Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Marley is 13 days Post-Amp left hind leg. Osteosarcoma was at femoral head. FHO done on May 1st. Tumor grew at surgical site. No mets on chest rads as of 6/6. Amp done 6/13. Surgeon noted bony changes to the ascetabulum and pelvic bone as well as the soft tissue during amp. Removed as much of the damaged soft tissue as he could. Marley is a 50 pound pitbull X. She has been on 50mg Tramadol 2x per day. 100 mg Gabapentin at night only. 5 mg Prednisone (she is also Addisonian) in the AM. She just finished her Cephalexin over the weekend.
Overall, she had been doing great post-amp. She just started struggling the last 24 hours. She whined and groaned all night. And that is continuing today. No shaking/hiding which was her normal pain presentation prior to amp but she is restless and visibly uncomfortable. Not able to stay in the same position for too long. She is also breathing heavier than normal as well.
She is eating normally. Is happy to get up and walk around. Wags her tail when she sees the people she loves.
Anyone else experience anything like this? Really hoping this is a temporary thing and not the start of her downhill decline. 🙁
It could just be muscle pain from using different muscles to walk. Murphy had that happen, probably around the same time. We used to do a lot of massage to his back, hips & legs (he had a front leg removed), and that always seemed to help.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
midnighter94 said
It could just be muscle pain from using different muscles to walk. Murphy had that happen, probably around the same time. We used to do a lot of massage to his back, hips & legs (he had a front leg removed), and that always seemed to help.Donna
Thank you Donna! We will try some massage this evening and see if that helps. I hesitate to up the pain meds because she has been doing great on the post-amp pain meds and I don't want her too dopey that she is wobbly (the gabapentin can definitely do that to her.) She has definitely been doing some things that may have been potentially pushing her limits. She decided it was a good idea to jump off the bed this morning when we woke up. She did not fall or hurt herself and bounced right away to the backdoor but she normally waits for me to pick her up and lift her off.
Thanks for the tip!
Two weeks is still pretty early in the recovery process, Marley may just be overdoing it. Please review the various pain management articles and podcasts in the Tripawds News blog for tips to determine if she is in pain.
Regarding exercise, consider seeing a CCRT or CCRP for a professional evaluation and exercises you can do at home. The Tripawds Foundation - Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab - may even pay for your first visit! Or, checkout the recommended starter exercises or download Loving Life On Three Legs for more helpful tips, articles, and how-to videos.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
admin said
Two weeks is still pretty early in the recovery process, Marley may just be overdoing it. Please review the various pain management articles and podcasts in the Tripawds News blog for tips to determine if she is in pain.Regarding exercise, consider seeing a CCRT or CCRP for a professional evaluation and exercises you can do at home. The Tripawds Foundation - Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab - may even pay for your first visit! Or, checkout the recommended starter exercises or download Loving Life On Three Legs for more helpful tips, articles, and how-to videos.
Thanks Jerry. Will do some additional reading tonight. We do have an appointment scheduled with Dr. Kern. She is a CCRP. We are not scheduled until July 19th as that was her first opening. We are still a bit away from that appointment but looking forward to some great educational assistance from her.
I hope she feels better soon, and it does sound like she could have overdone it!!
Tracy & Zatoichi
Tracy & Warrior Angel Zatoichi 💓
Zato was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October 2016. He triumphed through radiation and amputation with dignity and grace. After living a life of love and happiness, Zato earned his angel wings on February 19, 2018. Read his story here.
Murphy usually was fine when he first did things, it was usually later that he felt the pain, so it could be the jump off the bed that did it. 2 weeks is still a bit early, but getting back to normal activities means that she must be starting to feel better!
It looks like a nice facility! We're Downriver and there isn't anyplace close-by for us. We ended up taking Murphy out to Dexter, which is about a 45 minute drive, to Animal Rehabilitation Facility (ARF) to get some chiropractic adjustments. It helped quite a bit, I wish I had started going sooner. She did give us exercises to do with him to help build up his core, too.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
midnighter94 said
Murphy usually was fine when he first did things, it was usually later that he felt the pain, so it could be the jump off the bed that did it. 2 weeks is still a bit early, but getting back to normal activities means that she must be starting to feel better!It looks like a nice facility! We're Downriver and there isn't anyplace close-by for us. We ended up taking Murphy out to Dexter, which is about a 45 minute drive, to Animal Rehabilitation Facility (ARF) to get some chiropractic adjustments. It helped quite a bit, I wish I had started going sooner. She did give us exercises to do with him to help build up his core, too.
Donna
Thanks Donna! She seemed to be in less pain yesterday afternoon and the whining/groaning stopped. She just seems...different. I can't quite put my finger on it. Obviously keeping a very close and watchful eye on her.
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