Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Dexter is having his stitches out Monday so some good news, vet thinks he is doing well. Temp/heartrate fine. He is
still lacking any energy at home and sleeps most of the time or stands with his head down looking really sad:/ so I need to focus on something positive as I dont see
any light at the end of the tunnel yet..
I know he cant go out for a while yet but when can you start giving then short walks and when is the wound considered fully healed? Sometimes he wants to come on the sofa but we dont want him damaging anything!lol
Hi Dexter's people! Is Dex still on meds? If so, that could be the reason he seems tired/depressed. My boy Max wasn't really back to his "normal" self until about 4.5 - 5 weeks after surgery. Some dogs just take a bit longer. As for walks, we started walking Max up and down our street about 2 - 3 weeks after surgery. It helped. We all had cabin fever by that point, and he absolutely loved getting out and smelling the smells of our neighborhood. So I think a short walk with Dexter would be fine, just don't overdo things. He may think he has more stamina than he really does!
Hi, he is only on metacam and antibiotics...
This afternoon I have now noticed he is twitching now this is worrying me! Its not in
the amputation site it seems to be in good limbs and all over. Vet
seems to think its exhaustion. I cant take anymore worry:( Has anyone had this body twitching?
Okay...so I asked Happy Hannah what we could do to help Dexter.
She looked into HER food cabinet and this is what she pulled out! Err.....er.....I think I better go check out her "pantry"! Clearly these treats are for YOU to focus on...not Dexter!! 
Yeah, as Maximutt says and as long as everythingchecked out okay at the vet, a little short walk where he can stimulate his senses may indeed help.!
For me, I know I felt quite frustrated as many dogs were really getting their sparkle back within two weeks. I stayed glued here and was reminded that EVERY dog is different and some recover slower than others.....and it is TRUE! It was weeks before she actualy got up to greet me at the door and I remember how overjoyed I was!
Another suggestion...and this worked for me too...when he's not expecting it, go knock on the door or ring the doorbell.... ..or have someone come over he really likes and have them be super happy and excited to see him...even have them bring a delicious treat....yeah...ice cream!!
Do you have a neighbor who could walk a dog..or cat..up to her front door that might get her "going off" on them? Just so ething for a little SHORT burst of stimulation. Or a ride in the car (if he likes them) to a drive through for a burger?
And if you can help him get on the sofa, I think that would do wonders for his sense of "getting back to normal". Dogs love a normal routine...it gives them stability and confidence. Maybe even take the cushions off and put a squishy blanket on it so he can get up on his own.
Remember, humans would still be in the hospiatal!! He's eating, drinking, peeing, pooping, no infection, good blood work......."just" recovering from major surgery!
Hang n there! Jump throught the screen and eat the bag of goodies Hapoy Hannah sent over...yes, of course all at once!!
Sending lots of hugs and a "knowing" that all is well in the land of Dexter the Magnificent!!
Sally and Happy Hannah
PS....Have the antibiodics cleard up the infection? Did the vet put him back on pain meds?
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!
Oh just saw your response right a after I added the PS about the pain meds...ooooops!
From what I kow about phanto limb pain...the twitching is localized to the missing leg area...but that's just my limited knowledge
computer gonna' crash...so quicky...would vet be adverse to putting him back on tramadol or gabapentin for maybe two days just to see if that helps?
Does he whine when he twitches...ears pinned back? Is it
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!
No he doesnt whine, he was wide awake and his good legs seemed to spasm he was laying down. Later his amputation started doing the same thing. I gave him Artemisinin last night but dont think its that. My vet hadnt heard of it so Im not sure if I should carry on with it or not but it seems very safex
As you can tell, my computer did crash.....but they gave "it" time to get back up and running and for you to respond.
I do hope you hot to "click on" the pic I sent in first post......full of good "focus meds" for you
This journey is just so crazy.....his leg spasm could just be maybe a leg cramp...or his leg "fell asleep"...so ething reall simple like that. If he didn't cry or seem bothered, I would just chalk t up to something simple...
The i cision site could be something simple too. ...again, as long as no outward signs of obviuous pain, etc.........It COULD be that he had an itch on his sideof the amputation and was merely trying to scratch it. One thing I always have to remember is to "scratch" all over on "tht" side...ears, muzzle, etc. as they can no longer reach the iitch!
Anyway, just throwing that out there. Not famaliar enough with the artem. as far as a side effect like that, although I would thik unlikely, but I'm not a vet.
Give him a good gentle scratching massage all over, legs and all, that'll make bothof you feel good!
Gotta' go t work now, but will check in later tonight.
Hugs!
Sally and Hapy 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'm so sorry, I know this is SO difficult when it looks like progress is being made. But I promise, all dogs recover at different rates, he will get better.
If anyone knows about a difficult recovery it's Sally and Happy Hannah. Check out Sally's first post here at Tripawds. What a difference a few weeks made for her and Hannah!
I would stop the Artemisinin . It's really soon to be introducing that into his diet and with him having been through so much already, it's wise to just keep things simple right now. I know you want to help him as much as possible but there's time for that after he heals. Right now focus on keeping things simple and normalized like before.
As for the twitching. Pay attention to signs like when it happens. What happened just prior? What was he doing? Make notes as to when it happens. Is it bothering him? If not, remember, it takes time for the brain to connect the dots and realize the leg is missing. Our Wyatt Ray 's limb has been gone almost 5 years now and he still has twitching in his stump area but he doesn't even notice it. It bothers us more than him.
What you need to do is to not focus so much on him. Your worry is probably making him worry. Remember, dogs absorb our emotions. If WE believe everything is good, they believe it too. If we act calm, they can too. Dogs look to humans for leadership. Be strong, be hopeful and optimistic, and know that this is only temporary. Dexter will absorb that energy, I promise.
Meanwhile i love Sally's ideas about how to perk up his spirits. Try them and let us know what works. Hang in there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes your right, I am a worrier though! Every fast pant I think mets, and the fact he is lethargic still ten day post op. I will
stop the Artemesinin for now but I do worry by stopping it it is wasting
precious time that it could be helping slow the spread. Im a wreak but I need to be positive for Dexter's sake:) its so hard as when he is like this you think thats i it and its the cancer rather than more likely symptoms of him recovering frim a major op! Chocolate time gor me I think. Thank youx
DEXTER!! Youjave got to read the link Jerry gave you to m first post.......all of the posts!! Thanks Jerry! This really should be "required" reading! It's an excellent example of the fear that sets in when a recovery seems a little "slower" and how a community called "tripawds" loves us through it
OMD!!!!!! I "lived" it...every single word...yet I could NOT believe tje state of sheer panic, despair, hoplessness, regret...and on and on and on!!! The highs, the lows, the steps back, the steps forward.....and the entire time, day after day, post after post, the souls of this community continued to pull me back from the edge! I was THE poster child for panic and regret AND not not having any patience!!
PLEASE g back and read it.....I REALLY think it will help and it will be good for you to see how absolutely petrified I was!! In coparison, yo're calm as a cucumber!! It's a.so interesting to see how I would "overlook" any bit of progress if the next day wasn't as good. Or, it would be like..."yeah, she wagged her tail BUT she din't give me a kiss"...lr whatever. I was just soooooooo fearful she wouldn't get better...I wouldn't pay attention to the signs that she was getting betterz,!
So grab some chocolate, curl up next to Dexter and read the beginning of this journey. Aamd I'll give you a clue.....it will ultimately take you to a very, very happy place
Love to you!
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!
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