Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi All--well since having Stacy off all pain meds since Monday she now is constantly panting. Evenings/middle of the night appear to be worse. Last night she was so fidgety and moving around. Could not get comfortable. Also last night and twice today she has snapped at me, which is something she has never done. All I wanted her to do was get up to go potty. Barely touched her backside to motion get up. Good thing my hand was quicker than her mouth!
So called vet. She prescribed 10 mg Diazepam for anxiety. Well I don't think I'll be giving a second dose of that!! She is a zombie. And now having trouble walking, which she has been getting around well so far. Had to at least get her to a comfy bed til this dose wears off. So sitting here for the next 6-10 hours waiting.
Hope she doesn't take this as a backslide and not want to get up on her own.
I'm at my wits end with all this.
I don't believe she is in pain. Sleeps on her stitches. I just don't know what is causing all this panting and nipping. Plus so far she has not gone to the door and barked like in the past to let me know she needs to go potty. Hoping that will return when she is feeling herself again.
My vet feels the panting is because she is still kinda in shock/dealing with the lose of her limb.
Any thoughts on all of the above is greatly appreciated.
Have a good weekend
Stacy and Laura
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Last Saturday, 3 days after surgery, Jack screamed in the middle of the night and after he calmed down he was panting really hard all night (until he fell asleep) and after he woke in the morning. We took him to the vet for the screaming part and he stayed a couple days. The doctor perscribed Gabapentin and since we've had him back, he has not been panting at all. I'm not sure if the 2 are related, but it could be an anxiety/phantom pain thing.
Oh Laura, I'm so sorry things are going so ruff for you both. There are bright spots here, which is that she's eating, and you don't believe she's in pain, right? Hang on to those positive things, soon more will start to appear. We think your vet is right; she's doing fine, and some dogs just take longer to adjust, just like people. She's just cranky!
Many other dogs here have snapped at their humans during their recovery times, when they never did before. After I lost my leg, I would snap at dogs when they sneaked up behind me, and that was something I never ever did in the past.
It does sound like she wants to be left alone. It's exactly what dogs instinctively do in the wild. Maybe you might want to just kind of lay low and keep an eye on her without her really knowing it. Try not to hover (we know it's hard not to!). Let her tell you when she has to go potty, and when she wants to eat. Maybe this is all she needs, a few days of quiet time to gather up her strength, get familiar with her body, and understand that she doesn't have to feel defensive about her new situation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am sorry you are having such a difficult time. The first 2 weeks were really hard for my dog and for me too. When I removed Beacon's fentenyl (sp.) patch as I was instructed, he trembled all day. Trembling is a sign of pain so I was really worried. The oncologist said that he "missed" his patch which I took to mean that he was heaving slight withdrawal symptoms. The panting could be the same thing. Panting is also a sign of pain as is restlessness but if he is lying on his stitches, he is probably not painful. I would do what your vet tells you and also just let him rest. Be careful, he doesn't mean to bite. Iif he wanted to really get you, he would have. He inhibited his bite which is a good sign.
Susan and Beacon
Hi Laura, we went through the same thing with Chuy after his FHO surgery. When we removed the Phentyl patch he was panting constantly and got snippy with us. At the time he was still on Metacam and 50 mg. of Tramadol 2x a day. We cut the Tramadol to once a day, it didn't help. We gave him some space. Things improved after a couple of days. He stopped snipping at us. When we took him off the Tramadol completely he started snapping at us again. Our little "addict" was going through withdrawal from the painkillers. More space and some benadryl to relieve the anxiety helped him out. You may want to ask your vet about using the benadryl instead of the diazapam. It helps but doesn't make them as spacey.
Stacey will come around, just give her some time, a little space and don't push her. She'll let you know when she has to go out and if she wants you to help her or not. Some dogs can be so independent, they won't take help until they really need it.
Eleanor & Chuy
Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!
Well things went alot better after the Diazapam wore off. Wont be giving that anymore!!
She's still panting but does have times were she is not. So at least it's going in the right direction.
She saw the neighbors coming home Sunday and was barking at them like before and later I heard some noise, went in to see what was going on and she got herself up on the couch. She hasn't been on the couch for about 6 months. So she must be feeling lots better!
So each day is getting better and better in little ways. Last night she had me up from 3:AM on with the panting but was able to grab a nap yesterday afternoon when she was napping. Guess I have to rearrange my sleep schedule to fit hers for the time being. Hopefully the panting will go away completely soon. Keeping my fingers crossed for that day.
Stacy and Laura
Healing is hard work. Hopefully the panting will calm down as she regains her strength. If not, consider asking Pam for a second opinion.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Truman had some panting, lazing, restlessness a few days after surgery... just had an extra dose of morphine and was ok. Panting is a sign of pain, as is the 'short temper'. Sometimes I believe dogs can experience phantom limb pain, like humans. Even though it's gone, if it was causing pain before they look off the leg, then it will continue to cause pain until the nerve adapts or realizes it's not there. Try to get some tramadol or something mild like that to keep around for those cases. Don't hold it against the poor buggers and remember that encouragement for their accomplishments, whether it's doing 5 stairs or getting up on their own 5 times goes a long way. They do better than we would... hang in there.
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