Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi, we have a 5 yr old (approx, he was a rescue 4 years ago) Great Dane/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, Scooby. He just had his left front limb amputated yesterday, due to an injury sustained before his rescue, resulting in bone deformities and gradually increasing complications. He seems to be recovering quite well, is up and walking well and we have his pain managed with tramadol and gabapentin (sp?), along with codeine to top up for pain, and metacam for inflammation. He is eating and drinking well, but has not been able to go to the bathroom at all since then. We had to take him in today to get him catheterized and void his bladder, and hoped that might get him started so to speak. He whines and gets agitated periodically, and stops when we take him outside, but he just walks around, or stands in place, but doesn't go pee. Has anyone else had this problem? How did you get past it? We've tried warm compresses on the abdomen/penis area, and massaging his bladder area, but nothing seems to have an effect. Any help would be greatly appreciated, we're feeling a little lost!
Thank you!
Diana and Mark, welcome. Sorry the delay in approving your post, your future ones won't need approval and appear right away.
Recovery is definitely full of ups and downs, sorry to hear Scooby is having trouble urinating. Is it only #1 or also #2? Not being able to defecate is pretty common since the pain meds do tend to mess up the digestive system and slow things down. Not being able to urinate isn't quite as common but it's not unheard of here. I'm glad your vet helped out there. My first thought about his continued difficulty is, how much is he drinking right now? Is his thirst decreased at all? That's definitely a side effect of pain medication, decreased thirst, and one way you can improve it is by spiking his water with tasty things like no-salt broth, tuna water, Gatorade, anything that will be tasty to him.
Another thought: he is probably pretty woozy because of the pain meds, maybe he's seeing pink elephants when you take him outside? His meds sound good but is he showing any other symptoms of too much or too little pain medication, like whining, panting, pacing, at other times when he's not outside.
My other thought is, have you actually tried expressing his bladder? There are videos all over the web about how to do it, just to see if that gets things moving. Does he urinate at all?
Sorry I have more questions than answers right now, I'm not sure if I've been any help but I know that others will chime in soon so hang in there OK? Again, welcome.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
He hasn't defecated yet either, but I'm not too worried about that yet, as you said, the meds can cause that. He's drinking normally, and before they catheterized him today he was involuntarily dribbling, his bladder was so full. He is whining occasionally, but not panting or pacing, just seems a little anxious sometimes, which I'm attributing to the meds mostly. We have tried massaging the bladder area but not expressing it - I've now watched what feels like a hundred videos of it and will give it a go. Most videos I've seen though are for smallish dogs, does it require significantly more pressure for a large boy?
Sorry Scooby is javing this problem....and mighty glad he found a lpving home with you!
I can offer no insight but just wanted you to know we are all here to support you during this crazy recovery period.
What does your vet say? How long does he say to let him wait before you bring him in again (if he doesn't pee soo )?
It really sounds like you are doing everything "right" and doing everything to "help him along". As you mentioned, the pooping isn't a big deal, but obviously voiding his bladder is more urgent.
As Jerry said, It's possible that the meds could be causing him to hesitate...or just figuring out how to "lift his leg". Have you used the codeine yet? That could be the culprit. Most of us just used the Tramadol and Gabapentin as far as pain goes.
S orry I wasn't able to help. Scooby will get it sorted out. COME ON SCOOBY...PEEEEEEE!!!!
Sending you hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Diane and Mark ...Uggh another issue complicating poor Scooby's recovery. Since the amputation is in the front I would not attribute to damage done during surgery. I would think that maybe it is a side effect of one of the meds. Many human patients have difficulty peeing related to same. I am not a vet or MD but Neurontin(gabapentin) works by blocking nerve pain- perhaps it is causing an interruption in his ability to pee. He is still very fresh post op, could be a side effect of anesthesia ..please keep us posted.
Our fairy vet mother here once told me that if a dog doesn't urinate within 12 hours to take the pup in to the vet for catheritization so hopefully he's gone by now. Not sure about how much pressure to exert on a larger dog for expressing the bladder but our friend Sharon at Lessons From a Paralyzed Dog would know, don't hesitate to contact her and then let us know what she says.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
He still hasn't gone, and we weren't able to express his bladder, so we took him back in to the vet today to catheterize him. Our vet doesn't work Sundays, so we took him in to the emergency clinic they're associated with (and they waved the exam fee and only charged us for the catheter! yay!). She wasn't able to express his bladder either, he's resisting it very strongly lol. She did reassure us however, that we were attempting it properly, which was a relief. He goes in to our regular vet tomorrow for his first post-surgery check-up, so we'll see what she suggests then. It does seem like he's about to go sometimes, but then he stumbles and just stands there staring at us. Hopefully he'll figure it out soon. We even shoveled a huge portion of our lawn so he wouldn't slip in the snow, but hasn't helped so far.
Other than that, he's doing so well - 2 days post surgery and he's already raring to go. We're having to actually stop him from moving around too much until he gets the okay - he keeps wanting to go up the stairs to investigate the rest of the house. I'm feeling very relieved on that front, just need him to start peeing now!
DIana there's a bunch of us in the chat room right now, hop on over. I'll answer in the next post.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well drats I'm sorry to hear he's still having issues but glad you figured out and then took him in. I'll be curious to see what your regular vet says so let us know OK? I can't recall a dog who took that long to urinate. Poor Scooby! Hang in there, this recovery thing is only temporary. In no time at all he'll be back to himself.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
For whatever reason, the chat screen won't load for me - it just stays in the "loading-please wait" stage. I'm not very technologically savvy haha I'll have to see if Mark can figure it out. I'll let you know what our vet says after we see her tomorrow!
It will let you in just wait a few minutes
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Ditto what Michelle said! Be patient, it takes a minute or two depending on your connection but once you're in it's pretty fast
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry that Scooby is having problems with urinating. I don't have any insight into what may be going on but I wanted to let you know that I'll be keeping Scooby in my thoughts and hope that your vet figures out what may be going on. I'm sure it must feel pretty uncomfortable for Scooby...
Hang in there.
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
We go to the vet later this afternoon, but..... HE JUST PEED!!!! Woohoo! It was very awkward looking since he still insists on lifting his leg, and he started to fall over halfway through so cut it short to stabilize himself, but I figure it's a start and he'll only get better from here! I'm so relieved - and I imagine he is too!
Diana
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