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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Five days post op seems early to be reducing meds. Of course I'm not a vet, and my only experience is with my dog. Checking with your vet is the best course of action for sure.
This is a major surgery and I think it's really important to keep dogs medicated pretty much around the clock until their Staples come out. And then begin weaning. I know for my rose that when I reduced her meds too soon the panting increased.
She weighs 68 pounds and was taking 200 mg gabapentin, 100 mg tramadol, and 75 mg Rimadyl. She took the gabapentin and Rimadyl every 12 hours and the tramadol every six. When her Staples came out we reduced the midday tramadol doses.
She has started chemotherapy and is now five weeks post amp. She is still on medication. She takes the gabapentin and Rymadyl a.m. and p.m. We give her tramadol if she has overdone it and seems to be a pain.
Rosie story is a little bit different because she also had a TPLO surgery on August 31 and then the amputation on October 26. Because she couldn't rehab the way she should have, her TPLO leg is still bothering her. I'm not sure if giving her medication is necessary, but for right now it just feels right.
Could it be pain? I hope that your vet will have some answers for you, and then help to get on top of things so that you can get some sleep and rest. The first two weeks are so hard and full of doubt And anxiety. Just know that when the Staples come out, your baby will get their sparkle back, and be their old selves. Best of luck!
Mom Kelllye and Rosie the Wonder Tripawd
❤️🐕❤️🐕
Ditto what everyone else has suggested. If Tramadol is the culprit there are other pain medications that can be added to the mix, including Gabapentin, Amantadine and NSAIDs like Rimadyl. Let your vet know what is going on so you can adjust the pain meds and make your dog comfy.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello all,
My German shepherd dog rayna is 13 days post amputation. She's getting around great!! I noticed in the last 2 days a heavier breathing. She does pant when she gets up and moves around and usually goes away as soon as she drinks some water. Noticed when she gets comfortable just some labored breathing. She is done with her gabapentin so I gave her just one dose of tramadol today to make sure it wasn't pain related. Could it be pain related? anyone else experience this?
thanks in advance!!
Heather and Rayna
Glad to hear Rayna is doing well overall!!
Do check with your Vet ro make sure there are no other issues, okay?
Many dogs, including my Happy Hannah stayed on some dose of pain meds into the third week...and some stay on longer. There is no "one plan for all" when it comes to when to curb, or eliminate, pain meds.
How long has Rayna been off meds prior to the Tram you just gave her? What has her activity been like? Using three legs is tiring at first, as all the muscles take awhile to get used to the new gait. She could be having some pain from over using muscles, as well as still some residual pain from surgery.
So talke to your Vet and see if it helps to put her back on some pain meds for a bit longer, as well as making sure she isn't doing too much.
Update when you can and give that sweet gal a big smoochall over her pretty face for us! 🙂
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!
Heather is she still panting after the Tramadol?
Sally's insight is spot-on, I agree totally with her ideas and suggestions.
Another question: What is her activity level like right now? Oftentimes our Tripawds fool us into thinking they are ready to tackle more activity than they should. GSDs are notorious for this. At 13 days she should still be on a very mellow activity regimen, with minimal walks of just a few minutes and lots of rest.
Also if you haven't done so already, please consider an evaluation with a canine rehab specialist. These folks can help show you what Rayna should and should not be doing as far as activity goes, and how to build her stamina and strength. Also, the Tripawds Foundation will even pay for your first rehab visit so it's a win-win!
Update us when you can OK?
P.S. I just noticed you posted in an old topic. Please consider starting a new one in Hopping Around so we can better help you and Rayna OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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!
Rayna has been slowly weaning from gabapentin only since Friday so the past few days she was only getting 1 a day and none so far for over 24 hours. As far as activity goes we have been letting her dictate what she's up for. I would agree that she is probably doing too much since she has been wanting to walk around the yard a bit and wanders the house by herself. Today she even jumped back up on the couch! I will give her back her gabapentin tonight and keep her on one a day or 2 a day and see if she responds positively to that. Wanted her off of it at first because it makes her more lethargic and loopy but it may be for the best that it helps to restrict her activity level. Thanks
heather and rayna
Heather you may want to try giving her the gabapentin at night and working up from there. And you probably know this, but it's not the kind of drug you want to stop suddenly. This article explains more:
All About Gabapentin for Tripawd Dogs and Cats
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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