Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Tina & Boomer, I don't have much to add since others have already offered good advice but just wanted to say hang in there. It does take some dogs a little longer than the usual 2 weeks to get back to their old selves. He'll get there!
Hang in there and hope he feels better soon!
Jackie, Angel 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!
Definitely could be overworked muscles. About two weeks in Zeus tweaked his back and seemed reluctant to walk as much - also cried a little when we carried him. It took a week or so, but it finally worked itself out. We couldn't tell for sure where the pain was so we did make a trip to the vet. Dr. R felt around and immediately told us it was his back muscles spasming. We were so relieved he hadn't hurt one of the remaining legs. Moist heat worked wonders for making him feel better.
As for the muscle twitching, it could be a pain response or it very well could be from the fall. The couple of times that Zeus has tumbled onto the missing leg area, I will notice some twitching and then he most certainly pouts about it. In fact, last night he toppled over while playing (almost gave me heart failure and most certainly made me give the husband "the look" for playing a bit too hard). He almost immediately quit playing, laid down on his mattress and mushed his head into his pillows. I think he was a bit startled and a bit embarrassed. 
Hoping Boomer feels better today!
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
We had an incident with Travis Ray a couple months after his amputation where he slipped and landed on the amputation site and yelped in pain. We gave him a tramadol and that seemed to help, but it took him a day or longer to fully recover. In Travis' case I think he landed on the stub of the femur that is left after a mid-shaft femural amputation. Until the muscles and tissues fully heal I assume they are more sensitive. Other than that the three rear leg amputees here seem to be able to slide around on what is left after the amputation and not have any pain or problems.
You also mention having nerve drugs, which I assume is gabepentin. If you have gabepentin you can ask your vet if Boomer's symptoms are consistent with nerve pain that would indicate using it. Generally with rear leg amputees this seems to be less of an issue, but for the dogs that have needed it gabepentin has been helpful.
Ralph
Hope Boomer is feeling better soon... I know it's hard not to read more into their apparent discomfort, especially after going through a life-altering diagnosis and surgery. However, this recovery business takes a different amount of time for everypawdy. Follow Boomer's lead -- if he's not feeling up to a walk, don't stress about it... Let him rest, and then tomorrow, try again. The only way you'll get through this with your sanity intact is to just take it one day at a time, and be patient with yourself.
The stump twitchy thing -- Rio did that every time she went to sleep. I think she was doing all the stuff in her dreams that she'd used to do when she was awake. But I have to admit, it was a bit disconcerting to see all that twitching about when she was supposed to be relaxed...
Rio's momma, Micki
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Super B - hang on there, buddy! I twitch in my sleep too. Also, if you make a grumbly sound when you want a massage, your Mom will probably come running. I wasn't sure what was happening when my Mom started the massages, but now I ask for one every day and it helps me feel good. Last week I stayed with some friends and it took me 3 days to train the Lady in massage but finally she learned. Humans are a little slow.
Take care and don't worry too much - I will look for an update.
-Ajax
Lisa,
Poor Zeus getting embarrassed! I can sympathize with the almost getting heart failure. We have started massages, heat and getting back on tramadol today. He seems to be doing better.
Thanks for the input. Glad Boomer isn’t the only one who is twitchy.
Ralph,
We talked about putting Boomer back on the gabapentin today but are going to wait and see if the tramadol will do the trick. Boomers amputation is at the hip and I didn’t see if his hip made contact with the floor when he slipped. He seems to be doing pretty good today, still not up for a walk yet though.
By the way…I love the video of Cody Ray and Wyatt Ray playing 3 weeks after his amputation.
Micki,
I think Boomer dreams about running the whole time he is asleep. He is constant motion and it is disheartening sometimes. He is resting today and like you say…we will try again tomorrow.
Hey Ajax,
Mom told me I could reply to you because she doesn’t want to admit that I am doing a pretty good job training her. (All with great advice from you on how to). 3 days to train the lady, she really was a slow learner.
Loving those massages,
Boomer
Baby's asking for a message. We should have a message party! (Maybe humans, too!)
Hugs and Rubs
Judy and Baby
I agree, we should set up a tripawds massage pawty! That is a great idea! Now how do we get it pulled together? Maybe we could do a stop what you are doing at a certain time and massage your tripawd, make sure a friend is present to give you a massage too? This might work.
Hugs,
Boomer and Tina
Fun! Maybe on a Sunday evening?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ajax is in! But he says could someone please notify Dad of his responsibilities vis a vis Ajax's masseuse?
Baby told me I had to write and admit I'm a teacher who couldn't even spell 'massage'. She's all about honesty and 'fessing up'.
Ah, well... I enjoy messages and massages. (hee hee)
Feeling good today, Boomer?
Wags and the sound of Baby laughing at me.
Judy and Baby
and Spirit Daisy 
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