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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My husky dog is one month out of surgery. Amputation was done after he broke his leg but the cause of the break was osteosarcoma so it's palliative. He is doing great - running around, but at towards the end of his 12 hour dosage period he gets fearful - looks back at this stump and scurries around from corner to corner, lying down then jumping up and bolting to another corner. He is on carprofen and gabapentin. I'm wondering if I should ask my vet if he should be taking the gabapentin every 8 hours instead of every 12 but I thought I'd ask here first because I'm not really sure what he is experiencing. Thanks.
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Most dogs I have seen here are off pain meds by the end of week two or three post op- does your pup have some other issues he is dealing with? Of course all dogs and recoveries are different, a few pups are on meds at 4 weeks.
What is your boy's name? And since he is 'looking back' at his amp site is he a rear amp?
One more question- has he been having phantom limb pain? It sort of sounds like phantom limb pain but I wonder about his activity level. My little Tripawd is years past her amp (car accident) and she occasionally will do what you are describing- she jumps up like something bit her and looks at her rear. She only seems to do it when we have been very active that day and I think she is having muscle issues because of it.
Have you seen a rehab vet? It's really helpful to get a new tripawd checked out and develop an exercise plan.
Of course keep your vet up to date on what you are seeing- if there is a pain issue that needs gaba then every 8 hours might be better.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
krun15 said
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.Most dogs I have seen here are off pain meds by the end of week two or three post op- does your pup have some other issues he is dealing with? Of course all dogs and recoveries are different, a few pups are on meds at 4 weeks.
What is your boy's name? And since he is 'looking back' at his amp site is he a rear amp?
One more question- has he been having phantom limb pain? It sort of sounds like phantom limb pain but I wonder about his activity level. My little Tripawd is years past her amp (car accident) and she occasionally will do what you are describing- she jumps up like something bit her and looks at her rear. She only seems to do it when we have been very active that day and I think she is having muscle issues because of it.
Have you seen a rehab vet? It's really helpful to get a new tripawd checked out and develop an exercise plan.
Of course keep your vet up to date on what you are seeing- if there is a pain issue that needs gaba then every 8 hours might be better.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Hmm - I'll have to see if it's tied to activity though most of the time it's after I get off work so I can't be sure what he is doing. It's very sad. His name is Oliver. It is a rear leg. He is doing exactly what you describe - like something bit him. Should he come off all meds? When I read that phantom pains can last over a year I assumed he's be on them for the rest of his life.
Hi there! My girl Maddie is three weeks post front leg amputation. She did experience some phantom pain the first week and it was similar to what you describe - she would jump up and yelp, then look around a bit and go back to what she was doing. She's been off pain meds since 12 days post surgery. Her surgeon wanted her off at the ten day mark but I kept up the gabapentin a bit longer. I can tell you that she seems to feel better now that she's not getting any medications. Every dog is different but I would definitely call the surgeon who did the amputation and ask them. Also, there are some folks on here (Karen who responded above is one of them!) who really know a great deal about this and I'm sure they will chime in soon. Good luck!!!
Bobbi & Maddie a/k/a ManiacMads
Front leg amputation 10/17/17 due to Osteosarcoma
She's Madeline, She's Madeline
Be sure to check out the various pain management posts in the Tripawds news blog. Including this one to help identify often hard to see symptoms...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi again,
Please discuss the pain meds with your vet before you make any changes. I'm not a vet, just sharing my experiences and hopefully giving you some ideas.
Another question I should have asked- do you see the bolting behavior anytime other than near the end of the 12 hour gaba dose? Does he do it only at the end of the dose in the evenings or also at the other end of the dose- sometime in the morning?
I haven't heard of too many dogs having phantom limb pain as long as a year- actually none come to mind but that doesn't mean it can't happen. You definitely need to get to the bottom of it (no pun intended!) so Oliver can be comfortable. When he bolts can you get next to him and put your hand around the incision area? You might be able to feel or even see if there are muscle spasms going on. You can try some gentle massage of the area too to help loosen up the muscles. Here are some Blog Posts about how to massage.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I agree with all above about discussing pain meds and management with your vet. For an anecdotal perspective, Loki stayed on his gaba for 4 months (slowly weaned off) because his pre-amp neuropathy in that leg put him at higher risk for phantom limb and other pain issues. All pups go through this differently, and it sounds like with maybe some tweaks your dog will be feeling great soon! Keep us updated. 🙂
Hugs and puppy kisses,
Brittnie and Loki
🐾 Loki, Dog of Mischief 🐶
I loved life as a tripawd for over three years following right forelimb amputation due to an aggressive and recurrent hemangiopericytoma. I reclaimed my place among the gods and valkyries in Valhalla on November 11th, 2020. My parents miss me tremendously, but I know they'll keep me in their hearts forever... and don't worry, I've approved my mom's use of my Tripawds account.
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