Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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It's been two weeks since Fortis had his surgery. He had his right rear leg amputated on 2/3/2010. In this two week period Fortis has not shown any outward signs of pain (not vocal or visible). I have literally been with him every second since the surgery. I was really freaked out last night when he started yelping and whining. His stub where the stitches are began to tremble and jumb around spastically. All I could do was hold him down and rub the area and try and calm him. It's happened three times now without warning. He refused to eat for the first time this morning. He was eager to eat within 5 hours of his surgery. I'm really scared so if anybody has any suggestions I would truly appreciate it. I have a call into our vet but have not heard back as of yet. He is resting now but I can tell he is really scared. He has been doing so good in fact yesterday was a great day. 
Fortis' Dad
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Hi Fortis and Dad
I'd dig up old posts on phantom pain , as in one thread labeled "tremor and spasm" by Oslo. Sudden pain that makes pups cry out seem to be common, even weeks after surgery, but it seems to be resolved easily with Gabapentin.
The one thing that sounds different in your post is that I think those dogs usually have most of their trouble at night. I don't know if they had those symptoms during the day. But the symptoms themselves seem to come up a lot with new tripawds on this site.
Thanks Tazzie. I will do a search. 😕 I should have done that in the first place. Panic! Thats me.
Thanks
As tazzie suspects, this certainly sounds like classic symptoms of phantom pain . If you have not already, be sure to download and review these Tips for Managing Phantom Limb Pain in Dogs. A hot/cold compress for dogs can also help soothe the pain.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Nova had bouts of Phantom pain a few weeks after surgery, and got shaky and lost her appetite. It would happen at various times of the day, not just at night. The screaming was very unnerving, but everything turned out to be fine. I'm sure Fortis will be fine. There are a lot of ups and downs on this journey, and it's really hard not to panic over every pain and yelp.
Sue and Nova
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
Sure sounds like phatom pain to me. Has your doctor called back? Good luck. How scary for you and Fortis. Praying for you.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Harley mostly experiences this at night, but it does happen during the day, as well. It's scary to hear them yelp in pain. Gabapentin did help us, thank God.
Hope the Vet gets back to you soon!!
-Gwen & Harley
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
Thanks for the all of the info. No vet yet. He is on an emergency call. I am expecting his call at any time. I will ask him for the Gabapentin. I have never heard Fortis yelp much less like this. Thats not totally true, I did hit his stitches the day of the surgergy with my leg and that caused a yelp. Man I felt like a creep for giving him some stupid heal command. What an idiot! I knew the pain was coming but he was not in any obvious pain before the surgery. I know I did the best thing for Fortis but at this moment it's cetainly not as clear. Sorry, I'm all over the place. Thanks for all the help. oh, does the pain eventually go away without the aid of the Gabapentin?
Fortis' Dad
Good thoughts for you and Fortis. I know it is difficult to have them in pain and not be able to stop it. Hang in there, phantom pain is treatable.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Phantom pain did go away in time for both Yoda and Gerry (assuming I'm right that that's what it was) without Gabapentin. Gerry's lasted much longer than Yoda's though (for Yoda it lasted maybe 5 days total), but at that time I was only fostering him and failed to MAKE the shelter and their vet provide it for him. Heck, I would have paid for it at that point, but the vet kept brushing it off, insisting nothing helps phantom limb pain - if it exists. Both Yoda and Gerry were past obvious phantom pain by the time the first two weeks were up, BUT I have read posts from Pam the vet tech that advise that phantom pain can last much longer than just the two weeks, so it varies. Similarly, Gerry's phantom limb pain started much earlier than Yoda's. If I had both to do over again, I would have fought harder to get both Gabapentin. It was just too stressful on all of us in hindsight.
Also, by the way, Gerry's stump was still twitchy for a long while after he stopped acting painful, but now I rarely see a twitch (since probably a month post-amputtion) - usually it only twitches now when the poor guy itches and is subconciously trying to scratch that itch with his amputated leg. That gets me every time, and I try, but I don't know that I've ever successfully found and scratched the itch for him.
Good luck! Hang in there!! Your best is good enough 
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Hey Fortis
I, Tazzie, never had phantom pain that I know of, so am just speaking from what I have seen here. Usually a tripawd writes in with those symptoms about once every two weeks, which is why we tripawds (with vet degrees from Google as Dr. Comet, DVM extraordinaire, said) speak up - heck, we'll do anything for a treat!.
Apparently Gabepentin is a very safe drug to use. Good ole Oslo has been on it for months since he first had phantom pain
in July (he's a druggie and I bet no-one knew!). I don't think Oslo's vet knew about phantom pain
and Gabapentin whe he first had his 'tremor and spasm', but the vet was receptive to trying it once the tripawd crowd (and especially the genuine Dr. Pam) suggested it. Typically people just use it for a short while, but Oslo seems to like to linger 
.
It really does sound like phantom pain . It's good you called the vet just to be sure. But rest assured that many dogs have been through this, even as far out from surgery as Fortis has been.
Does it go away? Well, in my experience dogs just become more used to it and react less and less. But I'm not a vet so this is just my opinioin. Gentle massage and ice packs definitely help.
Hang in there, we're thinking of your boy.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I can imagine how freaked out you were when you heard Fortis scream out in pain. It is quite unnerving, for sure! Hopefully, the gabapentin will help with that... Other than that, how is he doing?
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
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