Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello!
My tripawd, Cora, has an interesting case. Before her recent surgery, she was already a tripawd. She had a stump that extended to an inch or two above where her former elbow was. Cora had a habit of licking her stump. I feel awful because in retrospect I didn't prevent it like I should have. I'd tell her to stop/get on to her when I'd see her do it. She did it most at night though while I was sleeping. I didn't think that it would cause any damage. However, the very tip of her stump where the healed tissue was exposed became raw from her licking it so much and she caused a pretty deep gash in the tissue. My husband took Cora to the vet, since I was unable to do so due to a work event I couldn't get away from. Anyways, we were thinking worst case scenario, she'd have to get stitches or sutures and would have to be on antibiotics, etc for a while to prevent infection. Well, my husband calls me and tells me the vet (who was a stand-in for our normal vet due to him being out of town) told him that Cora had to have surgery due to the nature of the wound and the fact that her skin was too thin surrounding to do stitches, etc. The vet told him that basically the wound would never heal. It was so quick, and I wasn't there to ask as many questions as possible, etc. So, next thing I know my baby is being whisked to the surgeon's table and is having her stump amputated.
It has been such a stressful week since that day. I feel nothing but guilt when I look at her and see how miserable she is. There are times where she acts normal and is distracted from her wound. However, lately she has been doing nothing but cry/whimper and sometimes let out shrieks when she stands up or if her wound gets anywhere near a table, door, etc.
I've researched on forums on this site about phantom limb pain, which I think could be what's happening to her. She's currently on Tramadol (50 mg) twice a day and she's on antibiotics as well. I had to ask for pain medication though, because the vet who performed the operation only provided Vetprofen for 7 days post-surgery!! I know I'm not a professional when it comes to post-operative care via medication, but that really floored me that she did not receive a stronger pain reliever....anyways! I can't decide if she is in an extreme amount of pain, or if she's constantly whining for attention...or both. I did give into her cries a lot when she first came home because of my guilt, and I know that wasn't the best thing for me to do. I feel that she might be feeling the guilt that I feel.
Basically, I'm desperate for advice, as I feel that my vet will most likely tell me that it's just something I'll have to deal with for a while. I know a lot of vets don't believe phantom limb pain is possible.
TLDR : Former tripawd had second amputation due to large gash on stump. She hasn't stopped crying/whining in the past week. It gets worse at nighttime.
Welcome! I'm sorry to hear about Cora, you've both been through a lot.
I'm glad you read our phantom pain information. I'm not a vet but here's my suggestion: find a new vet who practices modern pain management protocols. If your current vet will not provide adequate pain control with Gabapentin or a referral to a pain management specialist, it's time to move on. Cora sounds like she could really use some help from a rehab therapist or a pain specialist. What city are you in, we can try to help you find one if your vet won't give you a referral. Here's a directory of pain management specialists.
Meanwhile please don't beat yourself up. You are doing the best you can. It's a big learning experience for all of us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww, poor sweet Cora!
No, she's not crying because she wants attention, she's crying because she's in pain and is trying to tell you she hurts!! This is MAJOR SURGERY and she is in pain!! She hurts!
So ditto Jerry!
Most dogs here come home with TRAMADOL, GABAPENTIN, RIMADYL and an antibiotic for about a two week supply. Many dogs stay on pain meds for three weeks or more.
A d what you were dealing with as far as the stump does indeed happen. They get bumped and bruised and scraped and infected. That's why most Vets do a full amputation.
You are on the path of doing what needs to be done for Cora now. She's moving on and, once recovery is over, she will finally be able to.live a full life free of pain!! 🙂 🙂
How much does Cora weigh? Most Vets give you leeway with Tramadol to be given as much as three times a day. She must not weigh much as that's a pretty low dose.
Anyway, PLEASE get to another Vet and get her the pain management she needs. Again, MAJOR surgery! If a human had this done they woukd probably still be in the hospital and on a morphine drip!
For now, complete and TOTAL REST and just short potty breaks. No stairs, no jumping, just rest. Drinking and eating okay? Peeing okay? How does the incision look? No drainage or extreme swelling? Stitches look okay?
And she DOES need your attention and your comfort and your calm reassurance. Very gentle massage may help settle her. This DOES hurt and her pain has not been managed properly. So glad you advocated for Tramadol at least! Good job! Cora is scared and uncertain and hurts and trying to adjust to being a total tripawd. So please comfort her and spoil, spoil, spoil. She needs a lot of TLC right now.
Let us know how it's going a d if you were able to get another Vet who is more aware of the necessity to stop the pain in dogs.
Looking forward to more updates!
Give that sweet Cora a hug from us all!
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!
jerry said
Welcome! I'm sorry to hear about Cora, you've both been through a lot.I'm glad you read our phantom pain information. I'm not a vet but here's my suggestion: find a new vet who practices modern pain management protocols. If your current vet will not provide adequate pain control with Gabapentin or a referral to a pain management specialist, it's time to move on. Cora sounds like she could really use some help from a rehab therapist or a pain specialist. What city are you in, we can try to help you find one if your vet won't give you a referral. Here's a directory of pain management specialists.
Meanwhile please don't beat yourself up. You are doing the best you can. It's a big learning experience for all of us.
Thank you for this advice, Jerry! It has been a tough experience for her for sure. I agree that I should be with a vet who prescribes the correct pain medication and advocates for rehab/therapy. The problem is, since it was not my usual vet, I have not had the ability to discuss why he chose certain procedures, etc. I will be seeing the vet next Friday to get her sutures removed. She will still be on her Tramadol by then. I want to talk to him in detail about this.
I currently live in Starkville, MS. We have a vet school at Mississippi State University and they see patients. We have a lot of vets in the area. Before this surgery, I felt very comfortable with the vet we visit and he has always been helpful in the past. This experience has just really shaken things up for me.
I apologize for rambling, but thank you so much for your advice! I'm definitely going to look into options for Cora's recovery. I feel that they just kind of sent her home with me without any type of information to process what had actually happened. 🙁 I'm so thankful that I found this website!
benny55 said
Awww, poor sweet Cora!No, she's not crying because she wants attention, she's crying because she's in pain and is trying to tell you she hurts!! This is MAJOR SURGERY and she is in pain!! She hurts!
So ditto Jerry!
Most dogs here come home with TRAMADOL, GABAPENTIN, RIMADYL and an antibiotic for about a two week supply. Many dogs stay on pain meds for three weeks or more.
A d what you were dealing with as far as the stump does indeed happen. They get bumped and bruised and scraped and infected. That's why most Vets do a full amputation.
You are on the path of doing what needs to be done for Cora now. She's moving on and, once recovery is over, she will finally be able to.live a full life free of pain!! 🙂 🙂
How much does Cora weigh? Most Vets give you leeway with Tramadol to be given as much as three times a day. She must not weigh much as that's a pretty low dose.
Anyway, PLEASE get to another Vet and get her the pain management she needs. Again, MAJOR surgery! If a human had this done they woukd probably still be in the hospital and on a morphine drip!
For now, complete and TOTAL REST and just short potty breaks. No stairs, no jumping, just rest. Drinking and eating okay? Peeing okay? How does the incision look? No drainage or extreme swelling? Stitches look okay?
And she DOES need your attention and your comfort and your calm reassurance. Very gentle massage may help settle her. This DOES hurt and her pain has not been managed properly. So glad you advocated for Tramadol at least! Good job! Cora is scared and uncertain and hurts and trying to adjust to being a total tripawd. So please comfort her and spoil, spoil, spoil. She needs a lot of TLC right now.
Let us know how it's going a d if you were able to get another Vet who is more aware of the necessity to stop the pain in dogs.
Looking forward to more updates!
Give that sweet Cora a hug from us all!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Hi Sally!
Thanks for the reassurance regarding her crying out of pain not out for attention seeking. I have seen mixed thoughts regarding this in other forums. I feel in my heart that she is suffering and it makes me so sad that I can't comfort her as much as I'd like to. I do give her gentle massages around the incision. Particularly on the shoulder joint that remains from her amputation.
She weighs 45 lbs. Her incision looks pretty good as far as I can tell. It appears to be getting better. She is on antibiotics as well to prevent infection. I also have an e-collar for her (which makes her pretty upset, but it's for the best). She's eating okay and drinking okay. I haven't noticed any problems with urination/defecation. She still gets excited when she sees a leash or thinks that she's getting to go for a car ride and when she sees some of her favorite people. I'm glad to see that these personality traits are not gone since the surgery, she hasn't made a complete 180 as far as her temperament.
As I mentioned to Jerry, I will be taking Cora to the vet next Friday to remove the sutures. I may take her in before that process depending on how she feels in the next few days. I think I might be jumping to conclusions about my vet....I'm hoping that I'm wrong in my assumptions. It's mostly the receptionists who are very aloof whenever I have called with a concern.
This has definitely been a bad experience, especially since a vet who I did not even know performed the surgery. I can't stop kicking myself for just telling my boss that I could not make it. However, I genuinely did not think that the vet would decide to perform surgery and perform it so quickly.
Thank you so much for your advice. I feel that I have a lot of power in my hands now for when I go back to the vet's office. I'm going to give him a chance instead of trusting my assumptions. If he fails to provide what Cora needs, I will research going to another vet. My only fear is that there won't be a single one that conducts the practices you mentioned. 
Thanks again! I will be posting updates. 
I feel like you are being really hard on yourself, and I don't think this is fair. What happened with Cora's stump is very common, and certainly not your fault. You took her to get it looked at and as a result they have removed the remainder of the leg, which seems very sensible. Again, this happens frequently when a stump has been left.
You advocated for Cora to have more pain meds than they wanted to give. This is HARD to do. They are the experts and it can feel really hard to challenge them and question what they say. You did it. You did great. You got them to listen. You have nothing to reproach yourself for.
It does sound as though Cora is still in pain, and very likely nerve pain, for which she needs Gabapentin. Gabapentin works in a different way from the meds she is on and is specifically for nerve pain. Some dogs don't need it. My dog wasn't on it for example and was fine. But lots of dogs do need it, and if they do, then other meds are not going to hit the spot.
If she is crying and yelping still despite the tramadol etc., then I don't think it's a good idea to wait to see your vet on Friday. Could you call your vet and ask to see them today? Or could you perhaps call the MSU teaching hospital? These are generally a good bet and will be up to date on the latest pain management protocols. To give Gabapentin is pretty standard procedure, so I don't think you will have any problem.
Please stay connected. We are here for you.
Big hug,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Also, sometimes, dogs get very woogly and odd on Tramadol. Not every dog, of course, but many do.
And ditto what you and everyone has said. It all seems like a sensible approach. Just remember: you have done nothing wrong AND at some point may have come to amputation anyway so....Cora is just further down the road with this adventure now.
And ditto Clare: maybe go earlier if her behavior continues to seem out of sorts?
(We at Da Bear HQ had a dog with a congenital stump and he used it to balance and, of course, his big brain thought he was using it...so phantom limb pain would not be out of the realm of possibility- especially for a dog who is already reliant on a unique way of moving.)
Best wishes, huge hugs, and PyrPaws all around!!! (And, hint, hint: we LOVE updates here:)
megstamum said
I feel like you are being really hard on yourself, and I don't think this is fair. What happened with Cora's stump is very common, and certainly not your fault. You took her to get it looked at and as a result they have removed the remainder of the leg, which seems very sensible. Again, this happens frequently when a stump has been left.You advocated for Cora to have more pain meds than they wanted to give. This is HARD to do. They are the experts and it can feel really hard to challenge them and question what they say. You did it. You did great. You got them to listen. You have nothing to reproach yourself for.
It does sound as though Cora is still in pain, and very likely nerve pain, for which she needs Gabapentin. Gabapentin works in a different way from the meds she is on and is specifically for nerve pain. Some dogs don't need it. My dog wasn't on it for example and was fine. But lots of dogs do need it, and if they do, then other meds are not going to hit the spot.
If she is crying and yelping still despite the tramadol etc., then I don't think it's a good idea to wait to see your vet on Friday. Could you call your vet and ask to see them today? Or could you perhaps call the MSU teaching hospital? These are generally a good bet and will be up to date on the latest pain management protocols. To give Gabapentin is pretty standard procedure, so I don't think you will have any problem.
Please stay connected. We are here for you.
Big hug,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Meg,
Thank you for your reassurance. I am classically extremely hard on myself, ha! So, this is no different. I really appreciate your kind words. It helps alleviate some of the guilt that I feel about the procedure.
I called to talk to my vet just now and he said that since she's a larger dog, she may need more Tramadol. He said he wanted to start her out on a lower dose since it is a narcotic. I'm going to try upping the dose by one pill and see if that helps. If not, he told me I can come in anytime for him to look at her wound, etc.
Thanks so much for your advice! I feel even more equipped with the knowledge you shared for when I talk to my vet. I will keep updating as needed!
Best,
Riley
charliebear said
Also, sometimes, dogs get very woogly and odd on Tramadol. Not every dog, of course, but many do.And ditto what you and everyone has said. It all seems like a sensible approach. Just remember: you have done nothing wrong AND at some point may have come to amputation anyway so....Cora is just further down the road with this adventure now.
And ditto Clare: maybe go earlier if her behavior continues to seem out of sorts?
(We at Da Bear HQ had a dog with a congenital stump and he used it to balance and, of course, his big brain thought he was using it...so phantom limb pain would not be out of the realm of possibility- especially for a dog who is already reliant on a unique way of moving.)
Best wishes, huge hugs, and PyrPaws all around!!! (And, hint, hint: we LOVE updates here:)
Thanks for the reassurance! I keep trying to tell myself that, and hearing y'all confirm those thoughts makes me feel LOADS better. 🙂
I really think Cora used her stump for balance, so that's thrown her off a bit. It was always so cute because she would use her stump to "scratch" at bedding to make herself comfortable. She'd always throw herself down and wave her front leg and stump at us to get belly rubs. I'm sure it is so hard for her to comprehend another loss for her limb, since she's already been through this once. We have no idea how she lost her leg. When the rescue group found her, she already lost her limb and it healed. According to them, the vet said the stump healed fine the way it was and that it didn't need additional surgery. I agree that at some point she'd have to get amputation anyways. I just wish I would have been able to be more involved and able to ask more questions!
Speaking with my vet just now, he reassured me on certain things and made me feel better about the situation. I've just felt so unsettled about it since the vet that performed the surgery wasn't her regular vet. BUT there is nothing I can do about it now, other than browse through recovery forums such as these! 😀
Thanks again!
Riley
rgordon said
I feel that they just kind of sent her home with me without any type of information to process what had actually happened.
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Ok, so this is my biggest pet peeve with vets. You cannot wait until Friday to get more pain meds for Cora. Very first thing Monday morning you need to call the office and demand Gabapentin and if you need to increase the dose on the Tramadol. Be her advocate! Ask the vet if he would have taken just Motrin for having his leg cut off?! UGH!!! I don't care that this was her 2nd surgery - it was surgery - they cut through bone, cartilage, tissue, nerves, vessels. She is in pain and it needs to be treated.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Sorry for the problems.
I can just share what happened to Zelda and I. She had amputation on Wednesday April 26. Came home on Thursday with a 100 MG fentanyl patch, 200 MG Gabapentin every 8 hrs, 100 MG Tramadol every 8 hrs and 75 MG Rimadyl every 12 hrs. Ice three times a day for 10 minutes each time. No dressing was applied. She did start leaking a lot of serosanginous liquid (blood tinged fluid) and started licking the wound. I fabricated a pressure bandage out of a small size Spanx panty and a sanitary pad. I cut the crotch out of the panty, stuck the pad on the panty and put the whole "tube" like apparatus around her torso. So far, it has stopped the fluid leakage and she can't lick it. Even though she appears comfortable, I continue the oral meds (patch was removed Saturday) until her next visit 5/5/17. I hope this helps. Might give you ideas of what the vet needs to be doing....good luck and hugs
I'm so sorry to hear about Cora's recent experience. She is probably having a hard time balancing due to the stump being gone, in addition to being in pain. The good news is, dogs live in the moment, and she will adjust and be hoppily hopping around in no time. Just be patient, and yes the Tramadol is a narcotic, but it's ok to give it three times a day. Cooper came to us two weeks after his amputation, but I still used Tramadol twice a day for the first several months post-amp. Then, I lowered it to once a day, once every few days, etc. Until he didn't need it anymore.
Please keep us updated! I am sending you and Cora lots of love from me and Cooper.
xoxoxo
Kathy
Cooper (11/11/11 - 3/29/24) was a hound-collie mix "mutt" who was badly injured as a puppy and lost his leg at 7 months of age. We adopted him after the operation. He' was wonderful companion and comforting presence in our family for 12 years. He lived a fabulous life on three legs and was an inspiration to all. We will never forget our Coopie-Doopie-Doo.
Thanks to everyone for their replies! It has reassured me that I have been doing the right thing for Cora, but also infuriates me that my vet (or rather the vet that performed the surgery) has not been practicing the techniques that the majority of your vets practice post-amputation.
I received plenty of Tramadol before this past Friday for her suture removal. I started to wonder if she was having a bad reaction to the pills. When she's in the car ride or going for a walk, she does not whine/show signs of pain at all. I've started to wonder if this is more of a psychological distress than pain situation. It's hard to discern the two, since her actions mimics both signs.
She was acting like her old self again on the way to the vet, but when she got inside she saw a dog and got super excited and start wailing and yelping like she was in pain. My vet wasn't in the vicinity when it happened, but he said from a distant it sounded like "excited" yelps. I disagree with this, because when she started two vet techs came to aid her and take her back to the evaluation room. They had concerned looks, but they may have had the same interpretation as the vet. Who knows.
Anyways, my vet advises me to leave the e-collar off and take her off tramadol in case the medication was making her loopy, after my suggestion that the medicine may have a negative side effect. Her incision is healed now, and he said that I should put her back on her regular walking routine, etc. since her yelps/cries might be stress related. I even showed him a video of her struggling to stand up and whining/crying as she could barely move towards me. He said he simply did not know why she was crying, because when you press on her incision/around her incision she does not let out any cries of pain. I have felt all over her body, searching for the source of pain, and she has showed no indication of pain.
So, I took her on a regular walk that day. She had no crying/yelping fits when we were walking. She even lost balance at one point and got right back up without crying/yelping. The only time she had a yelping fit was when we were about to go outside. She literally sounds like a maniac now when she gets excited/wants to go for a walk! I don't know if this is a combination of excitement/pain/confusion or what! I fear that the cops will get called on us because it's so loud and sounds like she's being abused.
Anyways, her walk was fine. After her walk, her whining/crying was minimal. It seemed to do the trick. I took her and her pup sister Nora on a car ride the following morning to our favorite coffee place (they give them treats). Cora was acting fine the whole ride and seemed to sleep more/whine less. I went out of town that night and left my fur babies with my husband. I came back the next day (yesterday) and Cora rushed to the door to greet me and did not let out a single whine/yelp. I was so excited! "My baby is back to normal!" I thought. Yet, soon after settling down she started her whining/yelp routine again. All last night she whined/yelp intermittently every two hours or so.
In other words, I feel like we made two steps forward and four steps back all in one weekend. I'm hoping that today will be better, since the tramadol will be out of her system completely soon. I'm going to take her on a walk after work like she's used to. I hope and pray that things will get better soon. Whether she's suffering from phantom pain , or some other type of pain, or anxiety. If she continues to cry post tramadol, I will contact my vet and request Gabapentin. I prefer to try everything before medicating her again, as I think the tramadol had negative effects with her.
P.S. I hope none think ill of me for taking her off Tramadol. I had a fear that it was making things worse, and I still stick to that belief. Despite her whine/yelps, it was a lot worse when she was taking a lot of Tramadol.
Thanks again for all of the support! 
You are doing an EXCELLENT job of caring for Cora!!!
And yes, the only way to determine if the Tramadol is making her whackynis to do what you did and thst was to take her off ut ir taper it.
I've forvotten...Is she on Gabapentin?
And so eone will jave to help me with the search, but we have a member named CHARLIE who had hORRIBLE yelping cries out of the blue for weeks!! We saw the video. it sounds a lot like what Cora is dealing with.
If I recall, it was an exposed nerve situation (I think)...and kt rewuired surgery to fix it.
So, if someone can SEARCH and fi d that, I think you may...or may not....find some similarities there.
Hang in there! This WILL be figured out!!!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
And still take the walks slowly with lots of rest stops.
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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