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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Gastro intestinal issues one week post op
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Devon, UK
Member Since:
14 January 2022
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20 January 2022 - 4:20 am
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Hi, I’m in the UK so I’m a bit out of the loop but have found so much advice on this site. My question is, has anyone had issues with sickness and vomiting? I don’t mean post anaesthesia but one week on. Our flat coated retriever, Lincoln, had rear leg amputated exactly a week ago due to lameness from what appears to be bone cancer (scans, biopsy all inconclusive, but point to likelihood) He is 3 years old. First few days were pretty good. Mobility ok, eating fine and toileting ok (although he was a little anxious about that!) However, he seems to have gone downhill these last couple of days. He is still eating but rather reluctantly and he appears to be feeling sick much of the time. The other night he just wanted to lie outside on a cold floor. He vomited yesterday and there was a blood clot in it. Visit to vet left us no clearer. She told us to give him antacids for reflux and to stop the metacam for now. He is currently also taking gabapentin (3 tabs, every 8 hrs), paracetemol (500mg every 8 hrs) and omeprazole (to protect stomach lining). I’m worried that all the medication is having a negative effect. He is also very lethargic during the day but unsettled at night. 

Sorry for the super long post!

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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20 January 2022 - 7:50 am
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Hi Kate and Lincoln. Welcome. Your future posts won't need approval so post away. And you're definitely not out of the loop. We have many members from the UK! I'm glad you found the community helpful.

Here are some posts from other members concerned about their Tripawd vomiting after surgery. Many are in relation to chemotherapy, many are not. There's a few in there that had vomiting issues caused by the NSAID. So maybe that's the cause of what's going with Lincoln?

I'm sorry to hear that he had to join our club. It's not an easy path as you know but things do get better! Lincoln has good mobility overall which is great news. Laying on the cold floor isn't unusual, many new Tripawds will do that because it feels good on the swelling around the incision. 

The vomiting and blood clot is concerning of course. Your vet's strategy sounds reasonable to me. I'm not a vet, but that makes sense she would pull the Metacam and add the omeprazole. Did they run any tests on him while he was there? Sounds like she suspects acid reflux? Here's a post we wrote about GERD in dogs. Do any of his symptoms sound like the ones mentioned in the post?

As for pain control, it's hard to say if that would be affecting him in this way. What is the dosage of Gabapentin that he's taking? Sometimes too little pain control can cause anxiety and restlessness, but then again too much can do that as well. It's a balancing act. Overall his pain management sounds good. I would check with your vet to see if you can space out the Gabapentin and paracetemol so that he's not having all of it in his gut all at once. 

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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20 January 2022 - 8:51 am
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Hopefully this will get resolved quickly and your sweet boy can start feeling better.  Good that mobility  wise he is doing well and, up until recently, was eating . okay

Be sure and get him to drink as the vomiting  can dehydrate  him pretty quickly  while recovering. 

The only other thing that stands out would be drop the  paracetemol, or as Jerry suggested, space it out.    Some dogs are cery sensitive to that  med  and develop side effects as well as GI upset...  Of course, not a Vet and not giving   Vet advice.

Keep us posted, o,at?  Recovery doesn last furever!

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!

Devon, UK
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14 January 2022
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20 January 2022 - 9:13 am
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Thank you so much for your reply. I will check out the links you’ve mentioned. The vet wanted to see him again this evening and it looks like his temperature has come down slightly and he hasn’t been sick today. He is still very lethargic and reluctant to move about but has eaten a reasonable amount of dinner. 

The gabapentin pills are 100mg so he is having 300mg three times a day. I will try spacing them out with the paracetemol as that seems like a good idea. We are staying off the Metacam for the time being. 

Hoping for a more settled night tonight. This site is an absolute lifeline, thank you so much. 
Kate

Virginia







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22 February 2013
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20 January 2022 - 9:22 am
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Hmmm....missed that he had a fever.  What did the Vet think caused that?  Is he on an a antibiotic?    A fever can certainly  make him feel lethargic, etc.

Glad that he ate better👏👏

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!

Devon, UK
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14 January 2022
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20 January 2022 - 10:00 am
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Thank you. We are encouraging him to drink but he is rather reluctant. I’m adding warm water to his food so he is getting some that way and even cupping water in my hands (which he loves - spoilt dog!) Would just be nice to see some energy returning. 

Devon, UK
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14 January 2022
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20 January 2022 - 10:06 am
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I just realised I missed the fever from the original post. It wasn’t excessive, just at the higher end of what they would like to see.  He has been on antibiotics for a few weeks now as they found an infection when they did the biopsy. This made it difficult to be certain about the cancer but there were also spindle cells evident so we felt we had to make the decision to amputate based on that. I just feel that there is a fair bit going on with him at the moment, poor lad. 

Fingers crossed he is perkier tomorrow

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