Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all my 9 1/2 yrs old Lab had his right front leg amputated a week ago on 6/29.
He was doing so great, incision site looks good and he was hopping around fine except since about 2 days all he does is lay around he doesn't even want to barely go outside 
also for the 2nd time since yesterday he laid there and "yelped"/cried out loud for a quick second.
He currently is on 2 x a day Rymadyl, every 8 hrs 2 Tremadol and every 8 hrs 2 Gapapentin which I am trying to ween him off that poisonus crap Gapapenting slowly so since today I have 2 Tremadol at 8 am 2 at 4 pm and 1 at midnight
and gapapenting 2 at 8 am 1 at 4 pm and 1 at midnight. I hate this medicine I read so much bad stuff about Gapa.
Surgeon only wanted him on Tremadol and Gapa 7 days which is over tomorrow but I noticed today he was panting more so I am wondering if I should at least keep him on the Tramadol.
Anyways what to do about the depression. I am home with him 24/7 only had to go to store once today nt sure what to do I feel so bad for Bogi.
Thanks
Most of the dogs on here have gone thru a depression sometime during their recovery. Daisy's depression occurred during her third week. I could not get her interested in getting up and doing any more than going out to do her business. I just let her be. Remember Bogi just had major surgery and it takes a while for their bodies to heal. Lots of rest is a good thing. Also all those pain meds do a number on them too.
As far as the panting it can be caused by the pain meds or from pain itself. If he just started panting today when you reduced his tramadol my non-expert opinion would be that he still needs some pain management . Daisy panted and drooled really bad while on the tramadol. She was on 2 (50mg) tramadol 2-3 times a day and 75 mg Deramaxx once a day. I too started weaning her off the tramadol after about 1 week.
Hang in there. It WILL get better!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
thank you so much for taking the time to answer. It was all going so great the first few days I guess this depression totally took me by surprise.
Awwww Bogi---this recovery stuff is o fun!
Yes, many here will tell you that this "crash" is part of the recover and shows up at various stages....and it may repeat the up and down cycle a couple of tmes over the next several weeks.
Happy Hannah had a lot of pain, disco fort, restlessness, yelpi g for almost three weeks. I found d I dust back on er paid. meds too soon as I saw that so many were sea ed off around two weeks...someone on the site suggested K put her back on a mild dose a d tat did the trick. Now, K' n' vet, but all that gabaplus tram. seems li,e a lot. don't know what the gaba dose is and can't remember what Ha man's was and I may have missed read your post looks like 4 gab as? Anyway, I think most Jere will tell you they kept their dogs on pain med for approx. two weeks.
It's just so hard to determine the balance.....as Maria said...pain and too much pain meds look the same....panting. pacing, whining,etc. Hannah would let out a quick yelp every now and then for quite awhile.....would get up and try and "move away" from the pain.. it only lasted second D's though.
Eating?
Pooping?
Drinking?
Peeing?
Again, of a vet, but most here kept dogs o pain meds for around two weeks. K personally would rather err on the side of a little too much pain meds than let my dog feel the pain of a. major surgery.
Anyway, don't know if all this helps or I may have just confused you even more!
Regardless, just know that the first two weeks or so are the roughest but when Bogi's sparkle co es back....and it will...PROMISE...you will be so happy! The joy of living in the no went and spoiling and lovi g Bog I every second d will be so rewarding...to you both!
You are doing g a great job! This jour eg requires a lot of strength and K applaud you for hanging tough!!
We are here for you! You are doing a stellar job! Try and get some rest when Bog I sleeps! Lack of sleep is an energy drain I g that's for sure!
Keep us posted....you'll start to see a more co distant turn around shortly. It can be a little slower recovery with bigger pups.
Surround I g you with (((((((((HUGS)))))))))))
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
I know it's hard to see our dogs like this but try to keep in mind that one week isn't a long time, and what humans often see as "depression" in dogs is a reaction to being on pain medication as well as being tired from the recovery. Amputation is a hard surgery and it takes a while for most dogs to bounce back. Try to be patient and know that he will get there. If you believe it he will too.
I recommend talking to your vet about adjusting his pain medication. Not all dogs will react well to gabapentin but it does work for most. I'm not sure where you read bad news about this drug but we haven't seen more than a few dogs here who didn't do well on it. Maybe Bogi is one of them? I don't know but definitely talk to your vet.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The first few weeks are the most challenging for all, both for Bogi and you. With Snoop we had a bit of getting pain meds that worked and also eliminating ones that caused him to have elevated respiration and anxiety. Work with your vet on this every dog is different as we are and it could take a bit to get it right. Also we found with Snoop going into the second weeks pain meds were less needed. As for the crying out we had that too, and still every once in a while by how he moves. I'm sure it's a bit of pain and could also be pulling of suture areas. This also got better. It's difficult in what you perceive to be is a decline, but it seems to be part of the process of healing and getting better. For us when rounded that bend in 2 and 1/2 weeks Snoop really began to started to be more like himself, in personality. It's a major surgery and it takes time to heal and get stronger. Hang in there your doing a great job for him, the more positive you stay in front of him the more secure and solid he will be. Keep posting in his progress.
Welcome to Tripawds.
My little pug Maggie was out of sorts for about 6 weeks! She is definitely the exception, most report their pups are getting close to there old selves in two or three weeks. I was sure I had done the wrong thing by choosing amputation. But Maggie was a stubborn pug who didn't like change.
Maggie was on Tramadol for almost two weeks, I was reducing the dosage the last couple of days. Have you had past bad experiences with Gaba? Maggie had trouble with Tramadol, although my other pugs have handled it fine. I've heard others here have trouble with tram, but I haven't heard too many complaints about gaba. I ask because my quad pug Tani takes gaba daily to help with terrible arthritis.
I hope Bogi is improving. Stay positive and give him lots of encouragement. I'm sure you will see his personality emerge very soon.
Karen
THanks all. I was just thinking I hate medications personally that's all I think Bogi is taking them well.
I noticed today he is having a hard time standing up his back legs seem to shiver/shaking so maybe that's why he seems depressed. he is a bit overweight. I have been massaging his back legs and putting my heating pads on them he seems to like it. I just hope his back legs don't go out on him again he had an issue 2 yrs ago when he overdid walking with me. I think that might be the culprit.
Any suggestions for that?
Has Bog I been over do I g it at all on the days he felt a little better? Stairs, trying g to get on sofa...anything like that?
It's. most likely still adjusting to changing the balance, the weight bearing, etc.....as well as just plain painful because of the whole ordeal.
What you're doing sounds good......maybe even alternating cold pacs--hot pacs? Perhaps ssomeone else can chime in on that. There are videos on ere and links to doing specific massage and gentle leg stretching to help with the soreness. Just make sure he's taking it easy....it's still so early I. recovery for a large dog.
If there are any other issues.. not eating, DRI king, Peel g, etc. I would give your vet a call just for a check over
Keep us posted and you may must want to give your vet a call anyway soYOU can feel better:-) Did you do any med adjustment that would be an u derlying cause!
Easy to say..but try not to worry! Your Bogii will be feeling so much better as recovery co t use". We are here for you! Hang in there....you are doing g great"
Sally ad Happy Hannah
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!
I figured it out I think he OVERDID it the first few days he is ARCHING his back and his legs shake in back I think his back and back legs hurt probably/maybe muscles he never had to use for all this extra weight? He did not even get out of his bed at ALL today.!!! Took him to ER yesterday they thought its from Tremadol BUT I truly now don't think so I think he is having back pain and leg pain. he seems very depressed tday barely even wanted to go out pee.
What can I do to make him better? will this improve again? Its so sad because his surgery site looks and healed so great and stitches supposed to come out Friday and now this set back so sad to see.
I massage his back legs and he seems to really love it and I put heating pad on and he seems to really like it too but he looks so sad even when I hand feed him he eats very very slow and just this super super sad face I never seen on him. Like MOM I cant do this anymore it breaks my heart
Awww, poor Bogi. know it's breaking your heart seeing him ucomfortable..
I'm sorta' confused n eactly the vet did to check him out.......any bloodwork, temperature taking, etc. Did he elimimate muscle strain, sli disc, etc.? It seems odd that he attributed al of Bogi's symptons to tramadol..especially the arch back. Did he check or neck miscle sprain?
Guess I asked more questions than gave you answers!
If the vet ruled out everything of significance, I think he
robavly did do too much initally. A lot of dogs are still high n hospital meds for the first several days and that's when they tend to overdo it. These ups and down s are all _normal" and the ups will take over soon!
Thisis still so very early in recovery and it's harder on larger dogs than smaller----generaly. Keep doing the massaging and heating pads. Tr t surround him with as much "upbeat" energy as possible. I know that sounds crazy but they realy do mirror our energies. Your Ogi's not "giving up", he's just recovering from a big surgery. He will get better! This is the time when you start doubting.... that's perfect ly normal. We understand and have all been there.
A couple of weeks from now.....or sooner.... you will be so pleased you did this for Bogi!
Stay connected to us....we are here for you! Now go give that Bogi a vig hug for us.....and give yourself one too:-) 
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Jamie, you aare stronger than you think and so is Bogi. My first bit of advice: please watch this video which discusses post-op amputation recovery advice:
Hand feeding him, babying him and worrying about him constantly may be doing more harm than good. I know it's hard because you want to do everything for him but Remember if you believe that he can do well, he will do well.
Next, when you say he "overdid it" what exactly do you mean? It is still soooo soon after his surgery, he shouldn't have any more activity than is absolutely necessary, like leashed walks to go to the bathroom.
Have you read our ebooks? They are filled with ideas and helpful tips to aid you in overcoming these hurdles and helping him get strong. They will put your mind at ease as you learn how to make it through stronger and better than before.
Let him rest, it sounds like he needs it. Be strong, you can do it.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
You're asking his remaining three legs and core to do things they've never had to do. It's hard work--and while dogs adapt faster than we do, it's STILL hard work, and probably frustrating for them, and they have to get used to it. For the frist few days, many of them are still high as kites, so they don't notice...then...ding ding ding, all of a sudden they realize that they are using new muscles and having to adjust, and it can be difficult.
Think about it: it's been a little more than a week. He had his LEG CUT OFF. That is hella big major surgery. I've had surgery for a broken leg and wasn't able to get up to do much more than pee for at least that long, let alone go clomping around on it. And then it takes your other muscles (abs, arms, shoulders, back, etc.) time to adapt to using crutches for any distance.
I think we tend to vacillate between two poles in situations like this--one moment we are amazed at the resiliency and adaptability of our animals (ooh, look how fast they heal, he doesn't even know he only has three legs, etc etc)...and then five minutes later, we're like "Is something wrong? Why is he not recovering as fast as I thought he would??" and TOTALLY forget that if a person had done what they had done, they'd still be in bed.
I've been lucky (?) enough to have had a bunch of orthopedic surgeries in my life, and so have spent a disproportionate time recovering from crap...and I am CONSTANTLY in PT. If it's taught me anything, it's that A) no one time table for recovery is like any other. No matter how "easy" the procedure--or even if you've had it done before. There is no one answer. B) Recovery takes TIME...and it takes EFFORT. You want to come back right, you have to do the work right. and C) you can't mollycoddle. With people, rehab can be hard, b/c a lot of them just don't know how to push through a certain level of pain and discomfort to do the PT. They cheat, they slack off, whatever. It's a mental block that becomes a physical one. Dogs don't have that mental block--but they WILL take their cues from you. Like jerry/rene said--if you fret/worry/baby TOO much, it can be just as detrimental as letting him overwork himself.
Relax--you are doing FINE. Believe you can do it. Believe Bogi can do it. And know we've all been there <3 Those first few weeks are hard--no matter how quickly the recovery seems to go, there will be hangups and issues and setbacks...it's NORMAL. And you can totally handle it. <3
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
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