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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Pain or Meds, what is causing behavior?
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Arlington, WA

Member Since:
2 July 2013
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15 July 2013 - 8:06 am
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Schimika had her left front leg amputated due to osteosarcoma. Two weeks post op, she seemed to be doing wonderful, then on the 15th day suddenly started sitting instead of laying, and while sitting, is contorting her body in some very odd ways. She sits up almost all night and day, her ears are pinned back, and heavy panting at times. Keeps getting up and walking in a small tight circles repositioning herself as if she just cant get comfortable. Her back legs seem to kinda buckle at times when she is walking around. I took her back to the vet last Thursday and they put her back on pain meds. She had been off them for a just a day before this started. She is still restless and seems uncomfortable even on the meds. Often times I cannot even get her to eat a cookie or piece of hotdog and have been having to force her pills down her. This morning I simply could not do it again she actually looked at me and whined when I tried and that is the first whimper she has made since the leg first broke and we found out she had cancer.  Last week I would find her up on my bed every time I came home, now I don't even see her try. Her little stump still shakes and spasms to the point it actually makes her other front leg, neck and head  jerk. I fear she is in pain and I can't bere to see her suffer. Can anyone tell me if all of this is normal at three weeks post op? I am afraid that all I did by amputating her leg was make her last days miserable and I do not want her to suffer.

 

 

krun15
2
15 July 2013 - 9:15 am
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Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not require moderation.  I hope you don't mind I moved your topic here from Size and Age Matters... is Schimika a big or older dog?

What kind of pain meds is Schimika on? Did they change the pain meds or dosages? When you had her back at the vet did they check her out and give you an all clear? Where any xrays taken clear? The only thing that comes to mind is possibly phantom limb pain, but that is not usually constant- it causes sudden yelps and sometimes some spasms. Read HERE to see if that sounds like what Schimika is experiencing- scroll down a ways to the Phantom Limb Pain info.  Lots of people have had good luck with gabapentin for phantom pain .

Is it possible she overdid activity or fell down awkwardly? How big a stump does she have? Three weeks out is early in recovery, we often see pups do well then have some set backs.  Could she have hurt her back or one of her other legs?  If you feel around on her legs, back and neck can you find a trigger point? 

Sorry- I seem to have more questions than answers. But- you did not do the wrong thing by amputating!  If she broke her leg you had no choice. If she was doing fine for a couple weeks, right?  You just need to figure out what is causing this set back. It is not unusual for pups to have problems getting used to their new normal. If she is getting on your bed while you are gone she could have fallen.  You should probably restrict her to a smaller space without any opportunity for jumping up or down until you figure out what is going on.

Hang in there- this is not easy.  You are tired and stressed and so is Schimika- and that makes everything harder to deal with. I'm sure other members will chime in with some experiences and ideas.

Karen

 

 

 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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15 July 2013 - 10:00 am
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Karen really has said everything so well and, hopefully, the questions she asked will bring some clarity to the situation......so we all look forward ro your response.

This reclvery period is such a tough ti e and full of ups and downs. My Happy Hannah was well into tjree weeks before she was off pain meds. I second guessed myself everyday and night for those first several weeks and had those sames concerns. It was misery...for both of us!

Omce you get everything checked out and eliminate any other possible issues, it will probavly turn out to be some type of pinched nerve or pulled miscle......and the fact that it came on so very suddenly seems to point in that direction also.

Now, I'm no vet' but the symptons you describe certainly sound like pain...very muh so. Did vet take xrays of spine, check out her tummy, etc....-I think Karen already ay have asked that.. Do your best to give her the pain meds jntil this clears up.

This I can promise------when recovery does take place----you will be sooooo glad you did this FOR Shimika and you will realize it was not done TO her!! Happy Hannah is almost five months post amp. amd it was the best decision ever!! Our time together is so sacred and chock full of loving and spoiling and non-stop tail wags!

Please stay connected with us....You are not alone. We are with you every step of the way! And please take this next request seriouslu.......B R E A T H E.......INHALE SLOW.Y....EXHALE SLOWLY.....B R E A T H E......INHALE DEEPLY....EXHALES SOWLY......AND REPEAT! If you drink, inhales a glass of wine:-) :-) If not, inhales some chocolate:-) :-) or both!!

We'll look for your update,

Surrounding you with hugs,

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15 July 2013 - 11:53 am
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Welcome Anna and Schimica, we're sorry you're dealing with cancer and having a difficult time during recovery. Rest assured that you are not alone and we can help you get through this rough patch. I can only reiterate what Karen and Sally have said here. If you can answer their questions we can help you better. We'll look forward to your response!

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

Rock Hill, SC
Member Since:
28 November 2011
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15 July 2013 - 9:10 pm
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Hi guys and welcome.  Our Zeus did very well for a week and a half after surgery then became reluctant to walk or lay down.  We also noticed that he would whimper when we picked him up to carry him upstairs.  Our vet diagnosed a strained/tweaked back and had us keep him on pain meds for an additional two weeks as well as keeping his activity limitedl.  After a couple of weeks he was fully recovered and did great.  Now, that being said, our vet was an ortho specialist so he really knew what he was looking for - only took him about two minutes to find the problem after my husband and I had spent the entire morning rubbing, poking and prodding trying to figure out where he was hurting.

One thing I noticed (and, please please please don't take this as criticism - I am fully aware that alot of vets don't give detailed instructions upon discharge and, if you've never had a tripawd before this probably wouldn't occur to you) was your comment about her always being on the bed when you came home.  Our vet was extremely adamant that Zeus should do absolutely nothing the first week other than walking far enough to eliminate and that only a little more than that should be allowed the second week.  If she was jumping on and off the bed during that initial two weeks, it is very possible that she hurt something.  Their bodies are adjusting to the new way of distributing their weight and landings can take a toll on the remaining legs and their back.  If your vet didn't find anything to be concerned with, I would limit activity as much as possible and give her body time to bounce back.

I know that it is terrifying - we were convinced that during that 1.5 weeks the cancer had spread (paranoia aw-shucks).  Try to hang in there and please keep us posted.

Lisa

Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11.  A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/

Montana
Member Since:
1 February 2013
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15 July 2013 - 10:00 pm
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The first couple of months I would massage Shooter's neck, back, shoulders and legs every day. He had muscle spasms every time. It really sounds to me like Schimka has injured herself or is just all over body sore from her new normal and needs some PT. There could also be a bit of phantom pain involved as panting was Shooter's sign of pain (now it's just the Prednisone). I also usd a back On Track blanket and it really helped relax the muscles (I think Maggie the Cow Dog uses one also).

Hang in there. This is hopefully just one of those bumps in the road.

Luanne and Shooter

Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old. 

Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.

http://shooter......ipawds.com

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