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.
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Hello everyone!
My name is Nina and I'm a very proud owner of a three month old french bulldog named Bella. I have a few questions that I need answered and everyone's help is greatly appreciated. Bella just had surgery last week in which she had her front left leg amputated. The first couple of days I got her back she was adjusting fine and running around being her playful self. But these past few days her personality has changed greatly. She will not respond when I call her name, she is screaming non-stop (day and night) and just seems very uncomfortable. It's breaking my heart because I do not know what to do. I took her back to the vet and he gave me more pain killers for her and I have been giving them to her as prescribed but nothing seems to help. Well, the gist of what i'm trying to ask is are the screams normal and if so, what can I do to help with her recovery? When I look at her she looks so sad and depressed which makes me cry and that doesn't help with the situation. She is getting her stitches removed one week from today. Thank you in advance for all your help!!
Hi Nina and Bella,
Welcome to Tripawds. I'm sorry Bella is having such trouble. My pug Maggie did not have a reaction like you describe after surgery but some here have. It sounds like perhaps Bella is experiencing phantom pain . HERE is one link to a forum post on phantom pain and the recommended drug Gabapentin. HERE are the results of a forum search on phantom pain .
Its not unusual for a pup to have ups and downs after surgery- the first two weeks after surgery can be a roller coaster. But her symptoms now sound pretty extreme to me, especially if she was doing pretty well for the first few days. Could she have hurt herself while playing? Also-- what pain meds is she on?? Maggie had a very bad reaction to tramadol- very anxious and agitated, acted scared and would not sleep, but she did not exhibit pain symptoms on it.
For future reference you should bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List. This is a compilation of good info on amputation and recovery. Why did Bella lose her leg? We have another member here with a Frenchie front amp named Pixie. Pixie lost her leg to mast cell cancer.
I hope you find the answers you need soon for Bella. It is so hard to see our pups in distress.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Welcome Nina and Bella. Bella is adorable. What you are describing sounds like phantom pain to me. Many of our pups here suffered from it after their surgery as well. The drug that is usually recommended is called gabapentin I think.
Here is a link that Jerry posted last month regarding phantom pain . This explains the causes and management of it.
Discuss this with your vet and ask about getting the gabapentin.
I hope Bella gets to feeling better real soon. Please keep us posted.
Fortis'Dad
Welcome, thanks for joining!
Most "personality" issues are usually related to pain medication. What is Bella on? She should return to her normal self once weened off the meds.
Be sure to bookmark the reading list Karen mentioned. You'll find lots of links to the best Tripawds posts and froum topics there. And for even more quick answers to the most common concerns, consider downloading the new Tripawds e-book.
First, be sure to review the tips for managing phantom limb pain in dogs found in the Tripawds Downloads blog . But most of all, try to remain strong and balanced for Bella. What she needs most right now is for you to set a good example of how life should be – if you want things to be "normal" again, then you must act as though everything is normal.
As a pup, Bella should adapt quickly to life on three legs, and never realize she's missing her spare. But inquiring minds want to know ... why the amputation?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww, that is the cutest bumble bee!
So, sorry to hear -but talk to you vet about the above info. It's very common.
Yes, what happened to her leg?
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
along with everyone else...what happened to her leg???? She is so young, she will be fine as soon as you work through this little "bump"
We did not have the phantom pain problem but tramadol did change Magic's personality and not for the best! Whiskey took tramadol after his two surgeries and it didn't seem to affect him but since he was also being aced to keep his puppy self doped up, I can't be positive.
Gabepentin is usually the drug used for the phantom pain . I would definitely get back to the vet to rule out something else, but that seems to be the most likely scenario (but what do I know...no MD after my name!!)
Keep us posted!!
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