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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Hello everyone! Thanks for keeping Kacy sane during this whole ordeal. Ruby has been doing as expected but late today has started yelping and crying out periodically. Tonight she has been very restless. I have read all the posts regarding phantom pain , which I believe this probably is, but will also like to hear anything that helped any of your dogs out during this whole process. I'm a nurse but wow what a difference watching the pup you love so much in pain and not be able to help.
Also wondering how our Tripawd Twin Milo is doing and I think I read there is a 3rd triplet? Hope all is well with them.
Hopefully this whole ordeal will pass quickly. We feel like we are in some sort of time warp laying around the living room with the blinds drawn (to keep out the heat) watching movies and giving pain meds. Any good binge watching titles out there? LOL
Thanks again to all who have shared this story, in particular replied to Kacys posts. It has really helped and hopefully we will be able to help someone else in the future.
Hi! Novak is the 3rd triplet! He's doing fine, except for a bit of seroma .
Im sorry to hear that Ruby is in a bit of pain, it sad to see our babies like that, and being restless and we can't do anything to really relieve them. Im sure someone here with knowledge will help you. Im new at this and can't really help.
Im doing the same thing over here, watching movies, cuddling on the mattress that I set up on the floor. Im like in a bubble LOL but life will soon to be back to "normal" on thursday because im back to work. Its gonna be hard leaving him and going to work, but, life as to continue.
Good luck with Ruby.
Hi there Rubysgran! Sweet Ruby is in that 3-5 day period where they can sometimes start showing more pain. My guy did. I looked but couldn't find what kind of meds she's on - did she come home with Gabapentin? We didn't have that but lots of dogs who's parents post here did, and from what I've read, it really seems to help with phantom limb pain. She also may have overdone it a little and is feeling sore. I'd give the vet a call and see if he/she has any suggested changes to the medication protocol - that's what I did when Clyde seemed worse in that time frame, and for us, an increase in Rimadyl did the trick.
I just watched Ruby's video and she looks like she's doing so well!
Hi Rubysgram, welcome! Thanks so much for joining, your future posts won't need approval so post away OK?
That is so awesome that you're a nurse! Ruby is so lucky to have you. I know you understand about staying ahead of pain and keeping meds on a schedule so we won't go over that, but my biggest question is, when does Ruby cry out? And how far into her last dose of medication does she do it? It might be time to call the vet to adjust her medication schedule.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks to everyone who has posted. I wrote this really long reply and then realized I wasn't logged in and lost the whole thing trying to login. SO I will attempt to recreate the first post.
I know my post is typical and repetitive, but just know I have gone back and read lots of posts on the forums. I guess I was searching for some non medical hints that may have helped others during this restless and painful time of recovery. But seeing as how I am an Oncology nurse (yes there is irony in this) I do know the medical needs addressing and we are going to call. RUby is on Tramadol 125mg every 8 hours, Rimadyl 50mg every 12 hours, and Gabapentin 300mg every 8 hours. Trazadone 50mg for severe restlessness, agitation. Ruby weighs about 55 pounds. Does this jive with what others have given their buddies this size? I know that on humans the Tramadol seems under dosed in mg and time as does the Gabapentin, which in humans can go up considerable amount if there are no kidney issues. Seems like my dog at home took 1 whole Rimadyl rather than 1/2 of a tablet. The Trazadone really loops her but helps during some of our worst times. I am going to ask the vet about some of the meds that have helped others according to this site- acepromazine, and meloxicam . Have these helped others with Phantom Pain or whatever is calling Ruby to leap and scream every hour or two?
Has anyone used the Ice Pad beds that are shown on Amazon? I ordered the Tuff one but Ruby seems to flop over on the hard floor avoiding all the softer areas?
Also has anyone had a problem with diarrhea ? This started this morning and I am not sure if it's from her meds or a side effect of the treats we've been giving her to get the meds down?
Your responses are so appreciated. Kacy is going to need this site for long after I have returned to Boulder so it is so nice to see that many of you seem to know each other well from this site. We will keep checking in and updating and seeing how Rubys Triplet Sibs-Milo and Novak are doing too.
Thanks again,
Lisa- Nurse, Mom, Grandma
An oncology nurse? Cool. You're actually our second one here in the last year!
Does this jive with what others have given their buddies this size?
She's definitely getting the standard medications. However most are taking these meds 6 hours apart.
acepromazine, and meloxicam
If she's already on Trazadone I think the Ace is duplicating efforts. Just fyi, I'm not a fan of Ace and have seen more dogs stress out over it than get helped, including our Wyatt Ray . Meloxicam = Rimadyl.
Also has anyone had a problem with diarrhea ?
Could be the treats and a sensitive stomach after anesthesia. See these posts for tips about how to help that issue get resolved:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Murphy came home on Tramadol, Rimadyl & Gabapentin. His Gabapentin was 100mg every 8 hours for 14 days. That's the only one I still have the bottle with the dosage & directions still on. The Tramadol is 50mg tablets, but I don't remember how many or often. Murphy is 50 lbs.
I have no experience with Ace - but haven't read anything good.
I think the Meloxicam is another NSAID, similar to the Rimadyl, so you don't want to use both of them.
You can use ice packs a couple times a day. And massage around the area to help re-absorb the extra fluids.
Canned pumpkin, a couple of spoonsful a day can help with diarrhea - make sure it's the pure pumpkin, not the pumpkin pie stuff with all of the spices in it.
Donna (OB nurse 
)
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
You are a GREAT Granny!! Ruby is quite lucky to have such a loving family!
You've gotten great advice on Ruby's challenges (all normal" under the circumstances!)
Yes, we are all family here, brought together here by the love of our dogs and cats. Also, we understand this journey like no otners can even begin to understand!
Stay connected! As yiu can see, we are all here for you! No one ever needs to go this journey alone!!
Love to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS...Dogs seem to prefer the coolness of floors during their recovery. A@so, sometimes if their bed is too "squishy" it's hard rfro them to get up without slipping. Check out "green clay" to help with the diarrhea. Now that I said that, I'm not sure if it's.called "green" or not...ugh!
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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