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Have to choose between two types of amputation for dog, advice needed.
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Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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15 December 2016 - 9:02 pm
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Darn, you were just in here!

Okay, I'm not a Vet and not giving Vet advice, but unless Saba is a really, relly big diog, that sounds like a lot of Gaba at once. And yes, it's okay to give Tramado with Gabapentin, butnyou may want to stagger them a bit. For instance, give the doses of Tram, and then maybe wait an hour and donthe Gaba.

Again, my unprofessional opinion and not giving medical advice, but the Vet who said 3 Gaba every 8 hrs woukd be the approach I would try first. The Tram may have room for cutting back too. My Happy Hannah was 125 lbs and Inthink her Tram was 150 mg every six or eight hrs. Again, not sure of Saba's weight but it certainly sounds like theynhave started her on the high side,

From what you've said, she seems to be doing very well.

The snorting sounds....do you think it could be from the tube inserted in her throat? Is it that kind of sound?

You can ask the Vet about giving her pepcid

The throwing up may be from the meds upsetting her tummy. Do your best to make sure she has food in her tummy when giving the meds

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!

Member Since:
5 December 2016
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15 December 2016 - 11:13 pm
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I got a pill for naseau that we will give her for a day or two. 

We are doing the Tramadol and Gabapentin two hours from each other. We decided to give her 4 tablets this first night and then we will be doing 3 every 8 hours for now. 

The snoring sound is like a normal snoring type. Imagine a tired dog coming from a walk or you getting into bed and letting go of your breath, only it's constant. She is not whining or whimpering. 

Infact, for the last two hours she has been laying in the same position. She's not sleeping because her eyes are open, she lifts her head, she waggs her tail when we come by.

We are going to continue monitoring her situation but for now she is really calm. I am happy that she has already started to get up by herself; she obviously needs some support but she was able to get up and stand without assistance. 



Member Since:
27 July 2014
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15 December 2016 - 11:22 pm
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It sound like you are doing great. Please remember your dog may be somewhat stoned from the medication. I just learned from the vet that it's good to keep the lights dimmed when pets are recovering from sedation/anesthesia.

I hope you get some sleep!

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

Member Since:
5 December 2016
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15 December 2016 - 11:42 pm
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Hi Karren,

I am currently sitting in the dark on my laptop to monitor her and besides the loud snore every now and then, all seems well. 

I gathered enough credit card reward points to be able to afford the Big Barker Bed with water proofing which will come tomorrow. For now she likes sleeping on the floor. 

I will keep you all updated. Thanks for your support!

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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15 December 2016 - 11:49 pm
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So glad she's resting. That's exactly wha she needs to do!

I know yiure so relieved to jave her home.

A d the floor probably feels cool to her now. Dogs seem to like the coolness on their incision.

Yeah, I'd say she's a little "sedated" right now.

Can you make a video so we can hear the sound of her s ore/sigh and you can play it for your vet too. Think I already mentioned the anesthesia tubing may have irritated her throat.

Try and get some rest yoirself! This early part of recovery is pretty darn exhae!

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!

Member Since:
5 December 2016
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16 December 2016 - 1:38 am
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Can you make a video so we can hear the sound of her s ore/sigh and you can play it for your vet too. Think I already mentioned the anesthesia tubing may have irritated her throat.

I recorded the sounds on the voice iPhone app and uploaded them to sound cloud, you can listen to them at this link:

Snoring recording #1:

Snoring recording #2 (more pronounced near last quarter):

I also promised photos of Saba. I can't figure out how to post them here, but I did create several posts on IMGUR with a detailed story of her life (a popular photo and meme sharing site... excuse the GoFundMe plug)

FEEEEELLLSSSS! 

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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16 December 2016 - 2:13 am
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What a cutie!  I agree with the others that the snoring me get be irritation from the tubing.  I hope she,nand you, have settled down and gotten some sleep.

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.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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16 December 2016 - 10:29 am
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SABA IS ADORABLE!!!!! ABSOLUTELY. A D O R A B L E!!! Smooching that mug through the screen!! And her puppy pictures are soooo cute!! How did such a tiny pup grow so big!! 'And she certainly has big pack members to snuggle with!

Listened to the "snores" and the sort of "sigh" wind tunnel exhales. Certainly not a Vet and have your Vet listen to the tape, It sounds pretty normal to me off and on for sleeping big dogs with jowls. But if it's constant it could be the tubing irritation.

Tha ks for the pictures!! Can't stop grinning!!

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!



Member Since:
27 July 2014
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54
16 December 2016 - 10:39 am
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I agree, Saba is ADORABLE. I'd let that dog sleep in my bed!! My cats might not be too pleased though...

I think it's funny that you have a photo of an attractive man with a snoring dog sound. laughing Sorry I have no input on the snoring sound. It's always worth checking it out with the vet.

Heal well sweet, adorable Saba.

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona



Member Since:
21 May 2016
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16 December 2016 - 2:51 pm
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ohhhhhh .... Saba is soooooooo adorable heart

Me and Eurydice are madly in love heart what a gorgeous girl you've got !

As for snoring, it sounds normal to me (but I'm no vet) 

Sending you a big hug and tons of cuddles to your cutie pie heart

Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-) 

Member Since:
5 December 2016
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17 December 2016 - 2:39 am
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Hi everyone,

I was giving Saba her midnight dosage of tramadol and stayed with her until she fell asleep. I went to brush my teeth at about 1am and as I was brushing my teeth I heard this EXTREMELY AFWUL shriek / yelling that awoke everyone in my house and we all ran to Saba. The only way to describe it was as if she had one of her legs broken or hit by a car *knock on wood.* It was terrible and caused me great anxiety (its 1:34am... I know everyone is likely asleep but it was still so frightening that I had to come and write this).

I found her in basically the same position as I had left her, on her bed... so she couldn't have moved or gotten up and hurt herself. I had gotten to her first from all my family members and she calmed down and stopped shrieking a few moments after I got to her and started petting her.

Our surgeon said I was told I can give her 2 extra Gabapentin if she suddenly has pain, so I gave her 2 additional Gabapentine.

Was this a phantom pain ? I read on the front page that sudden shrieks can sometimes be phantom pains.

Please advise if anyone has any familiarity with this.

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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17 December 2016 - 3:45 am
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Otis did not have much phantom pain , but most people describe it more as sudden yelps, not shrieks.  Keep an eye on her - could be phantom pain , could be a staple poking her, could be she tried to use a muscle that pulled on the incision (actually, I'm not a vet, but my bet is here), or, in a couple of cases, we have had members with more serious nerve involvement.  She might have tried to stand and follow you. For now, use your gaba as directed and continue to monitor.  I remember Otis would cry out if he was standing and Tess walked by.  She didnt touch hm, but i realized he was tensing his chest muscles, and that impacted the incision.  If that is what it was, it will not happen alot and it will go away.  And if it is phantom pain , the gaba should help.  

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.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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58
17 December 2016 - 8:54 am
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Yeah, unfortunately that does sound like a typical post-op phantom limb type of pain. I just posted this article for a new member whose dog is having similar issues. Read the post-op pain section:

http://tripawds.....care-tips/

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

Schofield, WI
Member Since:
13 August 2015
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17 December 2016 - 9:28 am
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Saba is beautiful!  Right now you are at some of the most intense parts of this journey.  Those first few days home you are in "learning" mode.  Learning what works best and toleration of pain meds etc.  Soon you will have a rythmn that works for you and Saba.  The shrieking does sound like phantom limb pain.  Intense but short lived.  Hoping for a smooth recovery for beautiful Saba.  Keep us posted on your beautiful girl.

Member Since:
5 December 2016
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60
17 December 2016 - 9:48 am
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Hello Jerry and Linda,

She had her first pain at 1am and then she had another one at 7am. A family member was preparing for work when the second one happened. He said that Saba was trying to adjust her sleeping position when the second pain occurred. Does this still sound like a phantom pain , or should I call the clinic to ask if it could be something with the incision? She's currently sleeping calmly. 

Thank you for all your help. 

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