Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Toby is now almost 6 weeks post on his hind leg amputation. He is recovery well and is getting around better each day. He has not been cleared to do stairs himself but we have been carrying him upstairs so he can sleep in our room so we can finally get more sleep (the first four weeks we slept downstairs). I am finding that he gets up a lot earlier than he use to and moves around a lot and does not really go back to sleep. We don't know if it is just coming from lack of exercise or his little body clock hasn't adjusted back yet. Has anyone else found that there dog doesn't sleep as much or is restless at night?
Two times this past week, I've been woken up at around 3 am with Jake's excessive panting and standing up. I jumped out of bed (in a panic) both times to see what was wrong... and asked him if he wanted to go and pee-pee... He started running (hopping) to the back door. I took him out and he did a long pee and a poop each time. That's weird because he never usually does that in the middle of the nite! He's not eating or drinking more than usual, and we always take the dogs out before we go to bed at night. Guess all this stuff has gotten him out of wack!
Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I'm sure alot of it has to do with their routines being disrupted. But, I get concerned too, especially when the panting starts, which is usually worse at night, for whatever the reason. I just worry that they are in pain. It is a major surgery and they are having to put alot more stress on their other legs/joints to support themselves. Zoe is almost 7 weeks post amp now, it has gotten better but still exists too.
Sonja is 5 weeks post amp. She'll be totally resting and cry out. This is worse at night. She will wake me from my sleep. My vet has not done many of these surgreies, but thinks it is muscle strain.
If Toby is still on pain meds, his restlessness may very likely be due to that. Otherwise, he may just need time to rebuild strength and tissue around the surgery site to become more comfortable.
@ tobydog & kimberlee: you may find this information about phantom pain in dogs helpful also.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I agree with admin on the crying out possibly being phantom pain . Caira used to have that happen.
But interesting to note, is that she has also recently (2 weeks?) been waking us up at odd hours panting hard and standing up. I thought at first it was pain, or breathing problems. Then I finally cued into her needing to go out. She doesn't tell us anymore. We just keep taking her. She never used to go in the middle of the night. Now she wakes me up almost nightly for a pee and poo. Weird, huh? Sounds like it happens to several of us. Maybe it's not so weird.
May 2001-Jan 21, 2010.....I'm a dog and I'm AWESOME!..... Always.
Polo has always roamed at night. We’ve also noticed some extra sleeplessness. It could be due to a lack of exercise and I bet the drugs effect that as well--they've been on drugs so long. I’m starting to take Polo on small W-A-L-K s, he’s got cabin fever, we all do.
Polo still pants a lot as well and I wake up several times a night--check on him when I do. We’re sleeping downstairs as well, although the other day, he ran around the corner and right up the stairs--I went up after him and held on to his collar while we walked down (choked him a little). I reckon someday soon, I’ll just have to let him do it on his own He seems ready, but we’re afraid.
Nevertheless--yes, his sleep cycle is off but we’re only day 13 post op.
Polo and Mike
Polo Jones, Golden Retriever, Shalimar FL
Solo seems to be sleeping well now that she is up on our bed (she never used to sleep with us - she has her own couch!). She generates a lot of heat! Even with our cold Canadian winters it is too warm for us but for now it is the best place for her at night. She also wakes up and cries a bit at night but we are only day 3 post op. Today she has made a couple of lunges toward her incision - suddenly, like something sharp irritated her. This happens when just laying around, right out of the blue. Has anyone else experienced this with their dog? She settles quickly when we tell her to "leave it" but something seems to irritate her occasionally.
Christina
Sounds like all is as well as can be expected for just 3 days post-op. Just be careful Solo doesn't try to jump off the bed by herself!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jake was panting again this morning for about 2 hours before it was finally time for us to get up. He didn't seem to want to go out or anything... just panting alot. He's over 3 weeks post op and not on any meds anymore... Not sure why he was panting. Once we (and he) got up to start our morning routine... he stopped panting.
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Toby is also off of his pain meds. He does do more panting at night. Maybe it is due to his coat growing back in after his summer cut and maybe he is just hot. He got up this morning around 4:00 (seems to be his new wake up time) and would lay back down when told. I don't think he had to go to the bathroom because he usually puts his head on the bed for that.
He is moving around well athough sometimes I still worry that his hind leg is hurting him some. He had what vets and us thought was just a small tear in his ACL before his surgury.
Shilo has always done rounds at night to check on the family. But since her amp she gets up much more often and does the panting thing as well. During the day she seems fine, just the normal panting after exercise. Usually she seems to wake us up periodically at night - sometimes insisting on the potty, sometimes doing the licking thing, but most of the time it is like she can't get comfortable. Just constant up and down from different sleeping areas. I really wonder if this is just a normal change since it seems most of us have seen the same symptoms. Just really makes you wonder and wish you knew what was going on to make them so restless at night.. 
Shilo diagnosed with osteosarcoma 9/4/2009, amputation 9/9/2009. ShiloAnne lost her battle 11/23/2009 where she regained her fourth leg and is patiently waiting for her parents to join her. We will always love you baby girl.
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