Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Samson is my 7 year old Bernse Mt. Dog. 105lbs
Front left leg was amputated on 11/19
Came home on 11/20
Last week was doing okay - eating, drinking, getting around
This week he is always panting hard, not wanting to eat, head tilting to one side, dazed
He's on Tramadol (3 50mg 3x/day), Gabapentin (1 100mg 3x/day), Carprofen 1 100mg 2x/day)
He asks to go outside, peeing, pooing okay
Doc said maybe too much tramadol so i did just 2 pills last night, but about 4 hours later he was panting and restless so i have him the 3rd. This morning did the same thing - just 2, but a couple hours later gave him the 3rd.
I dont know if he's in pain and needs more, or is too high and needs less.
I'm crying looking at him because i dont know what to do.
Is this just a phase - I dont know because he was doing better and a week later i thought he would be better not worse.
If it were me, I'd take him to the vet and let them evaluate the situation. I am a bit surprised he would still be on a large daily dosage of tramadol over a month into recovery, buth they each recover differently and at their own pace.
It is very hard to watch them be uncomfortable, and feel helpless to do anything about it. Sending good thoughts to you.
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.
Hi, Zep is a large 11 y/o golden (#105 pre ampuatation) and he wasn't doing very well for 2-3 week weeks after his amputation, but he started to look better after about 3 weeks. He didn't want to drink, eat, go out (very much not him), for weeks. It wasn't really until he was off all of his pain meds that he started to look better.
Hi and welcome to Tripawds.
I think hugapitbull was looking at the dates wrong- he is one week past his amp, right?
Definitely stay in contact with your vet- keep them informed on Sampson's progress.
It honestly sounds to me like a reaction to the tramadol. It is really hard to tell the difference between not enough pain meds, and too much. Balancing is one of the biggest challenges we come up against after a big surgery. He may need that much to keep him out of pain, but it does sound like a lot of tram considering he is also on gaba. You may want to post in the Ask A Vet forum too- you should get a response from Drs Pam or Kelly. My little pug Maggie freaked out on tram- I could tell by her behavior that she wasn't in pain, but she was seeing things and was agitated and wouldn't sleep.
Also- one week past surgery is still pretty early in recovery- we had lots of ups and downs the first few weeks. Was he on an additional pain med when he came home? Mag had a fentanyl patch and was very different on that than she was on tram.
Don't get discouraged! We often see pups come home and do well, then decline. There is a lot for Sampson to get used to, and you are tired and emotionally drained. It will get better!
Don't worry about pestering your vet either- this is a big surgery and recovery. Most of us have never gone through anything like this before.
Hang in there- keep us posted on how Sampson is doing.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Karen is definitely right. Don't worry about bothering the vet, your dog just had major surgery and can't speak to tell you what's bothering him. For us, the first 2 weeks were the worst. I was starting to regret our decision at one point, but one Chili Dawg was off all his meds he was back to normal and I didn't regret our decision at all. Hang in there! You're halfway through the rough part. You can do this!
Jenna & Spirit Chili Dawgs pack
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
I agree that 1 week is early but it's a good idea to call the vet. Write down all of his symptoms so they have an accurate picture. Try not to worry, many dogs have ups and downs even weeks after surgery. Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am SO sorry! I did read the dates wrong. Thank you, Karen for catching that.
It still wouldn't hurt to have a vet check if you are worried. That is what they are there for.
But yes, everyone else is right - one week is very soon, and it is common for them to stay on the pain meds up for 10 - 14 days.
The recovery period is very hard for the pet and the humans as they both adjust to their 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.
From what I read up on and what the vet told me, getting the right level of meds is a tricky thing. I was the annoying tripawd mom and kept track of EVERYTHING (sleeping habits, eating habits (in our case lack there of), peeing habits, exact time and amount of meds). The vet was happy that I did and that I called in as much as I did. Its what we pay them for and the advice is usually free...
Silly question, is it warm where you live (inside and outside) and do you have a t-shirt on Samson? Lupe was actually overmedicated and warm due to weather and her shirts. Once we took them off and cut back the meds, she did a little better.
Keep us posted...
-Kori & Angel Lupe
Diagnosed with possible synovial cell sarcoma of right front elbow 5/31/12. Amputation surgery performed 6/7/12. Final diagnosis of histiocytic cell sarcoma 6/11/12. Her soul and spirit were strong, her body was not...my little girl earned her wings 6/14/12. "If there are labradoodles and goldendoodles, why can't I be a cockadoodle?"-Angel Lupe (June 28, 1997-June14, 2012) http://lupepod......pawds.com/
Patricia, you sound exactly like I did at one week post-amp. It was the worst time, too much or too little? Because the symptoms for too much Tram are the same as the symptoms for pain. I think a lot of dogs do worse before they do better. As horrible as it is, it sounds normal to me...but always best to check with the experts. And that is what you are paying them for, don't ever let them make you feel bad for calling. It is routine to them but it's not to us.
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
1 Guest(s)
