Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Pam,
No he isn't having the surgery today, but the surgeon said he will rush the results today and get the surgery scheduled ASAP. He said he wants to be 100% sure it's osteosarcoma before he takes the leg and everyone (including him) keeps saying they are 90% sure. Even though there is nothing else it could be, right??? (Besides a fungus which we don't have in FL) He also said he doesn't see a fracture on the xrays so... we're just confused at this point. Plus, I know he may not get his answer with an aspiration anyway, and I wouldn't let him do a biopsy because that would just be painful for Atlas and unnecessary in my vet's opinion. So this was just the step we needed to take for him to be comfortable doing the amputation I guess. Sigh....
We are thinking of you and Atlas today, and hoping things go smoothly. Pam's insight is spot-on. Remember, it's your decision whether or not to do a bone biopsy, so if the aspirate comes back inconclusive, go with your gut feeling, not with what you feel pressured into.
Please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you, Jerry. Well, the amputation is scheduled for Friday morning, no matter what the results are. There was no bone left, only soft tissue. What a terrible disease. 
Atlas's Fan Club is cheering for him! We are all right here by your side and you are NOT alone during this recovery, okay?
Yeah, this is a piece of crap disease that makes us make forced choices that no one should ever have to make for their beloved animals. We do it though because we HAVE to give our dogs a chance. We HAVE to try.
I know this is gutwrenching for you. We've wll been there. Lots of tears and fears. There is a sense of relief though, once the decision to move forward is made. It sounds like Atlas's leg is basically worthless. It has to be painful! Atlas is going to feel so much better with this bum leg gone!
Grab the chocolate! Stay connected and let us know any questions you may have, okay?
Extra hugs to that sweet boy!
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!
Amazing how hearing the words "you are not alone" over the internet really does help. Thank you. 
Pam, if you're still reading this thread, I need your help. Atlas's surgeon will not give him the gabapentin because he doesn't believe dogs get phantom limb pain. He's only prescribing codeine. I am fuming right now & wondering if he even likes dogs. I've found a couple of articles online saying they do but can you point me to any research a vet surgeon would take seriously? Thanks.
It really seems like this guy is behind the times. There is really no proof that dogs get phantom limb pain because we can't ask them but many vets are using it as a means to control even arthritis pain. I would ask your regular vet or even the oncologist to get some for you. Even if you start 1 day before the surgery it can make a difference. Maybe that is why he doesn't think big dogs do well after amputation (he isn't controlling or preventing pain). I would also make sure he is on an NSAID such as meloxicam, at least for 2 weeks post-op.
Pam
Thanks for your reply, Pam. He's been on piroxicam for about 3 weeks, so that's good. I just talked to my vet and she's willing to order us the Gabapentin but says we will have to wait until he's weaned off the codeine before we start him on it, because there's an interaction. So, I guess that's my best option right now. 
If he is on PIROXICAM, make sure he doesn't start Rimadyl pr Meloxicam WITHOUT ABOUT A FIVE DAY WASH OUT PERIOD BETWEEN THE TWO. Not a Vet and not giving Vet advice. Just double check on that before you switch from one to the other.
Petra, Stewie's Mom, has a friend who is an amputee. She is on GABAPENTIN for PHANTOM LIMB PAIN!! She knows it exists and she knows the Gabapentin helps!
Really glad yoir regular Vet is getting Atlas the proper meds he needs.
Pam can address the Codeine wash out period when switching to Gabapentin. There's also a nerve blocker injection tjat starts with an "N" that Pam gives for painful surgeries Perhaps she will chime in on thst.
And you vet, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!! We're with you and Atlas the whole way!!
Extra 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!
benny55 said
If he is on PIROXICAM, make sure he doesn't start Rimadyl pr Meloxicam WITHOUT ABOUT A FIVE DAY WASH OUT PERIOD BETWEEN THE TWO. Not a Vet and not giving Vet advice. Just double check on that before you switch from one to the other.
Apparently there's some debate about this, so just wanted to mention what we recently learned. I'm not advising anyone here to follow this, but rather to talk to their vet first. I talked to a vet about this last month when we ran out of Meloxicam and only had Rimadyl on hand for Wyatt Ray .
The vet advised us that a five day break between the two is ideal but if the dog historically hasn't had a problem with NSAIDs, that even a two-day wash out is acceptable. He advised us to watch for signs of GI upset (black, tarry stools mainly). We followed his advice and Wyatt did fine.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
soesposito said
Atlas's surgeon will not give him the gabapentin because he doesn't believe dogs get phantom limb pain.
Dr. Pam is correct, there are no official studies that prove it. But over the last 10 years we have seen many members' animals go through horrible pain afterward that closely resembles phantom pain in humans. The symptoms are unmistakable, only these poor critters can't tell us in our words exactly how they feel. That doesn't make their pain any less valid. We tend to see it happen more in animals who have had poor pain management from the beginning. Not always, but often.
Here is a newly published phantom limb pain study by a European veterinarian who reached out to us on this subject. Feel free to give a copy to your vet.
New Phantom Pain in Dogs Study Results Published
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am not aware of any interactions between oral codeine and gabapentin. I checked webmd and no interactions were listed.
The local anesthetic Nocita could be helpful because it blocks pain for up to 3 days in muscle and SQ tissues.
Pam
I know Atlas's surgery is Friday so just wanted to let you know the site will be "closed down" for maintenance for several hours, possibly as much as 36 hrs. starting Thursday at 10:00 PM.
See the link under Technical Support
IMPORTANT! 2018 Server Migration
http://tripawds.....n/#p211765
In the meantime, YOU CAN STILL REACH US ON THE TRIPAWDS HELPLINE
1 844 TRIPAWD
So just know you can still connect with us, okay? Hang in there! We're all cheering for the Mighty Atlas
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!
Ok, thanks for letting me know! Just ordered him a Tripawd convert harness for after he heals and about a zillion carpet runners for our tile floors. 
I just can't wait until this is over with so every day will be closer to pain-free.
soesposito said
Just ordered him a Tripawd convert harness...
Thank you for supporting Tripawds! Your harness is on the way and we have sent you tracking information.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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