Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Well it's Day 6 for Levi and I'm not feeling good about this at all. Physically he is doing great but mentally he is not even a dog I recognize...We've been in to the vet and called them multiple times. We are trying different things with Previcox, Tramadol, and Gabapentin. Levi has always been a bit nuerotic-responding to things differntly than most dogs. He is just a special guy 🙂 I'm wondering if maybe he is just not going to adjust?? I'm definitely second guessing our decision. Are there dogs out there that just do not adjust to this? Levi has been on Previcox and tramadol for 90 days already with his tumor. There is no reason that he should be acting funny on it now...
He is constantly trembling slightly and when he is awake he is licking constantly...licking my hand, licking his other legs, licking the couch...licking, licking, licking. It's driving me crazy. It's just hard to know whether he needs more pain meds or the ones he is on are making him crazy. I haven't given him anything since 5pm tonight. we'll see how the night goes and if he has "happy eyes" in the morning. Somebody tell me some good news...to top off the evening-while I was trying to get Levi to stop licking everything our little Monkeybutt peed right in front of me on the carpet. He hasn't done this in months...
If this is going to be this rough I'm starting to reconsider doing chemo. Maybe Levi is just too sensitive to handle all of this 🙁
-Erica Levi and Koa Having a rough night
Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.
Oh Erica!
You poor thing. Of course, it's hard the first few weeks! But please, please don't think you did the wrong thing. Levi had OSA - it is so incredibly painful that humans can't tolerate the pain with the heaviest of pain meds. His leg would have broken since it was so weak and you would have faced an emergency. So, yes - did the right thing.
Just remember those nerves and such have to heal and it could a super weird sensation. I would highly recommend putting ice on his surgical site for at least 10 minutes and no more than 15. Try not to apply pressure but make sure the ice is completely surrounding the area. If you see any improvement in his mood, then repeat every couple of hours.
If the vet is confident he is fine, then it's just the would healing. If you have bad moments when your mind starts wondering if he is okay, check his gums and make sure they are nice in color, not ashen and check his temp. And also run your finger across his gums and make sure they aren't sticky, that would indicate dehydration.
Try the ice and let us know. We are here...so just come and vent all you need.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Hi Erica,
First off- you DID NOT do the wrong thing, this part is just really tough. There are a few pups who sail through recovery, but for most of us the first couple of weeks were difficult. Things seem to turn around when our pups get off all the meds and the staples or sutures come out, although for me it was a bit longer.
My pug Maggie had her amp before Tripawds was here- so we went it alone. All the vet really said was dogs do fine on three legs, so when Maggie seemed miserable, especially the first week, I was sure I had made a huge mistake. I was exhausted, worried, more emotional than normal... which makes everything worse.
As long as Levi is physically OK- and it sounds like he is- he will come around. He is dealing with a huge change in his world, and six days isn't really a long time to adjust. And the meds can be a problem. Maggie did not tolerate tramadol well (I found out during her recovery!), and it was one of the reasons she was not herself. She also was an obstinate pug who did not like change, I realized after her recovery that her taking her time to come around was really in character for her. How adaptable is Levi? All our pups heal and deal on their own time table.
And I would say not to make a chemo decision now- don't make any big decision now, you are tired and stressed. It is hard- but 6 days is really early in recovery, give him some time.
Oh- and my dad kept Maggie's little sis Tani for the first few days after surgery. When Tani came home the first thing she did was attack Maggie (alpha thing I think). The second thing she did was stare at me while she peed in Maggie's bed!
Hang in there- things will get better.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Hang in there Erica! You are deep into the worst part of this. It is quite common to hear pawrents say when they are tired and worried that they wish they hadn't done it, but I've honestly not heard of a dog that couldn't ultimately adjust to the amp, as long as all other health issues were fine.
You guys will get through this! When Abby was on the pain meds and recovering, she would go off by herself for long stretches of time - even laying outside in the yard at night after it was starting to get cold. We were so worried about her, it wasn't like her at all but we couldn't budge her or get her to come in and we didn't want to force it and hurt her. But once her staples were out and the meds were finally done, she was totally back to her old self.
You've just got to get through this rought patch!
Oh, and the peeing sounds about right for a monkeydog! Looking to steal some attention away from the tripawd. After all, bad attention is still attention!
Hang in there, we've all been there!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Erica:
I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles, but although it's little consolation to you right now, it's no surprise that Levi is acting strangely. The vast majority of dogs on this forum had weird reactions to pain meds. Anything that dulls the pain also tends to dull the brain. Even if he's been on the meds since before the surgery, things are different now. His body is out of whack due to the amputation, and has to readjust. Levi is dealing with a bunch of unfamiliar, unpleasant, and confusing sensations right now, and I'm afraid you're in for a little more of it before things start to improve. But they WILL improve – you just have to stay strong until they do. Here are a few things to bear in mind:
- It will take time to heal, and Levi might act strange until it does. Comet made a good point – those nerve endings that used to be connected to his leg need to die off before he'll be comfortable. That's going to take about a month, and you're in for some jumpiness until that happens.
- The first two weeks are ALWAYS the worst. I know you're going through hell with this, but you'll start to see improvement in another week or two. Get past the two-week mark and things will get a little better. They won't be completely good at that point, but you'll see the distant light you're looking for. Make it to the four-week mark, and you'll be well on your way to a full recovery. But right now, you're smack in the middle of the worst part. Be strong. Your dog needs your strength to get through this.
- Put on a brave face, even (especially) when you don't feel that way. Your other dog peed on the carpet because he's stressed and can see that you are too. Dogs don't like seeing their people upset, and your mood affects both of them. No one can blame you for feeling horrible right now, but if you have to cry or look upset, do it away from them. And then force yourself to act upbeat around them, because they take their cues from you.
STOP second-guessing yourself! Right now. No arguments! You did the right thing, and you won't find a single person here who would say otherwise. Most of us made the same decision once and lived through it, so we're not going to tell you anything different. But putting all that aside, it still doesn't matter. Your choice has been made. The leg is gone. It can't be reattached. You became irreversibly committed to this course the moment surgery ended, so second-guessing your decision now is a pointless waste of time and is doing nothing but causing you even more stress than you already have. So help yourself and Levi by putting that doubt aside, and move on with no regrets.
And ask all the questions you want – the more the better. That's why we're here, and we'll get you through this.
I really can't add anything to what the others have said. But I think the one factor that can't be over-rated -- YOUR attitude. Yes, what you and your baby are dealing with, it's hard, its scary, and you're exhausted and worried, and your life has been turned upside down. But your confidence and strength and positive attitude are essential. You need to show him that YOU are in control. Even if you don't feel it, you need to shine it on until you do. Your pups are looking to you to show them that everything is going to be okay.
And no, I have never heard of a dog that didn't adjust to this new normal. It just takes some time. Hang in there, and know that we've all been in your shoes and gotten through it. And you will, too.
Micki and Rio
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
bless your heart...where is a magic wand when you need one. the first two weeks are hell weeks. there are always a few pups that jump right up and bounce back in a couple of days...but we did not have that happen for us either. the meds are just wicked - even if levi was on them before, now he's a different dog, and they may cause a different reaction. breathe....know that this too will pass. this turmoil is not permanent, nothing is. and john (maxidad) is so right, that if your pups see you stressed, they will stress too - and with the drugs their stress is like being on a bad acid trip (don't ask) that won't end... again, try to breathe...
you did the right thing by removing the painful cancer. period. no question. you will find, in a day or two or three, geesh, levi just got up and went for a drink by himself...geesh, he just hopped over to the door by himself...geesh he went out and barked at the neighbor...all these things will come.
as for the monkeydog peeing...well, monkeydogs are challenging......
don't hesitate to come back here to vent or whatever. or PM any one of us with specific questions or whatever... it does get better.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Erica,
I do feel very badly for you right now. I can't add anything that the others haven't already said, other than I feel your pain!!! As hard as this all is there IS light at the end of the tunnel! It just seems reaalllly dark right now. Be strong, as hard as it is. You and Levi will get through this! You are about where I was with my dog, she was at day 4 and stopped eating and had a low grade fever for 2 weeks. So I know how you are feeling right now. But I can tell you that Gabapentin was a real life saver for my dog, Maggie, in her painful days prior to surgery and she was also on it after surgery. Nothing else would touch her pain(Tramadol, NSAID's).
Please give us some updates and our shoulders are here to cry on and help you thru this!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Ditto on everyones post. I try to mention when a new person comes here for advice before surgery to get sleep if you get a chance and don't second guess your decision, for the very reason your feeling the way you do right now. Believe it or not, where you both are at is for the most part normal, and if it makes you feel any better when I was right where your at now, someone had mentioned there will be light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm thinking, yea, right, but there is, so hang in there, and if it takes coming here for reassurance, thats what makes this place so great, so grab a cup of coffee, juice or whatever, some bubbly if that helps, hop on over to tripawds and get a fresh dose of shoulder to lean on. Good luck, Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
I also have to ditto the previous posts. You are at one of the worst stages of this entire journey. The first 2 weeks post surgery are horrible. You do need to get lots of rest, and take care of YOU so you can help Levi. I understand your second guessing yourself, but you did do the right thing! Hang in there, and do keep us posted. Levi will improve, it will take time...
Sending you many golden hugs...
Cathy
I can't really add anything to thing except my support. My girl was already a tripawd when I got her, so I didn't have to go through what you're going through...but my heart goes out to you, and I'm sending you all the good thoughts and hugs I can. Hang in there.
Proud mommy of a Belgian Malinois tripawd named Lizzie, who is completely spoiled rotten, loves kids, and will be going into therapy dog training as soon as I can afford it. You can find her blog here.
Also proud mommy to Vito, 3(?) yr old GSD. Adoption weight: 58lbs. Current weight: 90lbs. Goal weight: 85-90lbs (ACHIEVED!). Tested positive for EPI on March 30th, 2011 and stable ever since.
"Sometimes it takes an imperfection to create perfection."
Oh Erica, hang in there. Please know you have our support and everyone knows what a difficult time you’re going through. And we all know it does get better – honest. Don't second guess yourself (I know, easier said than done!) and no need to be reconsidering chemo at this point….just wait and see what happens. Our Sammy started to turn the corner when his staples were removed and was back to his old self when a week later we let him stop wearing a t-shirt. Weird, but that was what was still making him feel sick – guess he just didn’t like the look. Hang in there! xo Sue and Sammy
i can't really add anything to the posts- all the good things have been said. know that you did make the right decision- OSA is extremely painful and you took away the pain. you don't need to make the chemo decision right now, so get through the hell weeks and then think about it later. the first 2 weeks are horrible. i still remember parts of them, other parts i blocked out, but when i read my journal i am reminded of them. they are hard weeks, but once the staples or stitches come out and levi comes off the pain meds and gets a chance to be himself, you will see that you made the right decision. hang in there!
sending you hugs!
jenna & spirit chili dawg
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
not much to add either, but things will improve. I had forgotten all about it, but when I read about the licking it reminded me that Kess did that. She would lick incessantly and I just figured she had such an instinctual desire to lick her would that she had to lick something to work it out of her system. I still remember the first time Kess seemed to be all there after surgery. We wer outside, it was cool and nice out, and she just stood there and looked around a little just enjoying being outside and starting to feel better. It was like everyone in the house had a big sigh of relief and we all started to feel better. Just giver everything some more time. Sometimes we run around frantically trying to do everything and the best thing we could do is calm down, take a deep breath and just try to relax. Your dog will sense your anxiety so anything you can do t ohelp yourself relax and cope will benefit you both. Hang in there, you're doing an amazing job!
1 Guest(s)
