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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Is my dog depressed or is this something more?
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Member Since:
8 May 2018
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14 July 2018 - 7:07 pm
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Hi there,

     First time posting and needing some guidance and support.  I am a small animal veterinarian and my own 8 yr GSD was diagnosed with a distal ulnar osteosarcoma in his left foreleg in Jan 2018.  I elected to have a distal ulnectomy performed on Jan 15th, and he started on Carboplatin 3 weeks later.  He recovered well from this surgery, but 8 weeks later I x-rayed the surgery site the saw wispy boney development where the previous ulna bone had been removed.  Waited 3 more weeks and re-xrayed and these areas looked a little larger.  Another 3 weeks and it was certain; the cancer had returned in the soft tissues surrounding his carpus crying.  He had received 3 doses of Carboplatin by this time.  He had only a tiny limp on the LF at this time and was very active, running, happy, etc. despite the fact that the carpus area kept getting thicker and less mobile.  Everyone told me that his best chances for survival and being pain free was to amputate the leg before it got worse, something that medically I knew but I struggled so much with because I just felt that he was a dog that wouldn't do well on 3 legs.  Everyone knows their pet the best.  Physically there wasn't a problem, he has good hips and knees and a clear chest, I just had this gut feeling.  I went ahead and scheduled the surgery anyway on May 15th, but then cancelled at the last moment.

     Fast forward to July 2nd, and I went ahead and had the left forelimb amputated.  He had the surgery done by a board certified surgeon and was on good pain control: Fentanyl drip, fentanyl patch, NSAID's, and Nocita (a drug that is injected into the surgery site and numbs the site for 3 days).  I took him home on July 4th, but removed the fentanyl patch because my dog is overly reactive to pain meds and the fentanyl was keeping him so doped up he couldn't stand.  The first days at home I kept him on Tramadol and Carprofen, but eventually dropped off the Tramadol because I thought it was making him lethargic and unable to walk well.  We are now 12 days post op and I am seriously questioning my decision to do this surgery.  He walks out to our yard to eliminate only with encouragement.  He can stand for about 3-5 minutes, then needs to lay down.  His back legs seem very weak and it almost appears like there is a limp in his right hind leg, his gait is so weird, I'm not sure if this is normal.  He is eating but has no interest in the things that used to give him happiness.  I have not heard him bark since I brought him home.  His eyes have a faraway stare when I get down and talk with him.  I am beating myself up inside because I feel like I let him down and made the wrong choice and I should have listened to my gut all along.

     Tell me, are there dogs that fall into depression after these surgeries and never regain their previous zest for life?  I have restarted him on Tramadol again as well adding in Gabapentin and keeping him on the Carprofen, but it seems that his pain should be subsiding by now.  If anyone has had this type of a reaction in their dog, I'd really like to hear from you.  

Betsy and Clipper 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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14 July 2018 - 8:21 pm
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clipper said
...are there dogs that fall into depression after these surgeries...

Welcome and best wishes for Clipper! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.

You are certainly not alone in wondering about post-op dogs getting "depressed", just check out some of the many existing forum topics discussing the subject...

Search results for 'depression' (209)

While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!

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

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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14 July 2018 - 8:53 pm
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First of all, maybe you haven't been addressing his pain enough.  Have you tried adding in Gabapentin?  12 days after an amputation & only taking a medication similar to Motrin doesn't seem like enough, does it?

Are you using a harness at all?  or at least a sling?  You can try to use the grocery bag sling until you're able to use a harness - take a cloth grocery bag & cut down both sides so that you have a flat piece with a handle at each end.  It works really well.

Try massage for Clipper's back & hips.  He's using his muscles in a different way now than he did before.  We used to massage Murphy all the way down his back to his hips, it was one of his favorite things. 🙂

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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14 July 2018 - 10:05 pm
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Hi and welcome.

I agree with your decision to go back on the pain meds.  My Pug Maggie lost a rear leg to mast cell cancer and was on pain meds for 2 weeks, although we were tapering the last couple of days. The norm around here seems to be two to three weeks on pain meds, but some need it longer. The side effects can be hard to deal with but sometimes a necessary evil.

As far as depression- I don't know that dogs get depressed like people do, but they are definitely sensitive to change- some much more than others.  When TriPug Maggie passed her little sister Tani was very mopey and not herself.

When Maggie had her amputation she was able to hop on her own the day of surgery and her pain was managed well.  She was quite a drama queen so I always knew when she was uncomfortable.  There were no medical complications either but Maggie was a grumpy slug for six weeks after her surgery, I was sure I had made a terrible mistake choosing surgery.  Maggie had always been stubborn and hated any change to her routine.  In hindsight it made sense that she took longer than most to get used to her new normal.  But she did, and hopped happily through life for almost 4 more years.

Keep in mind also that new Tripawds are easily exhausted, the new hopping gait takes a lot of effort.  Muscles are used in new ways and balance needs work. 

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo



Member Since:
21 May 2016
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16 July 2018 - 1:57 pm
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Hi there 🐾

I agree with others pain medicine is a crucial element during recovery.

Yes, dogs can get strange reactions and it is certainly hard on us to watch them feeling down and not knowing what to do with themselves but I agree with Karen drugs can be a necessary evil despite of side effects.

And yes, they can take a while to adapt to their new normal.

My girl's first couple of weeks were really hard on her and me and she didn't find it easy to negotiate life on three legs initially. 

But eventually she mastered it and lived a really active and deliriously happy life.

Just be patient, make sure drugs are correct and he will surprise you.

Don't forget, if you are worried and negative you're confirming to your boy he has reason to worry and feel miserable.

Our babies really follow our lead so, as hard as that may sound, please try to think positive, draw a new plan and follow it.

We are all here to help you along the way!

Hugs and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹

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:
27 July 2014
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17 July 2018 - 12:41 am
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I recently had a hip replacement. I was excited about getting it done and was pain free immediately after the surgery. Now I feel great, however my immune system has gone crazy since the surgery. My dermatologist said that a hip replacement is very traumatic and stressful for the body. Some joint replacement patients even spend days crying and they don't know why. Although I didn't feel stressed, my body did. I imagine this would be the same for a pet who had an amputation. Their body suffered a huge trauma and now their body has to learn how to balance and move on 3 legs.

You got some great input on pain management and massage.  I hope that it helps Clipper. When the time feels right you might want to consider rehab for Clipper. He might even find it mentally stimulating. My tripawd cat loved going to the chiropractor and doing range of motion exercises (play for her). Remember to take care of yourself too!

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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18 July 2018 - 4:44 pm
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Just checking  in on you and Clipper!  You've  gotten excellent insight  from everyone.

   Very interesting  what Kerren observed about her hip replacement  (Mona kitty).

It IS MAJOR SURGERY AND IT DOES HURT......all while trying  to hop around on three legs!  Exhaustion  takes over quickly at first!  And he needs to be on pain meds so he can focus on healing  and not use energy to battle pain.

Hopefully  ypu jave Clipper in a consistent  dose ofmpain meds now.  My Hapoy Hannah was on them for three weeks.  It is  crucial  to stay ahead of the pain and not let it get a head start. 

It took me about three weeks before I could say I did this FOR my Happy Hannaj and not TO her!!

Stay connected  and know that you are not alone!  Better days are ahead, PROMISE!!

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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