Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello.
Ella is 7 days post surgery and she is still having a real hard time getting comfortable which is keeping her from sleeping through the night. She keeps getting up and turns and turns and turns then she finally lays down and then pops back up again and she does this over and over until she's pretty much exhausted. The only positions she can be in is laying flat or sitting straight up leaning against the back of the couch.
Is this normal for 7 days post op? When will she be able to maneuver and sit/lay normal again or will she??
Thanks,
Angie (Ella's mom)
Chloe did pretty much the same thing every time she wanted to lay down. She would pace in circles, squat to lay, get back up, go in more circles and continue this until she was too tired and just gave up. She did this until her staples came out. I think that certain positions tugged on the staples and made it uncomfortable. This was especially so if she was on the ground trying to roll from her regular side to her amped side.
They will figure out what works best for them, it just takes some time.
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Sounds pretty normal, considering it is still early in Ella's recovery. What kind of medication is she still on? And does she have a comfortable recovery bed?
Once she is off all the medication, she should become less restless. We also recommend a low profile, firm but soft mattress for maximum comfort during recovery. Pillow beds have a tendency to bunch up and make it more difficult to get – and remain – comfortable. Jerry used a piece of 3" foam wrapped in an old sleeping bag. Thermoregulating beds are also very therapeutic.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Is she on Gabapentin for pain? Although Maggie was fine getting comfortable AFTER surgery, she had a heck of a time getitng comfortable and sounds JUST like your dog BEFORE surgery. Once I put her on Gabapentin, she could relax...
Food for thought....my thoughts are with you!
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
Skyler was also very restless until the staples came out 2 weeks later. That is why we didn't sleep for those 2 weeks. It sounds like most pups experience this, but would certainly check out the meds/bed situation. Sending pawsitive thoughts, and a big hug!
Cathy/Jane/Spirit Skyler/Chloe
Thanks everyone, sounds like what Ella is going through is pretty normal ! I think what everyone is saying about the staples is probably right on, they probably pinch and pull in certain positions and are just not comfortable. I know if I had 38 staples I would have a hard time resting too, poor little girl.
We are weening her off the Rimadyl now and she is still on Tramadol 3 x day, she really doesn't act like she has pain anymore? Not sure if that is possible or not so soon? She is sleeping really well during the day when she is on the couch but all night she tosses and turns. Maybe she is sleeping too much during the day and it makes her restless at night?
As far as beds go Ella is a bit spoiled, she had 2 very large memory foam beds, a orthopedic bed and a bed with a thick baby mattress in it that our friend gave to us - it was her tripawd Titon's. Then of course she had our king size tempurpedic bed, so I don't the beds are the problem!
Ella has a week left before her staples come out, sounds like long nights until then!
Angie (Ella's mom)
I slowly weaned Chloe off the pain meds because they reacted with the required antibiotics and made her eat less. Pluss the Tramadol made her drool all over the place. After about day 5 she seemed to be handing the pain well, always a smilng face and no limping or body language indicating pain. After I decided to slowly take her off them, her activity level went up and she started to eat more (and therefore poop more…). But I was always aware of her condition and ready to administer pain meds if her body language didn't seem right. However, she didn't need them after that point.
Sounds like Ella has the royal treatment with regards to beds! I didn't have room for things like that so she slept on a thick, leather couch cushion (covered in a blanket) most of the time. (see below)
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Geesh, mind if I come over for a good nights sleep!!! Gus was restless, up and down at night, pant, not much appetite when he was on Tramadol, he was on it for about 2-3 days and after we took him off we noticed he was not near as restless, We had him on rimidyl and gabapentin after that. might want to consider a different pain med, good luck, paws up, spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Tasha seemed restless while she was on pain meds and also did a lot of crying. Once she was off of all pain meds the crying stopped and she seemed much more comfortable and way less restless. I could tell her stitches did bother, she wouldn't lay on her amp side until the stitches were out. What a happy day it was once they were out and she could lay on the amp side again, and the day she rolled over and layed upside down I was so happy I cried, I knew things were OK again.
Hang in there, I hope that better days ahead for you and Ella are very close.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
I was just going to ask the very same question. Eloise is 12 days post surgery and has been doing the same exact thing every since she got home from the hospital. All night long she's moving from one spot in the room to the other, even sometimes going into my daughters room. And she circles, circles, circles and then plops down for a few minutes only to get up and do it all over again. She gets her staples out tomorrow so hopefully she will be able to get more comfortable then. I'm also wondering about the Tramadol now though because she has become both restless and a very picky eater. Is it possible it could be the tramadol? She went from eating anything and everything so being so selective that I'm trying way too many different things and probably driving her crazy!
Once Eloise is off all the meds and gets her staples out she should become much more comfortable. She may also be seeking out a cool spot on the floor to rest, which many dogs find comfortable during recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Guiness is going through much the same thing at the moment and he is 5 days post op. The only place her can get comfortable is on the opposite side to the amp site ay on his bed, and this isnt for long.
I asked the vet about it this morning when we went and he side that it is mainly dicomfort caused by the stiches/staples and the obvious soreness that they will feel, i am sure i wouldn't be willing to sit on any amp site if i had something amputated.
Its awful to see them pace and cricle etc, but it wont be forever lots of belly rubs and ear scratches are seeing Guiness through it all at the moment.
I hope Ella and Eloise are feeling much better soon.
Sending big hugs your ways
Toni and Guiness
Guiness is my baby we have had 8 wonderful 4 legged years together.
We intend on having many, many more 3 legged ones
Guiness took on a moving car and lost.
Leg amputated 16-09-2010
Ella and I definitely know what Guiness and Eloise are going through! Nice to know we are not alone
Ella is 12 days post op today and we had her staple taken out. Hopefully tonight Ella will be a little more comfortable without the staples, I will let you know.
Good luck, sending wishes your way for a restful night!
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