Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My baby Sage is 9 days post amp (front left leg / osteosarcoma ) and ever since day 3 post op Sage has been having what my oncology surgeon and regular vet are telling me is phantom pains. My regular vet checked her out yesterday and of course she is fine there. Eating and drinking great, incision great, walking great. But at home when she is resting for more than 15 minutes or so when she gets up she tenses up and then cries out or screams. She tenses up so bad I hold her cause I don’t want her to fall over. She is 85 pounds. She is on gabapentin 600 mg every 8 hours, hydrocodone 10 mg every 6-8 hours, Galliprant once a day and her surgeon just added Amantadine 200mg every 12 hours which we started tonight. She said at this point she is maxed out on all pain meds and to just give her time. I hope the Amantadine helps. She seems less agitated today and is finally resting more. She was whinning and wimpering a lot so I would say we are better today than yesterday for that. We do ice packs for 15-20 minutes every couple hours as it seems to really settle things down. Has anyone else had these episodes every single time their pups wake up from rest? Does it get better? Is this what her life is going to be like from now on ?
Hi Michelle, welcome. Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.
I'm sorry Sage is having these issues. Phantom pain is not uncommon in pets or people amputees, so I'm glad you talked to your vet team about it. Her medication sounds good and the Amantadine should help. Yes, her medication dosages and frequencies (and type) are pretty much the standard for treating phantom pain . Most people report that Amantadine makes a huge difference.
Another thing to try if Amantadine doesn't help within a few days, is to ask your vet about Pregabalin. See this post, which explains why.
Pregabalin for Tripawd Amputation Pain is Worth Discussing when Gabapentin Isn’t Working
Occasionally a pain management specialist needs to be added in to the treatment, to break the pain cycle with stronger in-clinic medications. But for now, don't panic. Most times this type of pain will resolve within a few weeks. A rehab therapist can also help a lot with acupuncture sessions to calm the nerves.
We also recommend seeing a rehab therapist because it's very educational to have your dog evaluated by one, so you can learn her capabilities, limitations, and safe exercises to do with her. Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first rehab visit ! So book that session now (ask your vet for a referral or let us know where you are located and we can help find you one).
No, her life won't be like this forever! Things really do get better. Remember this is a huge surgery and the body is figuring things out, even those nerves, which need time and attention with medication and therapy to treat the pain.
Something else you can do is to de-sensitize the nerves around the site. See:
Understanding and Treating Nerve Pain After Amputation for Dogs: Tripawd Talk Radio #124
I hope this helps! Keep us posted.
Online
Alrighty Sage, you've got this, okay??? This hurdle doesn't last furever and recovery doesnt last furever......it just feels like it right now!
Can only say ditto to everything Jerry posted. Hopefully the addition of Amantadiine will make a difference. As Jerry mentioned, you still have other options if needed.
My dogs have not reacted very well to icing....good for Sage for being tolerant of that. She's such a good girl. You can also massage GENTLY around the incision area....around it, not on it.
You can also genttly massage up and down her spine, neck and shoulder area to relax her before she stands.
Keep us posted ......and remember to breathe!!!
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!
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