TRIPAWDS: Home to 22971 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

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!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
Newfie/ GP Hind left leg amputation on 09/18- Not looking good from day 5
sp_NewTopic Add Topic

Member Since:
26 September 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
26 September 2019 - 4:41 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

First post. This is my Newfoundland/ Great Pyrenees mix nearly 9 year old gentleman puppy. After being diagnosed with Osteo on his hind left ankle area, and after a lot of back and forth and worrying like crazy and wanting to right by him, we went in for his amputation. A high Femur amp was done.
Darwin had his left hind leg amputation last Wednesday.(09/18) He was doing great till Sunday- day 4- after amp. Meaning he was well balanced and though sleepy at times would get up for food and drink his water by himself. Will ask to go out to pee. I was excited that I need not have feared at all at the way he is progressing.
From Monday he has been yelping and crying at times when he gets up. These are sharp yelps. Last night he cried out with pain as he got up and we were totally lost as to what is causing this. No external signs of anything. After he gets up, he also goes about in a circle as if trying to wake up his sleepy leg. The sharp yelping definitely felt like pain.
I spoke to the doc on Tuesday. She doesn’t think it is phantom pain . She wants us to help him get up which we are doing now.
The other concern I am having is that I felt he was balancing himself well before while standing, that is till day 4. From Monday he is not. His body was swaying and falling to a side while standing. He has been eating dinner while sitting. I also see he is scared.
Again vet thinks he needs time to adjust and also has asked me to reduce gabapentin to twice a day. He is on Gabapentin 300mg twice a day, Meloxicam 1/2 tablet once and antibiotic twice a day. 

His staples come off on Oct 2nd
I am feeling distraught. 
What am I missing! He is a giant breed. (100lbs of fluff): Is on the slim side. Is something wrong..

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
26 September 2019 - 6:53 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Welcome to the club nopawdy ever wants to join, and best wishes for Darwin's speed recovery. Your future forum posts will not require moderation.

First, make sure Darwin is remaining confined with very little activity until his is completely healed. There is no need for anything but very short leashed potty time. Giant breed dogs need more time to recover, perhaps he is overdoing it. Please also consider seeking another opinion regarding the pain medications. Check out our recent video interviews with veterinary pain management expert Dr. Robin Downing. Specifically, she speaks about How Gabapentin Works in Tripawds for Acute and Chronic Pain. Just for reference, Wyatt gets a maintenance Gaba dose of 400MG three times a day for his chronic arthritis. He is only 74± pounds, and acute pain normally requires higher dosages. You will find many more pain management articles and videos in the Tripawds News blog .

Once Darwin has healed, you will both benefit from a consultation with a certified canine rehab therapist for proper evaluation and receommended exercises you can to at home to help him regain strength and keep him fit and strong. Visit a CCRT or CCRP and the Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first visit from the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab.

Hope this helps! Please keep us posted.

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

Massachusetts
Member Since:
24 June 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
27 September 2019 - 6:53 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

My boy Riot lost the same leg from cancer in the exact same spot almost 4 months ago. He's a GSD Malamute mix, and was 112 pounds and a bit over 12 at amputation. He has had his ups and downs. Not so much with pain, as our vet is big on pain control. However, he has had moments of backsliding here and there. I second getting a second opinion. I bet he'll also feel much better once the staples are out. 

Member Since:
4 April 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
28 September 2019 - 10:09 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi,

Brownie was 90 lbs at time of front leg amputation and 10 days before his 12th birthday. Brownie didn't have staples, he had stiches. But I have read in a few forums that the staples can sometimes pinch and cause pain. He will probably feel better once the staples come out as Riot's mom said. Brownie is 6 months past amputation and 7 months past since being diagnosed with OST. He takes Rimadyl 100 mg twice a day to help him with his senior muscles.

Hope Darwin feels better soon. Belly rubs always helped with Brownie.

My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019.  With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer.  I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud!  He will live forever in my Heart!

Brownie Bubba Bell

04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020

"March Saint"

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
28 September 2019 - 10:54 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Oh goodness, the avatar photo pf Darwin is so cute!  Your description  of him as a "gentleman puppy".....sweet.

I know it seems like you're in recovery mode forever, but soon all this will be a distant memory  and you will marvel at how quickly Darwin's sparkle  comes back.

You've  gotten good input from everyone.   It is MAJOR surgery and it takes time, especially for larger mature gentleman puppies,  to get over the surgery while trying to adjust to three legs.  Generally, it takes about two weeks to recover from the surgery, and then about thirty days to get muscles and joints adjusted to the new gate.

 By day three generally all the hospital meds are out of their system  and that's when managing  the pain takes some tweaking.   As far as the way the pain and yelps apparently  come on quickly,  it does seem like phantom pain could be a cause.  Kinda' hate to see the Gaba reduced, but maybe the Vet thinks that's making him woozy...and it can.  Ask about adding Tramadol  to the mix.  It works well in conjunction  with the Gaba.

One other thought and to ditto what Nancy (Brownie) said, wonder if any of the stitches/staples are pulling or poking  him.  Just a thought.

His. muscles are probably tight right now.  Try massaging  him up and down his spine, his shoulders, his neck before trying  to help him up and after every SHORT potty break.  As you massage, do you know any signs of tension as you go up and down his spine?

We know these ups and downs during recovery are stressful and so exhausting.   We call it the roller coaster ride.  Earing, drinking, pooping, peeing all good signs.  Just remember  to keep his activity  level a bare minimal.  

Let us know how he's  doing as far as the falling over now that his Gaba has been reduced.  

Hang in there!  Stay connected!  We are here to support you and Darwin and to cele6 all his upcoming  victories!!

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!

Member Since:
28 July 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
7 October 2019 - 7:28 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

We had a similar experience with our Great Dane - a few experiences to share. 

We ended up getting a neck MRI bc we were worried about cervical pain - probably a bit overboard but it was normal, which helped us all sleep at night. 

Our vet added amantadine into our pain plan... that seemed to help a ton! (Maybe it was coincidence). 

We used Rehab which I think was super helpful for mobility, pain management and balance. 

For whatever it’s worth at day 7, we took a down turn and it wasn’t until day 21 that he was finally in a consistent good and comfortable spot. However s nice then he has been awesome! He hikes about a mile 3x per week, went to the beach, plays w his toys and has a great time. 

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online: josiesaxt
Guest(s) 214
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17733
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256799
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG