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.
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Hello all- I am new to this forum as my lil 10lb min pin mix Bean just had his right front leg amputated ten days ago. He is used to walking on three legs as he never put weight on the leg that was removed, so we've had no troubles with getting him used to balancing/walking around. He goes on walks and can jump up onto furniture without any issue. The first few days after surgery were great; he seemed back to his normal self. But over the past four days or so, things have gone a bit downhill. Bean has started screaming at random times, a very heartbreaking, ear splitting cry. I hold him and talk softly to him and he eventually stops, but it happens at random times when he is just laying down. I've read about phantom pain and it seems to be that, but I'm not sure and his crying breaks my heart so much. I don't know what to do and I just want my Bean back. Before surgery, he was so playful and high energy and he's been very sleepy and fatigued lately. I know it is very soon after surgery, but any advice would be really helpful. Thank you so much
Hi Bean and Family, welcome. So funny...I thought you were a very big doggie Bean, just looking at your avatar I thought you were some kind of Rottie mix. Then your people say you're only 10 pounds? Wow! You have a much bigger presence my friend 
Oh, your future posts won't need approval so post away.
I'm sorry to hear about the pain signals . Yes, that does sound like it could be phantom pain , or this type of pain that we just discussed in this interview with pain management expert Dr. Petty:
something called hyperalgesia—an increased sensitivity to pain—that is the result of enduring, untreated pain conditions. The second issue I often see in amputees is something called Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). This painful condition can often become the primary source of pain, and may not even occur in the affected limb, but elsewhere as a result of attempts to compensate for the missing limb by subtly (or sometimes not so subtly) shifting weight to the “good” legs.
What kind of pain medication is Bean on? If you're not on Gabapentin I would ask your vet for some asap. It's not expensive and it really helps with this kind of nerve pain. Meanwhile check out this post about how massage can help phantom pain. Good luck and let us know what happens OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww Bean, sorry you're having these issues!
I know this recovery time is very scary and very frustrating, especially when there are litttle setbacks. Check out the links Jerry gave you. Imw also curious about what pain meds he's on.
Additionally, it sounds like he's been pretty active, at least at first anyway. They should really just basical l y be resting and going out for brief potty breaks the first two weeks. No jumping, no stair climbing, etc. He may have overdone it and pulled a muscle.
It does sound l ike he could use some better pain meds. And they can indeed make some dogs a little more lethargic.
Is Bean eating, drinking, pooping okay? Does his incision look good? Are you able to take his temperature?
Know that Bean will getnhis sparkle back bigger and better than before. My Happy Hannah took almost three weeks before I saw her sparkle start to come back.
Why did Bean after have his leg amputated? When you can, we would love to hear more about Bean AND see photos! We love photos around hereh!!!
Take some deep breaths, get with your vet about pain meds and give Bean lots of treats!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Thank you both so much for your quick, helpful and genuine responses!! Here's a little bit more info on Beans' story.
I have been volunteering at my local animal shelter for a few years now, and about four months ago I received an email from the shelter about a little dog with a badly injured leg who urgently needed a foster home until the vet decided whether his leg should be amputated or not. I impulsively took him in and in only a few hours of having him home with me did I decide that he was going to stay for good! We are not sure how his leg was injured, but all of the bones in his wrist were completely crushed and even though the wound was healed, it caused him huge amounts of pain and he could not put any weight on it. We waited over three months to see if his leg would get better but ultimately I made the decision to have it amputated; I did not want him to be in pain any longer.
Bean was on tramadol and rimadyl twice a day for the first week of recovery, but the vet has since not had him on anything. Should I make sure this is okay? The incision is healing wonderfully, he's been pooping, peeing, and eating regularly. I have taken his temperature and it is normal.
Thank you for lifting my spirits. It's been a difficult time but I just have to remember that soon my lil Bean won't be in pain anymore, and that is worth this rough recovery.
Awww what a rescue story! You're pretty amazing and so is Bean.
I'm no vet but it does sound to me like he needs to be on them a bit longer. Sometimes pain can manifest weeks later, it's not that unusual. Ask your vet about Gabapentin and if s/he is unsure or hasn't heard of it (that's also not unusual, many vets are still coming up to speed with pain relief), advocate for it anyways (share that link to Dr. Petty's article with them). I know you can do it!
Hugs to you both. Keep u posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just wanted to add, as far as keeping Bean on pain meds a bit longer....most dogs here, not all, stay on pain meds for about two weeks. I phased Happy Hannah off them about that time because that's when "most" dogs no longer need pain meds. I wasn't see Happy Hannah's sparkle come back very much at al. It was Jerry who suggested I keep her on a bit longer (of course, with vet's approval). I did and she started getting her sparkle back slowly but soooooo surely.
Hugs to you and cutie pie Bean!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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'm a little behind in checking the forums and came across Bean's story. How is he doing now?? Is he back on pain medication and has he started Gabapentin?
My Leland was on Gabapentin (he was a 108 lb Dobie boy) and it really helped him.
Bean is just such a cutie and I'm sure he has a BIG presence as I think most Min Pin's do.
We'd love to see more pictures to!!
Keeping you and Bean in my thoughts!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
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