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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.

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Member Since:
14 September 2009
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14 September 2009 - 8:52 pm
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My little girl Pearl had an amputation of her right hind leg a week ago saturday.  She doesn't have cancer but had her leg broken in June when she was hit by a truck.  We tried to save her leg by having pins placed but the day the pins were removed her leg rebroke.  We had to have her leg amputated.  She started out doing absolutely wonderful.  She seemed like she was returning to normal.  Pain had decreased and she seemed like having the leg removed was a relief.  She was playful and getting around great.  The last couple of days though she hasn't been doing as well.  She still has the joint and short part of her femur left.   She is walking slower and seems to be drawing her back end to the right and is walking crooked.  She seems to be uncomfortable and is frequently changing her position to try to get comfortable.  I think she is having a muscle spasm in her stump which is drawing the bone up toward her belly.  If this sounds familiar to anyone I would really love to get some ideas about how to keep her from having the muscle spasms or how to at least make her more comfortable.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  It just breaks my heart to see her like this.

Oaktown
Member Since:
16 July 2009
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14 September 2009 - 9:22 pm
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Is Pearl on any pain medications at this point?  Wyatt Ray had his right rear amputated on July 2 and he was given Metacam for four weeks until he was totally over his pain.  I never have seen anything similar to the muscle spasm you describe, either in Codie Rae (also a right rear amputee) or Wyatt.  They will occasionally try to seriously scratch with the leg that is no longer there, but I would not describe it as a spasm.

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14 September 2009
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14 September 2009 - 9:29 pm
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Pearl has been on Rimadyl twice a day since surgery.  She just ran out yesterday.  We had be using Acepromazine to keep her quiet when the pins were in her leg but hadn't used it until she started having spasms to help her relax.  All it seems to do is sedate her and she still is having problems.

I appreciate your help.  Thank you

East Bay, CA
Member Since:
6 August 2009
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14 September 2009 - 9:29 pm
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The first couple weeks we used a heating pad every couple hours. Those muscles get sore working to make up for the missing limb. We first used it on the incision area to keep down sarcomas, and then later started using in on her other big muscle groups. Make sure you keep testing it to make sure it isn't getting too hot. We would sit with her and sometimes slowly rub her muscles under the heating pad. Only use for 20-30 minutes. She didn't always want to lay down for it, but after it was on for a couple minutes she seemed to really relax (better than any other time).

Also, make sure your vet has you taking enough pain medicine. It takes awhile to wean off them for some of us. We don't want our dogs zonked out, but NSAIDS (such as Rimadyl) help decrease the swelling in the muscles.

Another thought, if it is really muscle spasms-maybe electrolytes are off and need checked.

After the first week, our dog (and my husband) started to seem really REALLY depressed. We took her out on a drive. Slow through farm country with the windows down and stopped so she could sniff the cows. Through the drive-thru so she could get a hamburger (something we NEVER did before). Then to an un-populated park. We took a ball (her favorite). Ok, it wasn't anywhere near like before, and we didn't want to overdo it with all the stitches. But the point was the distraction. And a new view for her and dad. It worked. We spoiled her in a way that would have disgraced us before! ha! But it worked.

Just some ideas from Caira's recovery.

May 2001-Jan 21, 2010.....I'm a dog and I'm AWESOME!..... Always.

East Bay, CA
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6 August 2009
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14 September 2009 - 9:31 pm
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Just saw your post about Rimadyl. I would get it refilled. Ace is only a sedative, so it won't do much for the pain or spasms. Maybe a low dose of something else is in order? We started with 75 mg Tramadol 3 times a day and then weaned down to 25 mg as needed. Just another thought.

May 2001-Jan 21, 2010.....I'm a dog and I'm AWESOME!..... Always.

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14 September 2009
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14 September 2009 - 9:34 pm
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Thank you very much.  I will try some heat and see how that works.  Someone told me that I could give her up to 50 mg of Ibuprophen a day.  Have you heard that it is ok to give your dog Ibuprophen?


Member Since:
22 August 2008
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14 September 2009 - 11:50 pm
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Do NOT give your dog Ibuprofen unless you want a stomach ulcer.  It is not a good choice for dogs anyway, and combined with another NSAID like Rimadyl it doubles the risk for problems.  Also do not use aspirin with NSAIDS and do not use Tylenol either.  I think that the spasms are due to phantom pain so I would ask your vet for gabapentin; it works great!

Pam and Tazzie

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14 September 2009
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15 September 2009 - 5:49 am
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OMG thank you very much.  Thankfullly I haven't given her any Ibuprophen.  We ran out of Rimadyl 2 days ago so she hasn't had any of that either.  I will ask for Gabapentin.  You all don't know how much I appreciate your help.  The decision to have Pearl's leg amputated was the most difficult decision my husband and I have ever had to make.  Seeing her like this is killing us.   I know that you know how I feel.  It is just very comforting to have a place to come to and discuss things with people who care and know what I am talking about.  This is a wonderful site.  Thank you very much.   

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15 September 2009 - 9:54 am
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Rimadyl wreaked havoc on Jerry's intestines. (It has been known to cause some pretty serious stomach and GI problems.) He did well on Metacam and Tramadol was his pain killer of choice. Perhaps Pearl can't get comfy because she has an upset stomach. With any NSAIDs over long term use watch closely for runny or bloody stools.

Anyway, Wyatt had on one occasion what looked like a spasm of his stump – a very rapid quiver of the muscle, but it subsided quicly and didn't appear to be uncomfortable ... differnet from those times when he is clearly attempting to scratch with the missing leg.

For phantom pain concerns read Jerry's blog post about Phantom Limb Pain in Tripawd Dogs which includes a PDF download link with more information. Hope this helps, and thanks for joining!

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

Member Since:
29 August 2009
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15 September 2009 - 10:23 am
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Boinks had a lot of spasms or what I think were myoclonic jerks.  These were mostly at or near the site of the incision, but also intermittently in her other legs.  She had them on heavy meds, just home from the vet both times, and off meds.  They would lessen when I massaged her back and her legs; I was not comfortable with the idea of massaging near her incision site so soon after surgery.  I figured the spasms were just her muscles trying to stabilize her position, but I don't know.  As far as position, she seemed most comfortable on her mattress, which was a king sized mattress that we had on the floor in her bedroom, and then which we brought out into our living room so she could be comfortable and near us.

Is Pearl eating and drinking? 

I understand how it feels to see these things happening and not know what is causing it.  I hope she gets some relief and you get some peace of mind.

Hugs,

Mel

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14 September 2009
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15 September 2009 - 8:58 pm
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Yes, Pearl is eating and drinking just fine.  I tried using a heat pack last night but she wasn't having any part of it.  I really just think it was too heavy.  I am going to try something a little lighter tonight.  Thank you all for all the suggestions.  I really appreciate it.  This website has helped tremendously.  Not just because of the suggestions but because you all understand how feel. 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15 September 2009 - 9:35 pm
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I was going to mention a warm compress ... check out Jerry's review of Bella's Hot Cold Pain Relief Pack. It works great!

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

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