Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi, I turned here today out of desperation and exhaustion. Zoey, our 4 year old Havanese, had her right front amputated 4 days ago---she broke her leg in a freak yard accident and it didn't heal. She has been home with us for 2 days. She is on a pain patch, gabapentin, and meloxicam. Day one was totally what I expected but better....she can walk alone, potty alone, and took a nap. Yesterday at 6am, the bubble burst. She woke up screaming, that lasted only a few seconds. But then she paced the floor and shook (like she was wet) for 2 hours! When she became exhausted, she fell asleep, only to wake up screaming 2 hours later. Then the vicious cycle started over...2 hours pacing, 2 hours sleep, maddening scream. This has gone on for 26 hours straight. The vet has called us in a pain med and an anxiety med. I am praying for the lethargic dog you all describe. Can anyone help this scared mom???
I am so sorry Zoey (and you) are having such a hard time. If you haven't already, call your veterinarian. My guess is phantom pain , but I never had this type experience, so no real words of wisdom, but I am sure someone will jump in with something similar that can help put you at ease.
Sending good thoughts for you guys.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
I can't give you any first hand advice either except to say that this kind of behavior (the screaming anyway) is not uncommon in the first days of recovery. Take a look at this thread, at least you won't feel so alone. At the end one of our members who is a vet has a few words of advice. You can post in this forum to ask a vet directly. It would help to post what kind of pain patch she is on and what the new drugs being prescribed are. I can only think that her meds aren't quite right and/or she is having a reaction to one of them and hope that some tweaking will help. Some dogs can have pretty extreme drug reactions. I have not heard of a dog with the shaking behavior you described. Bear in mind that the drugs are making her loopy and she may just be doing it because nothing feels right to her right now. Hopefully the anti-anxiety med will help with that.
I am sorry you and Zoey are having such a hard time of it. Hang in there. I am sure some other folks will post soon with more advice.
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
Zoey and Mom, welcome. I know this is really scary but if it's any comfort at all, this isn't that unusual. Some dogs are lethargic, some are not, it all depends on their pain management protocol and whether or not its working for them. What works for some doesn't work for all. Zoey is her own dog, you'll find out what works for her. Breathe and know that your vet will help you get it right. What are the names of the meds s/he called in? Be sure to ask about side effects and what to look out for in case those meds need to be adjusted.
I'm so sorry you found yourself here but things will get better. Smaller dogs handle this SO well. The first couple of weeks can be rough but as you can see by the great help everyone here offers, you won't go through this alone. Remember that your attitude has a lot to do with how Zoey handles things too; the stronger you are, the more she will believe she can be strong too. She looks to you for leadership so show her that things are gonna be alright.
Also check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books library if you haven't already done so, lots of good tips there.
Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Zoey's mom...
I am sorry for what you are dealing with.. We are day 3 ourselves rolling into day 4... Though we do not have the screaming.. We do have a similar pattern with our kiddo.... he crashes for 2 hours.. Then gets up..He paces he pants he cant sit still. He does that for two hours. Rather rinse repeat. Been a loooong three nights. I had to call in sick today because I just have not slept in 3 days. Though we have some hopes tonight will be better as he has not panted all day.
I hope things get better for you soon. Maybe it is the pain meds. I know Bonz reacted badly to the increased Tramadol we gave him post surgery. he seems a LOT less antsy since we dropped him to 2 pills every 8 hours down from 3.
snooperloop said
We are day 3 ourselves rolling into day 4...
Thanks for chiming in Snoop! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry that Zoey is having a hard time. As others have mentioned it sounds like she's not doing well with her pain management protocol. You mentioned she's on a pain patch which typically are a narcotic pain reliever. The behavior with the pacing and shaking may be a reaction to that. My Leland was only on Gabapentin after his procedure and did fine with just that. The surgeon wanted to give him Tramadol which he didn't do well with so our local vet gave us extra of the Gabapentin that Leland was on prior to the surgery. Work with your vet as all that may be needed is the removal or change in the dosage of a particular medication.
Things will get better...just hang in there!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Thank you all so much for your kindness and support. It means SO much! The vet said our opioid patch wore off so he gave us tramadol and acepromazine. We took a dose at bedtime and no screaming for 6 hours! From all I read on here, I do also believe it is phantom pain . You really hit the nail on the head....my attitude is the key to her getting better! Great advice!! Snooperloop, I am so sorry we are in this club together....but we can do it! Hope you got some rest last night.
You stay right here with us, okay?? You are NOT alone!
To help reassure you, my Happy Hannah was NOT lethergic nd whined and cried a d laced forr 20 hours straight...without the two hour nap intervals!
My first post here was day six and I thought I had made a HORRIBLE decision and had done something horrible TO my dog!!! It was probably sbout three weeks before I could finally say I had done this FOR her!!
This IS major surger and it IS painful!! On top of that she is very whacked on pain pills! The fentynal (sp) patch if good for lain, but some dogs to react bizarre with it.
Most dogs here sre usually on Tramadol, Gabalentin and then in of the anri inflammatory drus like Meloxicam. Perhaps before you give her a"stress" pill, you could ask the vet about putting her in Tramadol to help with that break through pain. It sounds like she is in pretty bad pain. She could also be having some nerve lain but the Gaba should help with that.
As me tioned.....B R E A T H E.....B R E A T H E....B R E A T H E......We all eat a lot of chocolate around here too! I understand some dip their chocolate in wine first! It helps in maintaining a strong confident lack leader status!
How about peeing, pooping, eating, drinking......what's the status there?
Give us an unpdate when you can. And we love pictures
((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))
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!
Oh...I must saw your new lost...GOOD!!!! Alot of ups and downs in this crazy roller coaster ride, but it DOES get better...PROMIS!!!
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!
This takes me back! I didn't have the screaming but one year ago this week, I had the excessive pacing, refusal to settle, and unable to console my baby. It was the WORST! But the good news was... it does get better! I would call your vet (God knows I called so many times they recognized my voice the second I said hello) and maybe there needs to be an adjustment of meds. My girl, Shelby, needed some doggy valium (trazadone, I think). it helped ease the anxiety she wsa feeling with the pain meds.
Shelby has since crossed over but she did get better and have several happy months as a tripawd!
hang in there,
alison with the spirit of shelby fur-ever in her heart
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
Welcome 1scaredmom! I wish you were here under different circumstances, but you are and, like Sally said, you are not alone! We'll be here every step of the way.
Every fur-baby reacts differently in these situations and what you're dealing with could very well be the norm for Zoey. Our Harmony had her spleen removed at the same time they took her leg. Plus, she had a tumor removed from the top of her head. Would you believe, she never once whimpered? But then again, she was a Lab and they're terrible about hiding their pain.
You'll get through this just fine and Zoey is going to have all that sparkle back when you least expect it. So lean on us, that's what we're here for!
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Great update! A positive attitude does take you (and them) a long way. Recovery is a tough time to get through. Good news is that it doesn't really last that long (about 2 weeks) and then you can begin to relax a bit and settle into the new normal.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Day 6! And we are alive and relatively sane! Ha! The combo of Gabapentin, trazadone, acepromazine, and meloxicam has really lessened the phantom pains--only about 1 every 12 hours and they are much smaller in scale. She is some what loopy but at least she is comfortable. Consistent sleep has still not come yet...she sleeps 2 hours, then paces for 1. Anyone else have a pacer and remember how long it lasted? I'm guessing it from the meds plus anxiety. Hopeful that when we are off a few of these in a week or two, that will get better. We are very blessed in many ways...she stands, walks, eats, pees, and poops independently. You all are teaching me so much! Every time I open this page, I feel like a get a hug from a friend. I hang on your every word. Thank you for being here for us newbies! Oh, and how do I change my avatar?
It was such a joy to read your comment!!! I'm so happy things have turned a small corner for you and I'm thrilled that Zoey is doing better!
You know when she gets her sparkle back you'll be ecstatic to try and keep up with her!
WOOT!
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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