Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat. Explore 17+ years of forum archives for stories and answers to questions about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery. Enjoy fresh discussion and connect with members in the new Tripawds Support Circle.
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8:59 am
26 September 2012
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UPDATE
Ty is sitting up today! =) He is eating on his own which is great!!
We are definitely a lot more hopeful today!
Jerry- the new vet wanted to wait until today to see if there were any improvements before he prescribed pain meds. We will find out today what kind he will be on.
Again, we are so thankful for all of your help. All of you gave us hope and a need for a second opinion which turned out to be the best thing since his old vet was ready to euthanize.
We are very upset about the way he handled the situation. We took Ty to him many times during the past year concerned about his limp and he always blamed it on arthritis. When we noticed a lump on his left front shoulder 2 months ago we took him in and he proceeded to say it was arthritis without taking any xrays.
Now that we have more information on OSA we realize that there were plenty of signs that should have prompted him to take at least some xrays.
Also, the new vet made us aware that the pain meds the other vet prescribed on tues (after diagnosis) were a very low dosage for a dog his size.
So happy we took him for a second opinion before making any decisions.
Thank you all for sharing your stories and motivating us!!
Will keep updating on his improvement.
10:14 am
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
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derekdanelyn said
Again, we are so thankful for all of your help. All of you gave us hope and a need for a second opinion which turned out to be the best thing since his old vet was ready to euthanize.We are very upset about the way he handled the situation. We took Ty to him many times during the past year concerned about his limp and he always blamed it on arthritis. When we noticed a lump on his left front shoulder 2 months ago we took him in and he proceeded to say it was arthritis without taking any xrays.
You sound so much more optimistic, this is wonderful news. If it's any comfort, many of us who have or are coping with cancer had a diagnosis take longer than anyone would want. We also had an old-school vet who wasn't up on pain management , and several months after my symptoms started, wouldn't admit he didn't know why I was limping and also didn't recommend more diagnostics. Ultimately it was the vet tech at that practice who suggested we go get another opinion! If it hadn't have been for her, Tripawds may not even be here.
FYI: one of the things we've learned over the last few years is that vets who were schooled before the mid 1980s were actually taught that animals don't feel pain the same way humans do, and that the less pain medication the better because being in pain was thought to help them heal faster! Well, thankfully that's been disproven and now modern vets know that proper pain management protocols are more humane an beneficial. You always want to ask your vet what their thoughts are on pain mangement, it's so important from everything from dental work to amputation.
So please don't have regrets, but rather be glad you're on another path now that can at least present all of your options before making any decisions. I'm glad you're on that path! Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
2:05 pm
26 September 2012
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The meds that he is on are 75 mg of Tramadol twice a day and .75 mg of IC Dexamethasone.
He is finally able to sleep so hopefully resting will recharge his energy.
4:00 pm
13 July 2009
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If Ty is in good health, you don't want to dismiss amputation just because he is 12. But then you obviously have not done that. Search the archives for reports on other 'older' dogs. I believe Pez was one that was originally advised against amputation due to age and arthritis. Eventually (maybe 9 months or so later), she had an amputation and did really well. You should be able to find her story in the archives.
Bisphosphonates are a family of drugs that can help strengthen the bone, and perhaps reduce pain, when amputation is not used. Good luck - it sounds as though you are doing all the right things in terms of finding information.
