YAY FERRIS! Welcome home buddy! I just had a chance to catch up on your progress and it sounds like things are moving along. I'm sorry you had the stumble, that's not too unusual. Take it slow and easy, there's plenty of time to get crazy with Sloanne when you're healed!

my only concern is he is hopping so fast that he gets out of breath. Is there a way I can make him slow down?

Hate to tell ya but nope. Tripawd dogs, especially front leg amputees, move at a faster pace than four legged ones. He will get stronger over time and have more endurance so that he's not out of breath all the time. But a visit with a physio therapist will help too! They can show you how to keep him strong, balanced and able to stay upright and injury-free. The Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit to please take us up on it!

I also concerned that he is only on paracetamol and metacam, he isn’t complaining though.

That is a concern of ours too. Good pain control makes for a better recovery. Did he maybe get a 3-day pain relief injection called Nocita? If not, please consider asking your vet for more pain management . Dogs are typically prescribed Gabapentin, a nerve pain reducer, after amputation, for at least 10 days.  Here's more about the best pain control drugs for amputation recovery.

Good job watching his food intake! Yes! A slim Tripawd is a hoppy Tripawd! 

No need to apologize, I'm sorry your family was affected by Covid, thank dog you are all better! You're the second person today who is or was dealing with the virus. Yikes.

Ferris sounds like he's doing alright and moving along with recovery, other than the issue:

I’m not sure what the issue is but could it be related to the short walks and the extra pressure placed on his remaining front leg?

As a Newfie missing a front leg, getting around is going to be challenging at first. Also keep in mind that it hasn't been very long, about two weeks, and bigger dogs generally take longer than shorter ones to rebuild strength and stamina. It's hard to say, but the description you gave of the crying points to something, probably pain, that needs to be addressed. Was he a vocal dog before surgery?

Although 200 meters doesn't seem like a lot to us, if you give it a try yourself by getting on all fours, picking a front limb off the ground and hopping along, you'll see how much work it takes to propel yourself forward. 

I really encourage you to take advantage of the Tripawds Foundation Rehab Reimbursement program so that you can find out if there is anything causing pain, and how to alleviate it. Until then, definitely let your vet know what's going on and see if R&R and possibly a longer dose of pain medication is in order.

Awww don't beat yourself up and just know that ALL of us who have gone through this felt the same way at first. It's hard to know if we made the right decision until we see our dog or cat back into their old routines without showing pain. Ferris will get there!

 we have increased his tramadol to see if this helps if no success the vet suggested fentanyl, I have enquired about Gabapentin but he was concerned that it would make him a bit disoriented.

I'm not a vet, so take this for what it's worth. I've talked to some of the world's leading vet pain management specialists and here's what I've learned: 

Tramadol is now considered ineffective at controlling pain.

Fentanyl is an opioid that makes dogs see pink elephants and tends to be ineffectively absorbed by canines. It is also not something we have ever seen used to alleviate phantom leg pain .

Gapabentin can make dogs sleepy but if you gradually increase the dosage, most dogs get used to it (start low, giving it only at night, then titrate up to the full dose during the daytime hours). Gabapentin is one of the best pain relievers for amputees with phantom pain . Humans get it all the time, and it's commonly used in dogs with great success.

I encourage you to check out this article about best and worst amputation pain drugs, then have a conversation with your vet to get better pain control for Ferris. I'm sure they are a great vet, but not all vets know everything about pain control. See:

How To Help Your Tripawd’s Post-Amputation Recovery Pain

In our experience, a combination of good pain control with Gabapentin and possibly a second like Amantadine, along with physio therapy, makes all the difference in the world at controlling pain. Yes, you can qualify for the Tripawds Foundation rehab reimbursement program as long as your therapist has a "CCRT" or "CCRP" credential. We are happy to help find one for you and if you're in London, we highly recommend the Active Pet Clinic for help. The practice owner has made an incredible difference for UK Tripawd Meg.

Stay strong and keep us posted OK?