Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi All.
I joined about a week ago when olive had her initial surgery and have been overwhelmed by how supportive you have all been. My initial post was attached to someone else's experience and I have therefore started a new topic as suggested. The initial post for background info was
"Olive my bulldog had her surgery today. They removed her right hind leg. I have to say I feel very overwhelmed about it all and I'm not sure I know what I'm doing to care for her correctly hence my need to reach out. She only came home about 6/7 hours ago she was out of it when I picked her up from the vets. She has roused once slightly but when she did she moved and cried in pain but eventually managed to go back to sleep. She still seems pretty out of it. Wont eat or drink. I'm concerned her pain meds from her surgery will wear off before she actually eats something to take the ones I have for her at home. Does anyone have any advice about any of this and what to expect and what maybe I'm over worrying about? "
The response and support has been greatly appreciated.
Olive had her check up at the vets again today this has been her second one. They don't appear to be concerned about her wound it appears to be healing nicely. In physical terms she is doing really well. She is still trying to do all the things she used to. Within 2/3 days she had managed to escape her pen and get up onto the sofa. She is able to balance herself whilst eating, drinking etc and has been up and walking from day 2/3 and has surpassed any expectation I had in terms of mobility. My concerns are now with regard to her presentation generally. She is super lethargic and is now refusing any form of food. I could get her to eat a little initially day 2/3 from both hand and her bowl but she now is disinterested. I've tried to cook her chicken, fish etc hoping that the scent will entice her but to no avail. I've read the articles that this may relate to low mood, depression etc following surgery and will all be part of her recovery. I just wonder whether anyone has any insight on how long this may last, I assume that this, as with people, will be dependent on their individuality. She is however 7 days post surgery. Her antibiotics are at an end now. She does take daily anti-inflammatory for arthritis in her other limbs but she has always taken this and other than that she is only taking 2 Pardale V every 8 hours. I'm not sure how much this should effect her appetite. The vet isn't concerned but after such a good presentation post surgery so early one I am concerned now this has dwindled. I guess I am just looking for some reassurance that this may only last for a few weeks and she will end up being as happy as she was before and whether others have had similar experiences. Thanks in advance
Cat xx
So good to hear from you and to know Olive is reclaiming her position on the couch!! I always think that one act shows dog is well on the road to recovery.
Cert not a Vet and not giving Bet advice, but most likely the lethargy and not wanting to eat could be pain. I'm not all that familiar with the pain med she's on (has codeine??), most dogs we see here are on Gabapentin.
And yes, you are right, the first several days after surgery they still have some strong hospital pain meds in them to help them feel a bit more "active". The first week is when some pain meds tweaking is usually needed. So talk with your Bet about switching to Gabapentin. How much does Olive weigh? Dosage and frequency can vary from every eight hours to every twelve hours depending on the specific needs of the dog, weight, etc.
You could also ask the Bet for an appetite stimulant.
Keep trying any yummy food you can get her to eat. Sometimes having someone she really likes coming over with a cheeseburger is all that it takes to change mood and inrease the appetite.
Let us know what rhe Vet says. Hang in ther. Recovery does6 last furever, right now it feels like it though! Seven days out is not a long time to recov from MAJOR surgery.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Hello Cat..
This is Jeane and Arbi.. I am so glad you have started your own thread here. I have been amazed at the love, support and comfort I have received from this group.. I know you have too.
I understand how concerned you are for your sweet Olive. I feel the same way. Arbi has been on Gabapentin and Galliprant. That combination seems to do the job and keeping her pain under control. She too slept a lot and still does.. two weeks out.
There was a time when Arbi didn't eat... so I blended up her food.. a very watery slurry so she didn't have to chew.. simply drink. Perhaps something like that would appeal to Olive. I know you would do anything to make sure she takes in some nutrition to help with her healing.
I know that you love Olive with all your heart... there were times I just put my face next to Arbi and we would literally breathed the same air...
Know that you have a friend here and I am sending prayers for you🙏 and Olive.🙏.. Jeane ❤️🐾
Cat I'm so glad you started a new topic, thank you!
I looked up Pardale V, that's often used in the UK and not so much here. It does sound like a good pain reliever. But I would ask your vet for some Gabapentin for her. It's a medication used globally for pets and people to reduce nerve pain. If she didn't get any, she should now. 7 days is not a long time but her behavior is typical of pain signals we see in dogs who have uncontrolled amputation pain.
Let us know what the vet says OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi All
Many thanks for the responses and well wishes. I've had a number of visits to the vets over the last week. We now have a supply of Gabapentin as well as Mirtazapine to try and enhance her appetite. It is still quite difficult to get any of the medication into her. I have tried to dissolve the Mirtazapine to get that into her so she then eats which allows me to get the Gabapentin into her. It's very hit and miss to be honest. I'm trying to just hand feed her bits as and when she appears willing to try to eat anything. I may well take up the idea of processing her some food in order that she finds it easier as chewing does seem to be a bit of a chore.
xx
Oh yay that you got a good supply going. Try these tips to give pain meds. You may be surprised at how some of the things we do to administer meds are really things that turn our pets off from eating. Like touching the meds with our hands, or putting them in their main meal. Dogs have such an incredible sense of smell they can smell pill residue even when their bowl has been run through a dishwasher!
For best results, keep the meds far from her main food, hide them in a rotating supply of stinky cheese, meats, etc, and try feeding her main meals on paper plates. See:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Online
Hi and a late welcome to you and Olive.
It sounds like she isn't eating much but I thought I would share a video I made with some tips on giving pills. My first Pug Maggie, who lost a rear leg to mast cell cancer, was really, really hard to pill. She had an amazing ability to hide the pill in her cheek and wait until I walked away to spit it out. And when Mag found a pill in a food like cheese she wouldn't eat cheese again for weeks. Contrast that with her little sis Tani who would almost swallow her pills without any coating, and if she did spit a pill out she could watch me re-coat it and she would happily take it!
My two dogs now are pretty easy to pill but Elly, the white Tripawd in the video, tends to carefully sniff food I offer before she takes it. I hope something in the video might help, and I hope Olive gets her appetite back!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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