Thanks Karen for your quick response...Before Mocha's amputation she was on Tramadol and Piroxicam.  When I picked her up after her surgery the vet said nothing about continuing the Tramdol but I did ask about the Piroxicam, which he said I can stop that now.  I have some leftover Tramadol so I just gave her one now and I'll see how she does sleeping tonight.

I just feel like my life has turned upside down but I'm so glad that there is a website for me to get answers to my questions.  I feel bad calling my vet for everything so it's reassuring when other people have had to deal with the same challenges that I am facing now and can offer me advice.   I will call the vet however about the pain meds.   I try not to get so frustrated with Mocha and sometimes I feel like she's getting somewhat lazy and stubborn and therefore not wanting to walk around anymore.  Sometimes I wonder about physical therapy but when I mentioned that to my vet, he said all she needs is to get some walking around the house instead of spending lots of money in rehab.  But at 120 lbs. it's not easy to get her up and about without yanking on her collar which I hate to do but I don't want her to waste away by not getting any exercise.

It has only been 3 weeks so I will give it some more time.  And she is eating good.  I also chose not to do chemo but she is getting Apocaps , K-9 Immunity , Fish oil, cinnamon and honey, glucosamine and is on no grain dry dog food as well as chicken and yogurt.  I'm trying that route as she did really well after being diagnosed back in July and i put her on that diet right from the beginning.  But then of course her ankle got worse 3 months later which the vet attributed to bone fracturing.  But up until then she was running, happy and playful.  I guess I will try to be more patient.  Thanks again!

It may not be a bad idea to get a second opinion about Mocha. Depending on when your vet attended vet school, and their personal experiences, they may have very different (not necessarily wrong) ideas about pain management and recovery than another vet. I would recommend asking around and finding another vet in your area that your peers have found to be helpful and compassionate. I have worked with many different vets and all of them have different methods, and some use the same protocol that they have used for years and are not really open to trying different things. A second opinion would provide a new set of eyes for Mocha's situation and they may be able to give you some piece of mind. When you make an appointment for a second opinion, just ask the new vet office to call your old one and ask for Mocha's records and xrays, that way you will not need to feel awkward about telling your old office that you are going somewhere else. If your old vet office seems offended that you are seeking a second opinion, they are being extremely unprofessional and are not worth your time and money anyway.

Thank you all for your responses and thoughts regarding Mocha.  I really do appreciate it.  Yesterday just on a hunch, I took Mocha's temperature.  It was 102.8.  Not an extremely high fever but a fever nonetheless.  I called my vets office.  I spoke to another vet who works there and she told me to start Mocha back on Piroxicam, as that would help with the fever as well as the pain.  I do notice an improvement, albeit slight, in Mocha.  Her temperature is back to normal at least.  She even will stand up without yelping now.  So I will definitely continue on the Peroxicam.  I just wish she was more alert and didn't sleep so much.  But it has only been a little over 3 weeks but I guess I worry about everything now with her.  I find myself analyzing her every move and wondering if she is acting normal or not.  I guess I am being unrealistic to ever expect Mocha to be her old self again; it's just so surreal that only a few short months ago she was so playful and taking me for walks, and now she's so different. 

Every now and then we do catch her smiling and she still wags her tail whenever we are around her, even if she's lying down and it seems like she's sleeping.  I love her so much and just can't bear the thought of being without her.  I know she's adapting to her new way of life and I need to do the same.  I am thankful that she is at least still with us, because last month before her amputation I really thought that that was the end.  But I am so grateful that we went ahead with the amputation.  Just wished I had more information then about what the post-op recovery would be like for us.  I am so happy for this website as it has been so helpful.  Thanks all..

well now i think i'm the one that is dazed and confused...  Mocha was doing okay until a few days ago when she suddenly stopped using her one good back leg.  She did take a little fall while walking down the ramp but got up and walked it off.  But a day later is when we noticed that she won't get up and walk anymore.  She will literally drag her bottom from one place to another.  We took her to the vet who could find nothing wrong with her.  He did increase her pain medication, Tramadol, but still no difference.  I am wondering if whether she finds it easier to get around dragging herself than to try to get up and use 3 legs.  The vet recommended putting a towel underneath her and getting her up and about that way.  We have been doing that and she does seem to use that back leg somewhat but the moment we let go of the towel she is back to sitting again.  So that makes me think if she is getting somewhat lazy and if so, what should we do to rectify this situation..  Has anyone else experienced this?  She is now 4 1/2 weeks post-op from amputation.  I would expect things to get better by now, but it seems to be getting worse, at least in this situation.  As far as her confusion goes, that seems to be getting better.  She seems more alert to her environment and other people and dogs and she is eating without me having to coax her.  Now we just need to deal with this dragging herself.  I am so frustrated as she must be too.