this has been more prevelant since his surgery.) He has always loved these road trips and still does, but he is exhausted by the time we get home.
This also leads up to the next issue I have with living out in no-where-dom, we don’t have access to a animal physiotherapist. I do know that a lady in the small village close to me, is an acupuncturist. She does do acupuncture on animals. I wonder if Stewie is physically out of whack, (we’re all a little mentally out of whack aren’t we?!😝) then doesn’t he have to be in good shape to benefit from the acupuncture?
I will definitely talk to our vets next week. Stewie is getting his blood work done on Tuesday for #5 Carboplatin dose. Dr. Laurie has taken a big interest in Canine mobility, so she may have some suggestions too.
Yeah, Jerry’s Pack, I really don’t want to have to start Stewie on Gaba again! 😒 I will ask about muscle spasms and what can be done...
You wouldn’t believe how long it has taken me to get this response written, like 3 hrs for goodness sake! Geez, life can sometimes get in the way heh?!
Holly, you are super in tune with Purrkins needs and he is sooooo fortunate to have a Mummy like you!😍 When Purrkins gets his chiro session, does he have to relax after or is he just back to normal and off he goes? What is the benefit to acupuncture? I will try to get some video, but it comes and goes so quickly I don’t always have my iPad handy...
Thanks again you guys, Stewie is soooo appreciating all the hugs and smooches and of course all the adoration!🤗😎
Sloppy kisses from Stewie👅🐾
& all the very best from his adoring pack,
Petra, Paul, & his feline siblings, Mr. Spike, Chester Molester & Miss Lily 🐾🐾
http://stewie20.....pawds.com/
Phantom limb can continue after amp. How long? I'm sure Sally or Rene can give you a better idea on that.
When Purrkins gets his chiro session, does he have to relax after or is he just back to normal and off he goes? What is the benefit to acupuncture? I will try to get some video, but it comes and goes so quickly I don’t always have my iPad handy...
Yes instructions are to limit their activity for a few days after chiro, and they just do that on their own ? I wouldn’t really be able to limit activity anyway with them being cats but honesty they just must know and do? Got me. They even walk a little stiff or gingerly after chiro. I get osteopahic adjustments and I understand why they walk gingerly afterwards I’m sore and I am also to limit my activity and I would even if I wasn’t told because I am sore;)
We have to drive a hour plus to get to our holistic Vet so they are exhausted anyway hour up hour back the vet. We take them both multi pet discount (lol) not enough to boast about but any way and it makes for a 3-4 hour trip !
They just come home and rest and even the next day .
As for acupuncture OMC that is miraculous to see ! That can help with too many to things list, but if Stewie is having phantom limb it would help, it would with, tense muscles , pain anywhere etc. It can help externally and internally organs and boost the immune system!
Rene interviewed one on tripawd talk
radio and It was a great interview she explained a lot. (I should of told Rene that , I Never got the chance)GREAT INTERVIEW RENE
Might want to listen to it if you have the time it goes into great detail.
http://www.blog.....other-pets
If you have one locally and that would be ideal! It’s definitely something to look into and I really think you would see a great difference in Stewie overall! Purrkins started after his amp 12 days after his brother goes for a bad gut IBD/constipatin which is managed and both the chiro and acupuncture help them both more then I can explain! I always say you really have to see it down to see the difference because it is really that big of difference we see!!
If only we could afford to all go for acupuncture we would! I think everyone could benefit from acupuncture !! Because yes I agree (we’re all a little mentally out of whack aren’t we?!😝)😘
I am sure your Dr. Laurie will have some input and I would see what your in town acupuncture fee is I think it would help !
Let us know please we want Stewie feeling great!
Thanks so much Holly & Purrkins!
You’re words of wisdom are invaluable! (I’m sure you’ve heard that before!😉)
i will get in touch with the acupuncturist in town and see what she says. And hopefully Dr. Laurie has enough knowledge in physio to help.
Ive also copied the radio interview link to listen to later. Thank you!
Have a pawtastic day!
Sloppy kisses from Stewie👅 🐕 🐾
& all the very best from his adoring pack,
Petra, Paul, & his 🐈 siblings, Mr. Spike, Chester Molester & Miss Lily 🐾🐾 🐾
http://stewie20.....pawds.com/
p.s could you tell me what OMC & OMD stands for? I feel like I’m missing out on something good!
😂🤣 of course I'm sorry we have been here too long I guess;)
OMC is oh my cat and OMD is oh my dog instead of saying omg Oh my god 😉 We make our own lingo as we go, now your not missing out 😍
Have a pawtastic day too Petra😘
❤️
We do OMB for oh my bunny also anything goes & whatever applies per animal!
I should have known!🤣 I thiught we were all picking up on Sally’s typos! 😂 (sorry Sally!😜)
until next time...
Sloppy kisses from Stewie👅 🐕 🐾
& all the very best from his adoring pack,
Petra, Paul, & his 🐈 siblings, Mr. Spike, Chester Molester & Miss Lily 🐾🐾 🐾
http://stewie20.....pawds.com/
HAHAHAHA!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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!
I've taken Mona to a few chiropractic treatments and she falls asleep during them. It's only a 15 minute drive for me and when we get home she just goes about her day. Her activity is not limited because she's not an over-active cat. She does like doing her claws many times in the day though.
In case Dr. Laurie can't help, I just checked the internet and there are people in Kelowna who provide chiropractic/acupuncture treatments:
https://www.pan.....mavet.com/
https://pandosy.....actic-care
Maybe a treatment session would work into your next shopping trip. Or perhaps there is somewhere closer, perhaps in Nelson?
http://selkirkv.....ropractic/
I waited a month for Mona's first chiropractic treatment and I also learned how to massage her and some range of motion exercises. I've had her checked a couple of times in the 3 years as an amputee and she still loves the sessions.
Meanwhile, Stewie needs some hugs and snuggles from me!
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Every now and then my little pug mutt Elly will jump out of her bed like something stung her, although it happened more when I first adopted her. Elly was 2 months post rear amp when I got her and now she is two years post op. She was only 10 months old when I got her and she had lots and lots of energy, luckily the pug part of her slows her down a little. Elly is skittish so at first I thought that's why she was jumping up, but then I noticed that she would look at her back end where her leg used to be. When she does too much, or we get lax on the core strength exercises the jumping up behavior happens more often.
I have not done chiropractic with Elly yet, but I did do it with quad pug Tani. Tani had terrible arthritis and mobility issues due to a brain injury. I didn't think chiropractic could help her, but it really did great things for her! I think she was around 11 or 12 years old when we started treatments so I didn't really have to worry about her 'resting' after she was adjusted. Tani didn't like being held or touched too much so we never tried acupuncture.
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
“In case Dr. Laurie can't help, I just checked the internet and there are people in Kelowna who provide chiropractic/acupuncture treatments:
Kerren and Mona,
thank you a million times over for looking up these places for me! I wasn’t expecting that at all! Thank you! I am hoping that Dr. Laurie can help, for a couple of reasons... she’s close and she will possibly charge less.🙄 I’m a little embarrassed to say so, but we are still trying to catch up from the cost of surgery and the Carboplatin😳 but I will definitely look into this for Stewie.
It sounds like You haven’t had to take Mona very many times, so it does sound like it is something we can work into the budget. I’ll definitely will chat with Paul about this. 🤔
Karen and Spirit Pug Girls
i so appreciate the mental picture you gave me of Elly, it sounds like what Stewie does! 🙂 I will revisit the core excersises videos that I have seen, even though Stewie seems to be getting stronger, I guess like us, if we don’t concentrate on the right area, overall fitness won’t do it alone. Thank you for that bit of info to chew on.
We were told not too long ago, when I asked about what I should be doing for him, to gain that necessary strength, that because we don’t know how much time we have with Stewie, that we shouldn’t worry too much about it! At the time I thought the comment was a very pessimistic one, but it is a reality.... but it’s not the only reality... (Thanks to Tripawds hero’s who told me!) we could have MANY more months and if the stars are aligned right for our boy, we could see xx years with him! Right?!😁 Maybe Dr. Laurie will have a little more optimism for us!🤓
i am going to call The Acupuncturist next week as well and see what she says. Thanks ladies for your help!
and Karen if I can ask you another silly question... how do I highlight a quote from someone? When I hit the “ box in the right hand corner, it highlights everything you said. I was able to copy the one phrase from Kerren, but I couldn’t do it agin afterwards.
All the best for now,
Sloppy kisses from Stewie👅 🐕 🐾
& all the very best from his adoring pack,
Petra, Paul, & his 🐈 siblings, Mr. Spike, Chester Molester & Miss Lily 🐾🐾 🐾
http://stewie20.....pawds.com/
ME! cCALL ON ME!!! I KNOW HOW TO HIGHLIGHT!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Soooo...here we go!!
- Hit reply
- Go to "tool bar"'on the post you want tompull a quote ro highlight. On my screen it's third from the left and looks like a " (quote)
- Then....hmmm..how to explain! The whole post will reproduce. Just "erase" until you get to the sentence or two you want to wuite. Then "erase" the other senentnces you don't want to appear. You should just be left with what you wa t to shownup!
Okay...clear as mud! We'll just wait for Karen to come along! 🙂 🙂
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!
benny55 said
ME! cCALL ON ME!!! I KNOW HOW TO HIGHLIGHT!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
I am now saying...
Sally you’re brilliant! It was as definitely ‘Sally clear!’ Thank you! Now the next question would be how to get out of the grey matter! (and no I don’t mean the stuff between my ears!) I am trying to get outside the box (ha! Another good one!) but it won’t go...
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