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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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2 weeks 4 days Boomer seems uncomfortable
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Kansas City
Member Since:
28 January 2012
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20 February 2012 - 5:02 pm
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It has been 2 weeks and 4 days since Boomers amputation.  Tonight he is panting and laying with his head up high on the couch arm, he hasn't laid like this before.  He has been off pain meds for a few days now and hadn't shown any signs of discomfort before now.  Has anyone experienced this before?  Boomer did stairs 3 times yesterday and didn't want to go for his walk.  Today he has done the stairs twice and not been for his walk.  Do you think the stairs might have aggravated his condition?  He also had a slip today.  Any advice?  I am concerned more than normal.  He has also had a lot of twitching or shaking type action in his back left area by his amputation site.

Thanks,

Tina 

knoxville, tn
Member Since:
12 February 2010
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20 February 2012 - 5:15 pm
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we think (and no, we have no medical expertise) it's the slip...   gayle would get 'skiddish' if she took a spill, or slip...and would take a few days to get back to her normal self...  hope you find tomorrow is better!!

 

charon & spirit gayle

Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included).  She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.

Love Never Ends

http://etgayle

Member Since:
18 January 2012
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20 February 2012 - 5:18 pm
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Poor Boomer!  and poor worried Pawrents!  I would be heading to the vet, tomorrow, but then I'm about the same stage and experience you are.  I hope some more experienced folks have more wisdom for you.  Baby's mood and energy seemed to dip a couple days ago, but now she's perked back up.  I'm hoping for an energy boost as we start power mushrooms. 

I hope he wakes up in the morning raring to go.   

Hugs and Wags,

Judy and Baby

Caledonia MI
Member Since:
13 October 2011
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20 February 2012 - 5:42 pm
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My dog Levi still didn't seem to be doing good at about day 16...my vet gave me methocarbomol which is a muscle relaxer. She said sometimes tripawds muscles get stiff because they are new to the movements. This drug did wonders for us. Something to ask about maybe??

Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.

Kansas City
Member Since:
28 January 2012
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20 February 2012 - 5:54 pm
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Charon,

You are probably right; the slip may have pulled something.  He seems very tense.  I gave him ½ dose of duramaxx and his is taking a medicinal nap right now stretched out on the couch and has stopped panting. 

Judy,

If he isn’t better in the morning you can bet your socks we are heading straight for the vet to get him a once over and make sure he is ok.  If he is ok, I am going to inquire if it is ok to take him to a chiropractor this early after surgery for an adjustment. 

Levi’s pawrent,

I am going to ask the vet about methocarbomol tomorrow if Boomer isn’t doing any better.  Thanks for the recommendation.  Boomer still has his nerve pills, tramadol and duramaxx left.  The ½ dose of duramaxx seems to have taken the edge off for now.  It is supposed to help with inflammation and pain.

Thank you all for your support here.  Being 18 days out, I thought the rough days were behind me.  Life is full of surprises that bring worries.

You are all wonderful,

Tina

Caledonia MI
Member Since:
13 October 2011
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20 February 2012 - 6:01 pm
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We go to the chiropractor too. It really helps Levi! Takes about 3 adjustments but then he is great! Good Luck. It will get better! We jog a couple miles together every day. Sometimes up to 5 miles! Hang in there

Erica and Levi

Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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20 February 2012 - 6:06 pm
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Hey Tina, sorry to hear he's not feeling spunky. I agree with Charon, sounds like the slip might have been the thing that triggered his behavior. I'm betting that he's just tired. Seems like when Tripawds start to get their routine back even just a little bit they can overdo it and tire themselves out. The biggest ups and downs after the recovery phase is technically over, are finding the "new normal" and balance of getting just the right amount of exercise, without overdoing it to exhaustion.

Try not to worry, I'm sure he'll feel better tomorrow. Keep us posted!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
7 February 2012
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20 February 2012 - 6:20 pm
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Poor Boomer...the panting definitely sounds like pain. We have tramadol here, and that works well, safely and relatively quickly. If you're at the vet, perhaps you could ask about having an anti inflammatory as well for now...especially if Boomer has twisted a muscle a bit. The anti inflammatory works differently than the pain pills, we have been on both for ages, though now at 2 weeks 1 day, we are off the pain pill.  We have previcox, which worked better for us than the rimadyl (carpreve is another name for this) that we were on long term.

It's a real trial trying to work out what Gandalf can do/should do, so I understand how difficult it must be for you. I just rearranged the house so there are very few obstacles, all rugs, no stairs.

Also, for a long time, I've done what a Bowen therapy person taught me to do...you do a kind of pinching massage (not hard!) all the way down the spine. You then can see immediately where is sore, and gentle rubs relieve any soreness. I do this a few times a day.

all the best, hope Boomer feels better really soon.

Kansas City
Member Since:
28 January 2012
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20 February 2012 - 6:26 pm
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Erica,

2-5 mile runs as a tripawd.  That is amazing.  I have a friend who works for an animal chiropractor so I will hopefully get Boomer in there soon.  She says the chiropractor has no bedside manner but works miracles with the patients.

“Jerry”

I sure hope he is better tomorrow.  He has a ton of twitching where his leg should be.  I am wondering if this slip brought on phantom pains.  The Duramaxx didn’t do enough for him so I gave him a tramadol ¼ dose.  He is at least resting right now.  I also still have a nerve pill for phantom pains if he isn’t doing better by bedtime with the spasms/twitching.

I will let you know if we go to the vet tomorrow and what he says.

Thank you to my favorite therapist,

Tina

Kansas City
Member Since:
28 January 2012
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20 February 2012 - 6:33 pm
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Gandalfs pawrent,

I like that advice about the light pinching massage and gentle rubs.  Also, I gave him an anti-inflammatory ½ dose of duramaxx another form of rimadyl.  I don’t like the side effects of it though and will ask my vet about the previcox for occasions like this.  Thank you for the input.  It is heartbreaking seeing him take a step back in his recovery.

Las Vegas, Nevada
Member Since:
14 August 2009
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11
20 February 2012 - 8:07 pm
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So sorry to hear about Boomer!

 

Is there a reason you only gave a 1/2 dosage of the Deramaxx?   If it were me, I'd give him a full dosage.  If there is inflammation, it will knock it out.   It would be like us taking a 1/2 of ibuprofen when we need the full one!

Instead of Previcox, ask your vet for Metacam (meloxicam).  It seems to have less stomach side effects and is becoming the drug of choice.  And you can get it cheaply at your regular pharmacy if the vet writes you a RX.

I would definitely give a little massage on his neck and back to see if it relieves the tension.  You can feel the tension with your fingers and you can just gently massage it out the muscles.  

You can also put a heating pad on his back.  I would put a damp dish towel in the microwave to warm it up and put it on Comet's back and then I placed a heating pad on low on her back. To hold it all in place, I put heavy towels on top.  I also put a floor fan on her so she'd not get too hot. 

We took methocarbamol - muscle relaxer in the last year of Comet's life (keeping in mind she was a tripawd for 12+ years).  It did seem to help - we gave it at night because it can make them sleepy.  It won't hurt to have some on hand.  It's another RX you can get from a pharmacy.

Try not to worry, it's still so early.  And if Boomer was active and slipped, that can have an impact on his body. 

Lots of good thoughts!

 

Her Retired AvatarComet - 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.

Kansas City
Member Since:
28 January 2012
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20 February 2012 - 8:21 pm
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I gave ½ a dose because duramaxx really upsets his stomach and makes him vomit.  I have been giving him gentle massage (seems to help some, he fell asleep while I was doing it) and love the idea about the damp towel in the microwave.  I am going to try that and see if it gives him the relief he needs.  Also, I will ask the vet about the meds you recommend.  Thank you.  I am so stressed because of his slip today and feel it is my fault.  If I had been more careful with the gate, the rugs and watching maybe it wouldn’t have happened.  Thank you for your good thoughts, don’t know what I would do without the help I get here.

Stressed out Mom of Boomer, Tina

krun15
13
20 February 2012 - 8:40 pm
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Tina,
Everyone has given you good advice for Boomer- now be sure to give yourself a break too! Remember Boomer will feed off your emotions so you need to be calm and relaxed around him (even if you have to pretend!).
I'm sure you are doing the best you can with him- you can't watch him 24/7. You will get past this bump and Boomer will be fine.

I spent almost 4 years with Tri-pug Maggie, there were slips, falls and sometimes soreness. But she always got over it.

End of pep talk! I would add smilies or something but I am on my iPad and they don't seem to work.

I hope Boomer feels better soon.

Karen and the pugapalooza

Orange County, CA
Member Since:
28 November 2008
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20 February 2012 - 8:53 pm
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Hi Boomer's Family!  Our Max wasn't back to his "normal" self until a little over 4 weeks after surgery.  All dogs are different in their recovery times.  One problem that we had with Max was that he got a couple charlie horses after the surgery.  So, adding that pain on top of a major surgery and all the meds, it was quite a challenge.  For the charlie horses, we used a hot water bottle for warmth, and soft massages.  But I agree with others here:  probably the slip has contributed to him being uncomfortable tonight.  Whenever I had a question, I called the emergency vet (also where Max had his surgery and chemotherapy treatments).  I sure hope Super Boomer starts feeling well soon!

Member Since:
18 January 2012
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20 February 2012 - 9:10 pm
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Just my opinion (as a nurse) -I would not give 1/2 a dose of any med.  If Dermaxx upsets his stomach -maybe try to switch to Rimadyl or try to give the meds with food.  I am basically doing hospice care with my boy and I have no problem giving him the max dose of pain meds.  When the day comes that the meds are longer working I know I will have to make the decision but until then it's quality of life measures.

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