Hi, yep, pattern noticed.    I realize that is very real and very true.  We don't need dependent dogs (or children or spouses...)!  However, my personal view is: "geez, we just chopped Jackson's leg off!  Can we help this pup out?!  Certainly, there are things we'll do now for him now, to ease the pain, confusion, frustration, that simply with time....will go away."  In a way, you're already doing this by keeping Beamer off the stairs.  It's temporary.  It's not like in a week's time she's going to start (and continue forever) seeking permission to climb the stairs.  You know your pup best and how she'll respond to "coddling" in the long term.  As for me, I don't mind rubbing Jackson's stump when bumped.  We're a team and I took his leg - I feel, it's the least I can do.  Oh, and scratch all along his right side!

~ Katy

Suki wouldn't scream or whine, but she definitely had some phantom pain . She would suddenly bolt up and run out of the room as though someone shocked her, then stand at the door panting and looking scared.

Gabapentin was what we used and all of that bolting stopped almost immediatly.

I'm of the group that feels that dogs don't "manipulate" to get attention. If she's screaming, something is wrong (in my opinion).

Jon- I actually had the same thing happen with polly. For almost 2 full weeks after amp she would wake up in he middle of the night and whine and a few times there was an intense howl....

I slept in the bed with her so that I could comfort her. My Surgeon said its normal the first 2 weeks for them to be whiney and upset- sometimes its a side effect of the tramadol and sometimes they are just being whiney because their leg is missing and they can't always cope right away with that-even if it was causing them pain.

Polly is also a bit high strung (we lovingly call it neurotic). What the surgeon told me to do was exactaly what you are doing. Comfort her and pet her and if possible put your hand over the scar and just tell her in a soothing voice it will be ok. She will learn to comfort herself. Chances are Beamer is just kind of freaked out by it all and doesnt know how to deal with it and cope.

I can promise you, if its already becoming less intense, this will go away. If you worry she is still in pain, maybe an X-ray with your vet is a good idea to make sure there isn't some little bone fragment or something bothing her. But i have a feeling she is just upset and needs to work it out.

Good luck, keep us updated!