Hi Brownie's person, welcome. I am sorry you are dealing with cancer but so glad you decided to join us. Brownie sounds like such a love, a once in a lifetime dog. And he is so fortunate to have you looking out for him.

No, he is not mad at you. What I believe you are describing is pain. Tail between the legs is one of the big pain signals that dogs give us. What kind of medication is he on? What did he come home with? If his amputation pain was not adequately addressed it can lead to a delayed recovery.

Two weeks for a dog his age is not a long time at all. Older dogs just need a bit more time to adjust but they do get there. What is his day like? What kinds of things is he no longer excited about? Again, that can be a pain indicator. I would talk to your vet about addressing any possible pain, and also take advantage of our Tripawds Foundation Rehab Reimbursement program. These experts can help assess Brownie for any issues, and show you how to help him get strong. The best part is the foundation may pay for your first rehab visit .

Also, speaking of your vet...I don't know this practice, and only based on what you are describing, I'm guessing that they are not practicing the most current Fear Free animal handling protocols? This means that animals are not forced into submission for any kinds of procedures, but dealt with gentler hands that help him relax instead of stress him out. Sometimes sedation is necessary, but vets are moving away from that kind of rough handling of animals.

I would ask your vet for a referral to an oncologist, so you can get all of your information and make an informed decision about whether or not it's right for Brownie.

Meanwhile, be sure to check out Jerry's Required Reading List for answers to many of your most common questions.

Sounds like Brownie is getting great pain management ! That "g" is probably Gabapentin, for nerve pain. 

Oh and his diet sounds healthy too. Good job

And now I totally understand what you are describing as far as how he reacted when he came out of anesthesia. That makes sense. I know you'll hear it in our community a lot, but many of the odd behaviors that our animals experience just before and after amputation surgery are directly related to the experience as a whole. These behaviors tend to go away in time, as life gets back to normal.

Brownie's pain sounds like it's being managed with the medication. And he will get his sparkle back. I know it's hard to believe that right now but try to keep in mind where a human would be like at this point in amputation recovery. Brownie is ahead of the curve! Most dogs return to their old selves within two to four weeks, depending on the dog.

I have a feeling that Brownie's barks will return before you know it! If you notice that he seems painful at all, let your vet know right away. But for now, try to be patient. You'll see your boy back again!