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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Amputation in Dog with total hip replacement, experience?
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Member Since:
15 January 2010
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31 January 2010 - 10:17 am
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Thanks everyone. She's back on it and I spoke to the vet on call and he agreed that it's better to stay ahead of the pain even if she's not displaying obvious signs of discomfort. Maybe it was phantom pain last night. Poor puppy. I had thought I would move back up stairs to my room tonight but looks like Mom and Auggie will be having another slumber party tonight. The cat's thrilled, gets to sleep in the big bed all by herself. My son's home for the first night since Auggie's come home and he wants in on the slumber party. I can only imagine how much sleep we'll be getting tonight.

On The Road


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31 January 2010 - 12:29 pm
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Panting is a common side-effect from tramadol, but sudden unexpected yelps can indicate phantom pain . Consider reviewing these Tips for Managing Phantom Limb Pain in Dogs from the Tripawds Downloads blog if you have not already done so.

As far as the "slumber parties" go, don't forget to focus on healing the body and allow Auggie to regain her strength on her own as she might in the wild, without growing dependent on your constant attention.

We'll be posting a series of video interviews about pain mangement and helping dogs cope with recovery soon. Stay tuned!

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

Las Vegas, Nevada
Member Since:
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31 January 2010 - 1:37 pm
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As far as the "slumber parties" go, don't forget to focus on healing the body and allow Auggie to regain her strength on her own as she might in the wild, without growing dependent on your constant attention.

Egads! Someone has hijacked our sweet Admin! 

It sounds like Mom has to sleep downstairs since she can't carry Auggie upstairs.  Right mom?  I give constant attention to my 'non-ailing' Comet - so, you can imagine when she has surgery!  I won't even let her spend the night at the vet's since no one is there.  And she will cry all night long like a baby.  But I wouldn't have it any other way!

 I want constant attention after I had surgery!  If I had an amputation, I'd demand it!

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.

On Tour

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20 January 2009
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31 January 2010 - 2:13 pm
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cometdog said:

…Someone has hijacked our sweet Admin! 


Nah, he's just sharing some of the "Tough Love" advice from our upcoming video interview with the founding doctors of California Animal Rehab. It's an understandably touchy subject, but too many times we hear from members who baby their pups then wonder why they whimper when left alone.

If sleeping on the floor next to your dog is normal behavior, then by all means keep it up! The best thing we can do for them during recovery is to treat them as if everything is perfectly normal. By the way, who ever said that Admin guy was sweet?

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1 February 2010 - 10:23 am
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Outside this audience, I'd be happy to report that sleeping on the floor next to my wonderful dog is not actually my normal behavior but in this context I'm a little cautious to admit that she normally sleeps on the floor next to my bed (rather than her on the bed or me on the floor). The good news which may be considered an acceptable compromise in this situation is because I can’t (in fact) take her upstairs we are now sleeping in the downstairs playroom that has a pull out bed. I’m on the bed and she’s on the floor. I’m sure this is a serious violation of TMI!

By the way, tough love in our house usually runs to only one hard boiled egg (versus 2) followed by only one hour of walking in the woods (versus 2). So this whole miserable experience from Auggie’s perspective is a crash course in tough love. Although, I’ve just roasted my first duck and it’s being followed in the oven by mackerel and cod (the new diet from our new wonderful holistic vet Dr.Kristin Rennie) so Auggie’s culinary indulgence has just gone off the charts.

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everyone’s input!

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2 February 2010 - 6:31 am
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I personally have a tough time with tough love in the 2 weeks post-op. I guess I'm just a softie at heart! But Holly seemed to need the extra love and attention during that period, and didn't continue to demand it once she was feeling better so I think it was the right thing to do for her. Each dog is different in what they need after surgery - so I'd say do what you feel is right in your heart! Good luck, Augie - we hope you're back walking in the woods soon!
Holly and Holly's mom

Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!

http://anyemery.....ipawds.com

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2 February 2010 - 6:31 am
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And the new diet sounds awesome, too!

Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!

http://anyemery.....ipawds.com

Member Since:
15 January 2010
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5 February 2010 - 7:46 am
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Day 7 post surgery. This isn't much fun, understatement. Auggie has never, ever been this tired before and she's had two hip replacement surgeries and emergency abdominal surgery (she ate my son's spiderman action figure when she was 9 months old, it is a classic ultrasound picture) so I've had some experience with her rehab behavior on tramadol. I emailed Dr.Wood and he said it isn't uncommon for dogs to have a really good day or two post surgery and then crash. She's not in whining or yelping pain but all she is doing is sleeping. I can barely get her up to eat. She'll eat but it takes hand feeding.

Her mobility is okay. We have a backyard full of ice thanks to melting and freezing snow which has made it more difficult for her get around. I'm worried that maybe the lethary is more related to the cancer than amputation. Her incision is absolutely clean and she doesn't have a fever. We're scheduled to get her staples out on Monday so we'll be seeing Dr.Wood which will be followed by an appointment to the holistic vet for acupuncture. I'm hoping they can make me believe that this is normal post-op. The stories I read on the site all seem to say that by now Auggie should be resuming her normal behavior. On an up note, I've spent hours with her head in my lap while she snored away. Normally, there isn't much sitting down done in this house. Help, did anyone have this experience?

Member Since:
22 December 2009
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5 February 2010 - 8:27 am
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I'm sorry Auggie is having a hard time. I don't feel at 7 days post surgery she should be back to her normal self. In our experience Harley wasn't. We didn't have problems with Harley not wanting to eat, but I know I have read of other people having to hand feed their dogs. We had trouble figuring out the correct amount of Tramadol for him, but if you are familiar with the drug, you would know what Auggie can/should have. After we figured out he was getting too much Tramadol, things for us improved, but Harley was still not himself. All he wanted to do was cuddle and sleep. I really think everyone is right when they talk about the two weeks needed for recovery.

I know it's hard. There were times in the first two weeks I would sit and cry and second guess our decision to do this. Now, almost 3 months later, I am so thankful for the amputation.

I hope things improve. Enjoy the head in your lap!!

-Gwen & Harley

Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.

Winnipeg
Member Since:
13 July 2009
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5 February 2010 - 8:49 am
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Hi Auggie and family

No - you are definitely not alone. Tazzie was lively on the way home from the hospital and the first night. Then he impersonated a block of cement for the next two plus weeks. I could hardly get him up once per day. He did get up to eat but that was it. Eventually I saw that he did get up to pee or poo once a day, usually in the mid to late afternoon, but that was it. One pee a day, brother. We were on an isolated ranch so there was not much stimulation for him. Even so, he hardly perked up when the neighbour dog came over. He mostly lay outside on his own (it was summer), which is really unusual for him.

It helped to have some humans visit. He did perk up for that. Then I took to driving him to town to visit the humans. However, I also had to drive right over him to force him to get up. I was really worried and searched the tripawds archives extensively. There have been other slow starters, usually larger or bigger dogs. Each day after two weeks, things got a bit better. Getting into a setting with more dogs and general stimulation seemed to make the biggest difference.

Tazzie also re-learned to walk in a very slow deliberate fashion. After he was better, the vet found serious hip issues. I expect he probably had more trouble learning to walk due to those issues. I don't think it was the cancer causing him to be a slow-starter. He improved a lot from week three on and was in great form at 6 to 8 weeks.

Has Auggie's heart checked out okay? That has slowed down a few of the giant dogs, but I realize that Auggie is not a giant breed.

Similar to Auggie, Tazzie sailed through previous recoveries such as a full stomach torsion 6 weeks prior to his OSA diagnosis.

I'd love to see the spiderman US. Maybe that can be an entry for the 'funniest (and scariest) tripawd picture'.

Susan

Portage Lake, Maine
Member Since:
8 December 2009
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5 February 2010 - 9:41 am
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You are not alone Auggie's Mom.  Yup - an understatement for sure on it not being fun.  THE most stressful time in my life to date!

Four days after surgery, my dog went off her food, had a low grade fever for two weeks.  I had to hand feed her things that maybe she might eat.  Dry kibble worked best(she's raw fed)....but even that, at times, I had to force one piece in her mouth, then she'd take them ONE PIECE at a time after that...fed her several times a day to get little meals into her.  Fried eggs worked well for a time.  Other things didn't.  Canned food worked a bit...than she refused that.  All hand fed - making a big happy deal out of her eating to encourage her to eat!  Drank ALOT during this timeframe.  She was miserable.  So was I.  Two vets couldn't figure out what was wrong.  Changed antibiotics, put her on stomach meds, gave her fluids, took her off pain meds, checked her urine, checked her blood...gave her homeopathic remedy of Belladonna to get her fever down and gradually with that and fluids, her fever started to break and then she started to eat on her own again. 

If it weren't for my sister(who is a Vet Tech) I would NOT of gotten thru this emotionally.  I was on the phone with her constantly(we lilve four hours apart).  The vets were basically useless  - no answers for me ......just racking up more bills.  She works for a holiistic vet and my sister was the one that told me to give her Belladonna. 

I feel your pain....I hope Auggie improves...............gawd, do I feel your pain.  Right down to the ice/snow in your yard - I live in Maine...the day we brought her home from the vets(October) it had snowed 3-4 inches just to make things even more miserable in getting her around.

Keep us posted......MANY hugs from here in Maine...

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09

Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13

http://maggie.t.....t-24-2013/

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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5 February 2010 - 12:02 pm
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It's still very early in Auggie's recovery. What she needs most now, is time to recuperate and lots of rest between minimal activity. Try to take things one day at a time and she'll regain her strength. Just don't let her overdo it too soon. If she's extra tired one day, review her activity level from the day previous and cut back. Maggie's suggestion about K9 Fuel muscle builder for dogs may also be worth considering. Thanks for the update, and best wishes!

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

Las Vegas, Nevada
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5 February 2010 - 2:08 pm
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First, my bad - I thought all the admins were sweet! 

POO - on tough love!  I thought that was the old way vets thought.  My experience with a femur head removal a long time ago was to NOT give any pain meds.  The reason is because the vet wanted to dog to not walk.  That was just stupid and that was the old way to do vet medicine.  Now, my baby gets a morphine patch thanks to vet's new way of thinking on pain!  Even after a surgery, my vet writes on the discharge papers, "Lots of TLC".   

Methinks mommy is thinking too much about Auggie's cancer.  Your baby just went through a major surgery!  And she is probably confused about the inability to walk.  She may be slightly depressed with the new adjustment, too.

Relax and give it a bit more time. Everyone heals differently including dogs.

Best wishes!

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.

krun15
59
5 February 2010 - 10:25 pm
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Hi Auggie's people,

While you might find a couple of stories on this site about dogs doing really well at day 7, many here had a rough 2 weeks minimum.  My pug Maggie was a slow adapter- she was not happy for several weeks after surgery, and there were no complications.  She just healed and coped on her own time schedule.  She did not want to eat much until she was off the pain meds.  I too spent time hand feeding and finding things she would eat.  At the risk of spoiling (sorry admin) it is my opinion that during the healing process it is important to get her to eat anything, even if it means extra treats for now.

If everything else checks out, and she is just sleeping she probably needs the time to heal.  Mag was only up for bathroom breaks and occasional food and water (when she would eat) for at least two weeks.

Follow Auggies lead for now- she will become more active when she is ready.

Karen and the pug girls

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