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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Well, we had a broken night ... I put up our blowup bed in the room next to the one Ro was in, but quickly had to rearrange matters so he was on his bed right next to mine. He was panting and murmuring (not really yelping) and at 2.30 this morning I gave in and gave him his metacam, 3.5 hours earlier than the schedule, but it seemed to do the trick and we both got some sleep til after 6, when the bin lorries called! There was some oozing showing through the white dressing where the shoulder was ... I called the vet nurse and she said it was probably from the hole where the cannula was taken out yesterday morning. So I'm taking him to the local vet this morning to get the dressing changed and the bleeding checked out too. There is some fluid build up under his rib cage, the lowest point and just behind where the big dressing goes. So I need to ask about the pain relief, it's just coming up to 10.30 ... so 8 hours since he had metacam and he's panting again.
glad rowan is home - home is for healing. the first couple of weeks are rough - we too had some fluid in a seroma , but it re-obsorbed. looked up 'bin lorry'...ok, now i get it - garbage truck! hope the vet visit is productive. we found the pain meds caused panting for gayle too.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
I would like to offer advice. Gabapentin helps with possible future phantom pain, so I suggest asking your vet about that too. It happened with my boy and was really upsetting.
Hang in there, these couple weeks are going to be rough, but they will be so worth it once Rowan is back to full capacity 🙂
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Please let us know what the vet says. The next few weeks will be rough, so make sure you get lots of rest.
sending you lots of golden hugs...
Cathy
The vet we saw said to use tranadol as well, as it not only reduces pain but calms the dog down. He replaced the dressing, which was very thick and over the absorbent non adherent dressing itself comprised 3 layers of cotton wool, white bandaging and that grippy stretchy stuff ... much like a compression bandage, but not applied as tightly. He went in bright royal blue and came out in sky blue!
I was worried about my first sight of the wound, but it is very neat ... a large "Y" shaped incision. Obviously, he's been closely shaved, and apart from a couple of times when the micropore tape pulled a little, he was as good as gold, although he was obviously shattered by the end of the appointment and we had to lift him into the back of our car, which is a Renault "Kangoo" ... a van derivitive we bought especially for transporting the hounds after seeing one at "Crufts". And I had to carry him from the car into our cottage, which is set in a slightly elevated position above the lane ... it was built in 1600 and so preceded the motor car by quite a while!
We gave him a couple of tramadol when we got home but had a couple of difficult hours when he couldn't get comfy ... eventually my daughter lifted him onto one of the big leather sofas and put him on his "good" side, stretched out so one of us could sit by him and keep a hand on his flank. The poor boy is still flat out. I will feed him with some roast chiocken when he wakes and he'll be having another dose of tramadol at bed time. I'm lucky my daughter is here ... there is no way I could cope alone, just dashing to the loo is a panic. As it is, she's been able to let me snatch a couple of hour's sleep, so I feel I can face tonight with some equanimity. As a woman of a certain age, diabetic, hypertensive and suffering from arthritis, it's been an unwelcome flashback to the days when my baby son was so ill. I need to stop thinking about myself as the victim in this and focus on getting Ro through the next couple of weeks.
The recovery period is definitely challenging for both the dog and their people, so don't feel bad about a little complaining. We've all been there. And being sleep-deprived definitely adds its own flavor to the mix. I'm glad your daughter is there to help you out and give you the occasional break.
Try not to worry too much. I know this is a hard thing, but it's better for Rowan if you stay positive and upbeat right now. He's a tough boy, and as much as it pains us to see our babies in discomfort, he'll get through this better if you remain strong.
Sending you best wishes for Rowan's speedy recovery.
Micki and Rio
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
It is definitely very exhausting physically and mentally but before you know it this part will be behind you. Good luck.Sending prayers for Rowan's healing and strength for you. 
I remember Bo would start panting and hour or two before he was due for meds. We would do what we called "ice treatments". We'd take an ice pack and ice surgery area and he would also eat ice chips. It really seemed to calm him down. I also agree with Elizabeth...Bo had awful phantom pains and the Gabapentin was certainly needed for nerve pain.
We're sending positive thoughts to Rowan for a speedy recovery!
Those post-amp days are so hard. Try to rest when Rowan rests. I'm glad your daughter is there to help.
We're here if you need help or support or just want to vent a bit!
Hang in there,
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Hang in there- it does get better.
I was so tired and emotionally drained that I convinced myself that I had done the wrong thing by having Maggie's rear leg amputated because she was not herself for a couple of weeks.
We say here that this cancer journey is not for sissies. So don't be too hard on yourself, the recovery period is tough. Come here all you want to vent, get it out of your system and be strong for Rowan.
Glad your daughter is around to give you some help.
Karen and the pugapalooza
I need to stop thinking about myself as the victim in this and focus
You will! You are just sleep deprived and not being physical able can drain you. The sleep deprivation is causing you to recall bad memories of your sick baby son. It's wonderful your daughter is there to help you!
It will get better. It's just overwhelming at first. Take baby steps emotionally. Rowen will get better little by little as each day passes. Focus on the improvements you see and don't let your mind wander to past or future fears. If Rowen is still eating, it's all good!
Sending lots of healing wishes across the pond!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
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