Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I don't know where that other thread is about Ruby's complications, but Just thought I'd mention that I rushed her to the Hospital and she is going with the Vet overnight no find out why she is in distress, yelping, crying, moaning. I say it's pain. I asked for gabapentin and pain meds for her. I am starting to relax now, but I'm worried. I never heard her cry out like that.
I saw your blog and really glad you posted here. I replied over there with a few questions (of course), so I'll jist "copy" that and put it here.
Glad you're feeling more relaxed now. I know it was sooooo scary seeing her in pain after everything she's been through!
Okay….DEEP BREATHS…..B R E A T H E…..
Of course you are overwhelmed! You’ve earned the right!!
Spunds like she’s in good hands and the Vet will be able to determine what’s going on.
Is this the Vet who did the amputation?
How does the incision look? No seepage?
It does sou d kike it could be phantom limb pain. You are right about the Gabapentin, it can definitely help with that.
Phantom limb pain is when a dog will all of the sudden yelp and cry out loud! They will usualw jump up and try and “run away from the pain”.
It usually comes in “episodes” and can last for a minute or two. Then maybe stop for zwhile and then come back again just as suddenly, and go away just as quickly.
Does it sound like that or was her crying more non-stop?
The Vet will be able to observe her and hopefully get her on the right pain meds.
TRY and get some rest. This is just a temporary setback. Hopefully those stiches will be out in a other week and that cone can come off!
Sending you hugs!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Quick PS: Did Ruby settle down by the time she got to the Vet or was she still crying in pain?
Did the Vet give her any pain meds right then?
Did Bet mention any possibilities like pha tom limb pain?
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!
Ruby wasn't yelping or crying so much when I arrived there at the Vet, but the whole way there she was. She cried when she hopped out of the car, then I took her inside. She went right back to the back to see the Vet. Yes it is the same vet that did the amputation. She came out and asked me what was going on and I told her just like I wrote, even about her trying to get to the stitches when I did briefly remove her cone. I said she needed Gabapentin and the Vet agreed that was most likely what she could need. She said she was going to take her home for the night and she would be back in town tomorrow night, I assume with Ruby. HOPEFULLY, I can pick her right up and all is well. I'm just going to be worried all night until I can call and check on her in the morning.
I found my answers. Well, I was reading human plp and just apply it to dogs. It said could be brief or could last for years and years. 🙁
Oh no, please don't think the phantom pain will last for years. Let's think positive. The vet will observe Ruby and have some answers. And there are other treatments such as acupuncture, massage, heat packs. There will be some relief.
I'm sorry I don't know Ruby's full recovery story but I'm sure someone will find the answer to Ruby's pain. Meanwhile, I hope Ruby is enjoying her sleepover at the vet's house and you can have a restful night knowing she's in good hands.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Okay,stay off Dr Google!!!
If it is phantom limb pain, the Gabapentin should take care of it. Yes, it will go away!! And the Gabapentin will help deal with it until it goes away. Even IF it does linger for awhile, which it rrarely does, the Gaba will help! Don't worry p, okay? If that's what it is it does haplen and it is definitely treatable!!!
Is it possible she has tweaked her back, or maybe has a disc issue....anything like that? Maybe pinched a nerve in her neck or something @ike thst? Has she still been taking it easy?
I even wonder with all those crazy staples she's had in for so lo g if one kf them coukd be hurting her on jabbing a nerve. Just something it could possible be since.
It was really nice that the Vet took her home for the night for observation
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!
HERE,S. A COPY OF HER ANSWER TO SOME OF MY QUESTIONS IN HER BLOG TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION..
phantom limb pain makes sense, but she hasn’t done that in front of me ever since she got home from the hospital. Tonight all the sudden when I arrived home, I could hear her crying as I walked up to my door. Then she wasn’t stopping. She yelped and got off the couch, going down to lay on the dog bed. She usually is on the couch. She was looking at me and crying, then moaning. It took 25 min to drive to the Vet and she continued crying, moaning the whole way there. It reminded me of how it was when this cancer first appeared and the one brief time she showed pain she started to howl in the middle of the night to way me up and tell me that she hurt. Other than that you couldn’t even tell she was in pain at all. Very strong dog that does not like to show her weakness. Tonight was a steady crying.
No seepage. The incision and stitches look good. She has been on complete rest for the past week and worn the cone the whole time.
Now tonight, I did take the cone off of her when I got home and tried to get her to eat. She jumped on the couch and acted liked she wanted to go towards the stitches. That showed me that she hurt right there, is what I was thinking. I put her cone back on… she was still crying this whole time and I was escalating in worry by this point. I popped two tramadol on her, for her nightly dosage. She wouldn’t eat so I couldn’t give her the clavamox without food. I even tried treats, she had no interest.
This is not like Ruby. She is such a happy and hopeful dog. Always just wanting to please me and be beside me snuggled up. Wagging her tail and happy for me to come home. Never seen her cry and yelp like this. freaked me
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!
very nice that she took her home, yes. And we will reunite tomorrow night. I've been reading from this site now about all the pain stuff and massages...getting to know as much as I can, as fast as I can absorb it. I would say that most likely was plp. I do not doubt that she has crazy nerve pain. I understand what that feels like as I suffer with it myself. I have taken gabapentin in the past for nerve pain, although it worked opposite on me and created more pain. I know the Vet had her on Gabapentin after the surgery and she will probably dose her tonight for sure. I will insist on picking some up when I go to get her tomorrow night. So sad that she has to take such a heavy medicine to get thru this. Nerve pain is no joke and that medicine is just so bad for one too have to have. 🙁
Reading for the remedy!!! I have not massaged her too much and suppose it is time for that now(?) even with staples in still?
Talk with your Vet but you can VERY GENTLY massage AROUND the incision area, NOT directly on it. But just wait tl you talk to the Vet so you can be comfortable if that's what they recommend.
And she may not have to take the Gaba very long. like you said, with all the surgeries she's had on that one incision over the last 6 weeks it's no surprise that she might have a little nerve pain as a result! She probably won't have enough Gabapentin to make her feel sedated, so don't worry about that. If that's what the issue is, she'll have just enough to take the edge off.
You're really doing a good job! You have been through so much and so is ruby, and you are both finally starting to get some good results, once you get this hurdle out of the way. You've been through a lot so make sure you give yourself credit for remaining strong and positive. I don't think many a bus could have handled this nearly as well as you have! Good job and the job to ruby 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!
I just talked to the Vet. Ruby was fine all night and I paid her final bill! I will get a copy of it tonight and then can submit to ASAP to see if they might help.
Really, really good news!!! Ruby is coming home And you BOTH will be so happy!! 🙂
I saw your blog post and the Vet gave you Gabapentin and Tramadol to take home so that's good. You also mentioned that maybe it was Ruby's bone pressing on a staple and she didn't reall say one way or another about phantom limb pain.
Hopefully, whatever it was is over and done!
Guess you have a little less than one week and then the staples will be out! YAY!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Really glad to hear she's coming home! And yes, she may not need to be on Gabapentin that long.
I have not massaged her too much and suppose it is time for that now(?) even with staples in still?
We have lots of tips in these articles about massaging your Tripawd.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
thank you for guiding us right! I will read the links and keep studying.
Ruby is now home once again and well as can be. She came home with 100 mg, 30 cap of Gabapentin and 50 mg trams. She was beyond thrilled to see me pick her up and anxious to leave out the door! Going back Monday to remove the staples.
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