Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We are now on day 6 with Patchy's recovery from amputation 🙂 He is a trooper but I have some concerns, he is on a venalyn pain patch and 2 heavy duty antibiotics. I notice that about an hour after the antibiotic he has a period of fast breathing. Could the ventalyn and antibiotic be causing this. It usually lasts about an hour then he settles down and sleeps. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Hey Summer!
I had the true pleasure of meeting Summer, Kevin and precious Patch through the Helpline. Delightful family and wonderful advocates for Patchy! We've been corresponding so I hope Summer doesn't mind if I add a little additional information.
Summer, don't know if you got my last email, but if I understood correctly, the only pain med Patch is on is the Fentanyl patch...nothing else. Also, your vet instructed you to leave it on FOURTEEN days.
Now Summer has heard this avout a million times from me..."I'm no vet and not giving bet advice!" However, it's my understanding that the Fentanyl patch is generally removed after "approximately" three days ish as it looses its potency and then, if need be replaced with another. Sometimes respiratory changes can be a side effect of Fentanyl, but I wouldn't think the patch has enough pain medication left to cause that. Maybe some patches last longer now.
I know most dogs are given one antibiotic, not two. So maybe there's a reason the vet felt that was necessary. She said the vet did not have Patch on anything else.
Just curious about anyone else's experience. I'm so glad Summer posted, because we all like to hear how different vets do different things.
Summer, here's a link from Dr. Google you may find informative. In no way is this to be considered medical advice or taking the place of yiur Veterinary advice...noooo waaay!
http://thebark......in-patches
Is Patch still throwing up? Were you able to get anything from the Vet to settle his tummy?
If the same patch has been on six days and Patch is in no other pain med or anti-inflammatory, I would think the panting is definitely a sign of pain and not related ro the antibiotic.
Interested to see feedback from otherd.
I can't wait for you to see pictures of Patch and pack! A whole lotta' CUTENESS....I mean a whole lot!!! You'll want to jump through the screen and snuggle!!
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!
Our patch came off two days after he came home, so 3 days after surgery. We also had Rimadyl and Tramadol. For us, the panting meant pain. It happened as each dose of Tramadol started to wear off. We spoke to the vet and increased the Tramadol. We also had an antibiotic.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Couldn't stand not sharing the cuteness
Introducing Patchy!!!!!!!
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!
Hey Sally, I did get your email and sorry for not responding sooner. I think I misled you we do change the patch every 3 days but are not currently giving him any other pain meds. He seems to have tummy issues with the antibiotic so we have been feeding first and waiting to give meds about a half an hour later and that seems to be working better. He is on 2 antibiotics due to the fact that he got a severe infection in his leg prior to amputation. I just finished one of them up today so hopefully that will help a bit.
I found some information on the fentanyl patch that reflects what Patchy is doing, the rapid breathing and whining, I guess I feel better that it is not that he is in severe pain but more of a reaction to the drug. The crying just tears me up and both Kevin and I automatically go to the thought that he is in pain.
I am off work today so I have been home with him all day, he had breakfast and kept his meds down, went out for a potty break and has been sleeping nicely for several hours
Will keep you posted and so appreciate your support, hugs and kisses to you and your gang! - Summer
Thanks for the clarification!!! Don't know if you could "read between the lines", while trying to be diplomatic, I was basically trying to refrain from screaming" the Vet gave you ONE Fentanyl patch for FOURTEEN DAYS! Fire that Vet!!! So glad I misunderstood!!! Whew!!
Glad her rummy is better with the food half hour before.
Okay, back to the pain meds. IF you feel like the Fentanyl is making him too squirrelly, ask the vet about switching him to Tramadol and maybe Gabapentin and Rimadyl too. Just throwing that out there. I'm probably mostly being repetitive from my email....oops!.
Gosh, sorry about the infection prior to surgery, but really glad the antibiotics can take care of it.
You're doing such a good job! Glad that Patchy is having a restful day...that's a good sign recovery is moving forward!!!
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!
Patchy is sure cute! I hope the reduction to just one antibiotic does the trick for him. I know for us, we assumed that Ellie's eating problems were related to the antibiotics and other meds (and they probably were). But she had a lot of difficulty w/ nausea (drooling heavily when offered food) and we know we waited too long to bring it to the vet's attention. We just assumed it was sort of "normal". So I would not hesitate to tell your vet that he's had trouble w/ his tummy. There are things they can give (Cerenia is what we used) to help him feel less nauseated.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
Patchy is adorable! Just smooshy!
I would see if maybe you could at least add Gabapentin with the fentanyl patch. Try applying an ice pack to the incision a couple times a day, with a towel or something to protect the skin, use that for about 20 minutes or so. You can also massage around the area to help re-absorb any extra fluids that might build up. Murphy weighs about 50 lbs and came home on Tramadol, Rimadyl & Gabapentin for about 2 weeks, weaning down during the 2nd week.
How is he doing otherwise? Is he eating? Going potty?
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
I agree, Patchy is adorable!
Hmm. The panting could be a sign of nausea as well. Antibiotics can be very strong on the gut. Any signs of panting or anxiousness should be addressed by your vet by adjusting pain medication dosage/interval or even type. Definitely give them a call.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks to everyone for the information and the encouragements, this truly is a Journey with our sweet baby. He slept almost all day yesterday 🙂 and had no issues with tummy upset. He is finally done with one of the antibiotics so hopefully that will help him as well.
I is definitely stubborn, wants to do everything himself and won't move if we try to help, which is very difficult for us as we don't want him to hurt himself.
I will keep you all posted! Thanks again for the encouragements! - Summer
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