Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thanks for the ideas. Your PB sandwich idea is a good one. Our vet suggested it to as well and it has been working great and is now our go-to method. It has worked every time! 🙂
Today was 10 days post-op. It was a hard one. Probably the hardest day we've had. I feel discouraged. ☹️
I picked up Tramadol yesterday and started it last night. I don't know if it is helping.
Pete has been a little reactive since the surgery, but it was worse today. Showing teeth, growling when I needed to change his t-shirt. I try and be very careful and gentle. I resorted to just putting the tshirt over his head and using a hair tie to gather the slack, so I could avoid putting his leg in/out of a sleeve (the part he especially dislikes). The t-shirts keep him from licking the incision site, so are necessary.
He also had a lengthy episode of yelping/crying this evening. He was almost due for his next dose of Tramadol. It took a little more than an hour after I gave it to him before he was fully settled down. One of his favorite humans had arrived home around the same time as the crying started, so I don't know if the episode was more of an emotional thing or a pain thing. Maybe both.
Today was hard. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Staples come out tomorrow.
Aww try not to feel discouraged. You made amazing pawgress with the PB sandwich idea (which is great! Thanks Bosley's pack, we'll have to remember that one). Celebrate Pete's accomplishment, this is HUGE.
As for the yelping, yeah it's hard to get pain managed after it gets to that point. It's called "wind up pain" and once it spirals out of control, it takes twice as long for it to come down. The trick is staying ahead of the pain.
Yes tomorrow will be better! Staples out is another big milestone, so don't forget to celebrate 
I'm in the Tripawds Chat right now if you want to talk.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the encouragement. Thanks for the offer to chat, bit I am just popping in and out on here as I have a spare moment or two.
Aw poor Pete. I’m right there with you. I know that doesn’t solve anything, but sometimes knowing someone is having a similar rough time helps you know you’re not alone. 💝
Staples out day is a great milestone! I bet Pete will be much more comfortable with the staples out.
Have you tried a little gentle massage around his neck and shoulder? Of course if he is reacting then don't push it, but often tight muscles contribute to pain and massage might help.
Here are some blog posts on massage.
Are you still giving the gabapentin? Are you giving them at different times? Many have found that stagering the pain meds gives better coverage.
Hang in there, I know you feel discouraged but you will get there with Pete. You are being a good advocate and care taker. You are also tired and stressed- but it will get 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
Just wanted to add more encouragement! I know this is such a rough time! If you're like the rest of us the first two weeks, you are completely sleep deprived and exhausted physically and emotionally. Nerves are on edge all the time.
As Jerry said, the wind up pain takes longer o get managed. Sounds like adding the Tramadol may be what he needed.
As Karen said, you are a good caregiver.....just make sure you're taking care of yourself too!
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!
Thank you for all of the kind messages!
Yes, to the Gabapentin and staggering the medicines.
I have massaged him a few times when he seems receptive to it.
It has been stressful, but I do have to say: Pete has been great at night. Ever since getting home, he hasn't fussed at all after being tucked in for the night except for early this morning.
Brief update. Today was better. Sutures are out. Incision is healing nicely.
Spent some time talking with the vet in depth about Pete's pain and whining. We have concluded sometimes it is phantom pain and sometimes it is anticipatory anxiety that something *might* hurt.
So happy to hear! Hopefully he only gets better from here on out. Gives me hope for Bosley too.
That's Pawgress! And I love that your vet isn't disregarding the phantom pain possibility, what a great vet.
Have you read up on hyperalgesia? I think this may be exactly what your vet is referring to. Check out our interview with pain management expert Dr. Petty, about halfway down ("Pain Sensitivity in Post-Op Tripawd Dogs"):
The first and most difficult to manage is the development of something called hyperalgesia—an increased sensitivity to pain—that is the result of enduring, untreated pain conditions.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad those sutures are out and that Pete was better today.
I know my tripawd Coonhound Frankie definitely reacts with an "anticipatpation of pain" howl! He's had some surgeries on two of his three legs, as well as some Rehab. When rhe Rehab Vet would work with him after the surgeries, he would howl like you wouldn't believe if she so much as acted like she was going to touch his leg!!
The link Jerry noted was quite interesting.
Really hoping Pete is on the upswing now that the stitches are out. You're doing a great job!
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!
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