Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi folks - hoping someone else has experienced this and has some advice. Dutch was doing great the first couple of days, but starting Friday is having horrible charliehorses in his remaining front leg - it's gotten to the point where it is almost every time he stands up. We've been trying to get him to drink more water, and we massage that leg before we get him up to go potty, but when he gets up on his own, he just howls! The muscle is knotted so tight it's like a ball. Is this normal? Will it go away as that legs gets accustomed to bearing the additional weight? I'm worried this is happening because that leg really can't take the pressure. The vet said to try to get him to lie more on the recovering side, but when Jim tries to shift him around Dutch growls - we don't want to push him. Now he seems reluctant to get up at all (I can't blame him) and isn't all that interested in food.
(I did the math wrong and all the typing was gone! How rude! )
Here you go again, a more concise version...
A couple of tripawds had similar experience the first week after surgery. Is Dutch still on Tramadol? Any other pain meds given? Possibilities are (1) not enough pain meds (2) too much pain meds (3) pain meds prescribed not agreeing with the body, and hence side effects.
Massaging is a good idea. All over his body, except the recovering side.
Have you tried helping him get up? Try wrapping a bath towel under his chest as a sling and semi-lift him while getting up and hopping. Sharing even 10 LBs of him would make it easier for him. Or better yet, cut up a cancas bag on the edges, retain the handles, again wrap under his chest and tie up the handles at his back. So you can have the sling ready all the time to help whenever he needs assistance.
Hope Dutch feel better soon.
Ouch. Gentle massage should help, if Jedi will let you. I loved it when my people rubbed my aches and pains.
Also consider applying heat. We used Bella's Hot/Cold Pain Relief Pack. The video we made shows how well it stays on and how much safer it is than an electric heating pad.
Aside from that I can only assume time will help heal as Jedi restores his strength to make up for the extra weight on the remaining leg.
Best wishes for a full speedy recovery ...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jedi -
Calamity did the same thing. She would rear up on her back legs & contort her body in a weird shape. She would scream like she was being stabbed.
We felt this was a phantom pain and put her on gabapentin. We eventually went back to our surgeon for another injection of morphine and fentanyl patch. This helped her a lot. It took a few days & a lot of tears until she stopped doing it. In retrospect, I think this is just part of the healing process for some.
I know this cripples you to see this, I remember how it broke my heart. It will go away.
{gentle hugs}
Janie & Calamity
Janie & Calamity http://www.trix.....gspot.com/
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