Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Capone had a busy day yesterday and was full of energy prior to his staples being removed. The surgeon thought everything looked good and was happy with the way things were healing. The pressure bandage and the staples were removed yesterday. Was a bit lethargic last night and was needing some enticing to encourage him to get up to go potty later that day/evening. However, he perked right up at dinner time. Also, my husband and I took a walk and left the house for about an hour. When we came back he was up and wagging his tail. This morning I was greeted the same way when I came down to let him out to potty and feed him breakfast this AM. He just poops out after his potty breaks and food breaks. Hopefully, this is normal.
It seemed like he was breathing kinda heavy this AM. I had not given him his Tramadol and only 50 mg of Rimadyl with his breakfast. I was thinking the heavy breathing might be because of pain... so around 1pm I gave him 50 mg of Tramadol. His breathing does seem to be a bit better but still over the 30 respiration's that is at the high end of average. This apparently is what I'm obsessing over today. It could have been the same prior to today but this is what I'm worried about today. I'm currently doing an online school program so the fact that I'm in the same room with him all day is giving me plenty of time to obsess about every little detail. HE is currently snoozing away have lots of doggie dreams. All 3 legs are twitching away. 😉
I told my husband I would chill out after the appointment yesterday but apparently not!!! He knew I would still be a nervous wreck. I hate being so worried about everything. He is just sleeping so much and I'm worried about him. Guess worry is what mom's do best.
He is scheduled to start his 1st round of chemotherapy next Tuesday the 26th. I'm hoping that he is just pooped from a busy day yesterday. I love my baby and just want him to be happy and comfortable for the time he has left.
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sweetcapone said:
Guess worry is what mom's do best.
But that's not gonna help Capone recover quickly! 
While it can indicate pain, heavy panting is also common side effect of Tramadol. It is still early for Capone, so try to stop stressing and take things one day at a time.
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Bo did a lot of panting when he was on all of the meds too. We found that giving him ice cubes helped to calm him down. He would chew/eat about 8 of them and lay down and relax. He was never interested in ice cubes before surgery, so we were surprised when he started eating them!
I too stayed home with Bo for most of his recovery. It does make you a little jumpy and get a little cabin fever. I would try to get out of the house for a few hours at a time. Of course, Bo just slept away and never even missed me. 😉 Doggy dreams are a great sign, too!
It's hard, but try not to worry. It was really closer to the 3 week mark that Bo really started showing signs of his old self. We are 7 weeks post-amp and he is feeling good again.
Good luck and keep us posted!!
It's hard for me to say "try not to worry" because I am the Grand Queen of Worrying. Always have been. Probably always will be. I work from home so I'm with Abby most of the time. When she does anything out of the ordinary, I start the worrying again (even though she is doing great, is almost 9 months post-amp, and has tons of energy). But, really, the worrying doesn't help. And she's always fine the next time I turn around. He'll be fine too.
Our last dog panted a lot on Tramadol, so that could be playing a part. And, yeah, he could be worn out from yesterday. It's a lot to recover from and the big visit to the vet could be having an effect still today. He might also be tired after the chemo, so be ready to look out for that. (Although Abby really went through her chemo quite well. It wasn't until the 4th or 5th round of it that the tiredness started to hit her. Mostly she just had a picky appetite - had to play 'what will the dog eat now?' after each round. She always did eat, but it was always something different. Plain pasta was a hit after the first round.)
Good luck and hang in there and come over to this site whenever you need to vent/worry/get some support!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
I think he was uncomfortable. I had not given him any Tramadol today before around noon. He only had 50 mg of Rimadyl this AM with breakfast. He is resting comfortably and his respiration are back to normal. He is currently dreaming away. My plan is to give him another 50 mg of Tramadol around 6pm with dinner and another 50 mg of Tramadol before we go to bed around midnight.
Tomorrow is another day and I plan on playing it by ear with the Tramadol. Maybe he won't need any. He was getting 2 pills x 3 times each day so we're cutting back.
I'm curious how long most dogs stay on Tramadol after an amputation?
Im with Abbys mom, I cant say a thing about you not worrying because I am a mess at every missed breath every cough every stumbled step or missed meal with Cooper, I seem hypersensitive since he had his amputation, in time you will still worry but you will grasp it more quickly and keep it in better perspective. It really really does help to Be More Dog and just live in the moment! By the way I dont remember meeting you and Capone, its very nice to meet you and good luck with the healing process!
Sooper Dooper Webtoed Cooper
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
Poor mom!!!!
If I had a dollar for every time I worried, I'd be rich (in just a day 
)!!!!! WE TOTALLY GET IT!!!!
Cutting to the chase here - Get him off the tramadol! They are loopy and weird on it and it doesn't do that much except make them loopy and weird! Take one and you'll see what I mean (it's a human medicine).
Are you just giving 50mgs of Rimadyl 1x per day? How big is Capone? My Comet took 75mgs daily and she was 38-ish lbs. Rimadyl will help WAY MORE than tramadol will.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I'm back!
I cut myself off ....
Isabelle's mom gave me a great idea and now I do it every night. I make frozen food treats with can dog food. I mix water with some can gravy style can food (1/2 water and 1/2 food) and put them in small containers. They are great for cooling them off and keeping them occupied.
Not worrying is easier said that done especially when you work at home (I do!). So I won't even tell you to stop worrying. But I bet if you put your mind on something like making frozen treats and watching Capone eat those, then you'll be better. OR COME OVER HERE - it's what stopped me from obsessing (sometimes)!
Lots of healing wishes!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Hey GeLena, do those frozen treats make you sleep better, I like ice cream myself if I want something cold,
, OK , I'll stop. Welcome to the family, I know when Gus was on Tramadol he was extremely restless, very heavy panting, we had to take him off. Once off he was on Rimadyl and Gabapentin, he was having Phantom pain issues, but he was alot better. I have also heard you can't take them off Tramadol cold turkey, that might have aded to his panting. This part of recovery isn't the best time of your life but try to take a deep breath, it sounds like Capone is getting along in normal fashion. As for the worrying, this crap will play games with you, from now on it seems that if our buddies blink different we think something is wrong, try to get away from that, it will wear you down. I f you think there is something wrong, talk to your vet, but trying to stay calm will make life alot easier for all of you. These guys don't have a clue about what is going on, thay adapt and move on, and you will find out once he has healed he will be just like before, he'll just hop instead of stride. Don't be afraid to ask anything, experience gives the best answers, Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
djbockman wrote:
Hey GeLena, do those frozen treats make you sleep better, I like ice cream myself if I want something cold
Oh Wow! A post by you, finally! Glad to see your fingers (your index finders) still work! Try adding a tramadol with your ice cream if you need a sleep remedy!
Disclaimer: I dislike tramadol for 3 legged dogs unless they are in severe screaming pain. They are so doped they can't hop. There. I said it.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Dizzy had just tramadol for 10 days and it made her seem really out of it and very restless at night. Out vet took her off all meds 10 days after amputation and she did have a bit of pain but nothing too bad, the reason they stopped her meds was tumour was in her leg so if the leg is gone and the wound is healed what is there to cause pain.
She does sleep a lot but then I'm not sure she was ever that active in the house. we are 7 weeks post surgery and OMG I worry everyday and have pangs of guilt, but you know what i love her and have done what we think is best for her.
i do think it is important to have some time for youself it just helps you relax and that is a good thing for your dog. This site is a great source of info and support
Dizzy diagnosed with osteosarcoma 24 may 2011 amputated same day doing fine hopping around on three legs giving the neighbourhood cats what for
Thanks for the all the kind words. Capone has been on Rimadyl and Tramadol for over a month. It was first prescribed when he first started limping. It got worse. Took him back to my vet -- x-ray revealed osterosarcoma of the left front leg. Amputation was on 7/7 - Chemo to start 7/26.
Capone is a black lab that weight around 80 lbs. He was first on Tramadol - 2 pills x twice a day and Rimadyl 100 mg twice a day (this dose has not changed) He is currently not taking this anymore (as of yesterday after AM dose) Then the Tramadol was upped to 3 pills x 2 times a day.
After going to see oncologist they dose was then changed to 2 pills x 3 times each day. He was on that dose for about 1 week post surgery. I then took the dose to 1 pill 3 times each day (he was still getting Rimadyl) at this time.
Yesterday I skipped his morning dose of Tramadol but ended up giving some to him around noon (just 1 50 mg pill) Gave him another 50 mg pill @ around 6pm and 1 more 50 mg pill around 12:45, right before I went to bed. I gave him 1 50 mg pill today around 8am with breakfast. Plan to skip the middle dose this evening (will change my mind if he seems to be in pain) Then will give him a dose before I go to bed.
Tomorrow, I plan to give him half of a pill in the AM and see how things go with less and less pain medicine. He still sleeps a lot. However, he has always been one keen on lying around the house. Never been the hyper dude -- always super chill. He has been outside twice today and been up and moved around two other times in our LR area while I'm working (as mush as possible) 🙂
He is always super excited to have dinner and stands up to greet me in the morning. My husband and I have been taking walks in the evening and he is always standing up wagging his tail when we walk in the door. Last night he even had a toy in his mouth. Hoping for the best for our 10-year-old canine gangster, Capone. (Totally does not have the personality of a gangster at all) Just a total lover and sweetheart.
No reason to tell you not to worry, since that wouldn't help anyway. You wouldn't be a good mom if you didn't worry. Just try to bear in mind that the first four weeks post-op SUCK. Just when you think he's making progress, he'll have a bad day, or do something to make you feel like this is all a big see-saw (which it kind of is). It takes a few weeks for the nerves that went to his leg to die off, and until then, he'll have good days and bad. But it will pass, and once Cooper gets over the hump it'll improve quickly. Tramadol is a mixed blessing at best - it helps the pain, but tends to make a dog stoned, dopey, and generally out of it. We hated giving it to Max, but eventually figured that it was better for him to be stoned as opposed to in pain.
Hang in there. It'll get better.
Capone has never cried out in pain due to "phantom leg pains" but he will sit up and you can watch him twitch in the area where his leg was previously. This generally happens while he is sleeping and he will sit up very quickly and you can tell he is uncomfortable. This is definitely not happening as often but it does happen. I had not planned on giving him his middle does of Tramadol these evening but if he has another twitch session that will make me quickly change my mind.
The plan for tomorrow was to give him 1/2 of a Tramadol x3 to see how things go. I'm also thinking I will just call and leave a message for my vet to see if she thinks it would be wise to give Capone Gabapentin for this leg pains.
For those who have used Gabapentin do you find this drug makes the dogs less groggy and out of it?
Capone is just very hard to get up and get moving but after he is outside he is very anxious to pull me around the yard. Most recently he has wanted to walk up the driveway and start walking down our street. I'm still not letting him get to far. He is very stubborn and wants to go for a walk 🙂 I just don't want him to overdo it.
I just wanted to say I'm extremely thankful for this website. It has been a great resource. I plan on making the $75 donation. I just need to run it by my husband.
Oh, another "Tramadol blues" thread. I had my own in Tate's second week. He had no problems with it pre-amp but had the whole panting thing, etc. post-amp. Worry, worry, worry. Man, I did a lot of it. That's the best thing about Tripawds, you can worry here and Capone won't know a thing about it!
Tate was on Gabapentin for a time and didn't have seem to have any issues with it
Max's dad is right, it's going to suck and you're going to drive yourself crazy trying to help Capone feel better and you won't know if you're doing the right thing or not. Just know it really does get better.
Be very, very happy you have tail wags! Can you trust Capone to be self-limiting? Maybe a bit of normalcy (a walk) is just what he needs.
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
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