Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Maggie had a front leg amputation just over a month ago. Her recovery seems pretty typical, little ups and downs but no major issues and she is getting around well for an older gal. In the last 3 days I have heard her give a quick yelp on 4 different occasions. I think in each case she was lying down looking fairly comfortable and didn't seem particularly agitated or appear to be in pain. Just a sudden yelp as if someone had stepped on her tail or something. She's been off her post-surgery meds for about a week and a half, but we (just yesterday) got her back on Metacam for a bit of arthritis in her back legs - at least until she builds up more strength to compensate for the missing leg, or maybe a long-term...she had been taking Metacam prior to surgery and had no side effects.
For anyone here with experience with phantom pains, does this sound consistent with your experiences? I will try to take note of her behavior if it happens again - but in general we have not noticed her pawing/sniffing at the spot where her leg was, or anything like that. My husband said when it happened this morning, he thought she looked a little confused after she yelped. I read some of the resources here about phantom limb pain, and it seems like if this is it, maybe just a very mild symptom? On a few occasions when she's asleep and dreaming I will notice her muscles twitching on the amp side while her other legs twitch (I always want to know what she's chasing in those dreams!), but have not noticed muscle twitching or anything like that when she is awake.
Any thoughts on this are much appreciated!
Thanks!
Cindy and Maggie
Hi girls!
My Izzy does the same but she jumps up and runs away from wherever she was laying. I've been massaging her amputation site - nothing too hard, just an open palm and a little pressure - and she's not been doing that as much since. My girl is older, just about 12, but no arthritis, so able to hop up pretty easily. Could be that Maggie isn't hopping away because it's not as easy for her to do so but otherwise, sounds like a match.
Glad she's doing well otherwise. Izzy is just about 5 weeks post amp and amazes me every day. I'm listening to her snore as I type and I'm so glad to have her with me. I hope you have found the same reassurance about your decision to amputate that I have. Each passing day, she gets stronger and happier, not that she ever seemed down.
Try the massage and see if it helps!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Sounds like what Nitro went through after surgery.....but he also had some issues that required chiropractic adjustments to help him with his new tripawd gait. Hearing them yelp like that is a scary thing, that's for sure.
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Cindy be sure to check out this post from Dr. Petty, he talks about this type of pain:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
izzysmomma said
Hi girls!My Izzy does the same but she jumps up and runs away from wherever she was laying. I've been massaging her amputation site - nothing too hard, just an open palm and a little pressure - and she's not been doing that as much since. My girl is older, just about 12, but no arthritis, so able to hop up pretty easily. Could be that Maggie isn't hopping away because it's not as easy for her to do so but otherwise, sounds like a match.
Glad she's doing well otherwise. Izzy is just about 5 weeks post amp and amazes me every day. I'm listening to her snore as I type and I'm so glad to have her with me. I hope you have found the same reassurance about your decision to amputate that I have. Each passing day, she gets stronger and happier, not that she ever seemed down.
Try the massage and see if it helps!
Hi Izzy's mom, thanks for responding! Maggie is 12 too, they're a pair of sassy old gals!
I will definitely try a light massage, though hopefully the yips remain few and far between. Come to think of it I was massaging the area the first couple of weeks to help with fluid reabsorption, and stopped doing it regularly after the swelling was gone. Maybe she needs a little more TLC...definitely can't hurt!
i hope Izzy continues to amaze you every day!! I feel just the same as you described. We're absolutely giving her the attention she deserves these days!
dobemom said
Sounds like what Nitro went through after surgery.....but he also had some issues that required chiropractic adjustments to help him with his new tripawd gait. Hearing them yelp like that is a scary thing, that's for sure.Paula and Nitro
Thanks Paula. I love hearing how Nitro is doing and all the ways you have helped him adjust to a fabulous life on 3 legs. It is weird hearing the little yelp out of nowhere, definitely seemed like a nerve reaction of some sort in her case. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen much more now.
Cindy and Maggie
Cindy, Ginger, 11yr old shih tzu, has been having phantom limb pain for the past two months, she started by yelping, sometimes plain out screaming and some whimpering too, she is doing better now, I had been massaging the amp area but when she stopped being comfortable I started using Epsom salts warm compresses, massaging her good leg and after a skin infection in the scar area the vet recommended a warm bath twice a week which by the way she enjoys, I feel that these home remedies have indeed helped her much, she is doing so well for the last few days, I can tell she is much more comfy; have you heard of mirror therapy for phantom limb pain? If you have a chance Youtube it, it did help me understand a bit better what may be going on with my baby, hope some of this info may be helpful for you and Maggie
selenesthih said
have you heard of mirror therapy for phantom limb pain? If you have a chance Youtube it, it did help me understand a bit better what may be going on with my baby, hope some of this info may be helpful for you and Maggie
I hadn't heard of it so thank you for the tip. I'm always a little leery about the kind of things you'll find on YouTube, you don't know if it's legit or not, but apparently mirror therapy studies have been published in scholarly journals. Interesting. It doesn't seem like something we can do with our animals but reading about it does give you a good understanding of why phantom pain happens.
http://www.medi.....ekey=88097
Dr. Tsao's mirror technique is simple. The patient sits with a mirror facing the remaining leg, moves the remaining leg and watches the reflection in the mirror, so that it appears that both the good and the amputated leg are moving. Dr. Tsao has found that by using this technique, he is able to decrease opioid use, decrease painful phan..... read more
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jerry, I had been researching the TT Tellington massage which led me (totally unrelated) to see a video of dr Ramachandran on youtube, of course by then I've read information on the phantom limb pain but his explanation about it was easy for me to digest, it does help me understand something that I myself cannot feel but that unfortunately my Ginger is going thru, I admit that I actually tried to use a mirror with her, then one of her brothers legs instead of a reflection, but she did not pay attention to either!
so far I see that massaging her left back leg while she is having a pain episode (since she doesn't let me do that on the amp site anymore) does give her some relief
Hey Cindy and Maggie! So glad your girl is doing well coverall. I know the yelping is disturbing when it's hard to control, or understand the cause.
You've gotten good advice AND some interesting "treatments"! The mirror treatment was very fascinating! Ginger, your mom certainly is doing everything possible to help you!
Of courepse I'm no vet and you shoukd seek professional opinion, but it certainly sounfs similar to phantom pain .
Keep us posted and give beautiful Maggie a hug for us!
Hugs to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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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