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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My mom and dad were so glad to find this site it sure helps them to deal with my recovery. I am barely a 6 years old rottie that was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and had my front leg amputed 10 days ago. They stopped my pain meds after 5 days due to extreme reactions I was having. I would all of a sudden dart up, run across the room, and then just stare into space. The clincher was 5 days from my surgery I hadn't had a bowl movement and decided to cut off water and food. So Mom and Dad called the vet and they put me on prilosec for 5 days and stopped all pain meds. It is now day 10 and I haven't been on pain meds. I still don't want to eat like normal. They should be glad I am eating at all at least I am drinking again. I still don't feel like playing and I don't greet anyone at the door like normal. Going bye bye is about the only thing to gets a rise out of me.
Has anyone else been through this?? Is this normal this far after the meds have been stopped?? Your input is appretiated.
Love - Shilo
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.
Hi. I'm sorry to hear about Shilo....the whole cancer and amputation process is never fun. What pain medication were you on? I haven't heard of a reaction like you describe. If pain meds are stopped and they're still in pain then it's not uncommon for the pain to cause nausea and reduced appetite. Then again the meds alone can reduce appetite so it's a tricky thing to balance out. Tramadol and other medications can cause constipation so a lot of dogs go several days, even a week, after surgery before pooping. My dog too refused to drink for a good week or two to the point of needing fluid injected but he started drinking again just fine a while ago and I'm glad Shilo has been drinking more.
As for the behavioral changes, my dog had his amputation 6 weeks ago and he still has not played once or gotten his appetite back. He basically just lies around the house but he's able to walk outside and around the rooms inside the house for a little bit even though we haven't been able to take him for a walk. He doesn't bark anymore and he used to bark nonstop so that's also changed, and he is depressed. Most dogs recover just fine but some never really fully come back to the dog they once were. At day 10 I'd say it's just too early to tell how Shilo is going to be. I wouldn't worry about the listless behavior just because it seems pretty common post-op.
The first couple weeks are the worst so try not to stress even though everyone does. I tried to get my mind off of things by thoroughly using my Netflix and sitting on the floor next to Mac watching dvd's while he laid beside me and stroked him until he fell asleep. If you drink, lots of alcohol works too! lol 
Here's to a speedy recovery...keep us posted.
--Jacki
Thank you so much for your response, this makes me feel a little better. I will keep moving forward and looking forward. I wish the vets would be a little more upfront about the possible after effects. I honestly expected to pick a dog in better condition then how I left her. This is what I was led to believe and then she definately was not....
In regards to the medications she was on Rimadyl(?) and Tramadol. She truely was seeing things on the Tramadol, she was being extremely spastic and trying to hide in dark, quiet places when she could. When she refused water and food they believed the Rimadyl was causing annorexia and so they stopped it too.
If she was in pain she is a tough girl, she lays on the side that has the staples, gets up and down off her fav chair with out a noise. Tonight she seems to be eating a little better, maybe this is a step in the right direction, I HOPE!!
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.
Trouble's recovery was pretty non-eventful, but stressful for us, regardess. The pain meds make them react differently. If I recall correctly, we took Trouble off pain meds at day 7, but had to put her back on the remadyl for a few more days. She never had the eating issues so many experience. Trouble is a front leg amputee and she eats off a raised table. In the early days, she would lean her weight against a birick wall beside her food dish for support. Shilo may like a raised bowl and something to lean on for support also.
Trouble is in her 10th month, has never returned to her original level of play. In the beginning it was frustrating for her because she couldn't hold the toy down to chew on it with her missing limb. She has in the last couple of months began to initiate play again and she will now play with our other dog, Duke.
Give Shilo lots of time to adjust to the new ways of doing things, and give him lots of love and support. He will get there, it just will take time.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi Shilo
If you are standing and hoping or walking a few steps each day at this point, you are probably doing fine. Plus drinking water is obviously essential! (If you are reluctant to drink, your parents can add canned dog food or chicken broth to your water, or make ice cubes out of those - ymmm.)
Most dogs are still on pain meds and tramadol at 10 days. I took Tazzie off around day 5, as per vet's original instructions. He was not too happy with that so we went back on. But he lay around ALL DAY EVERY DAY for about two weeks. Well, he did get up to eat - that was his saving grace. Around early or late afternoon, he would usually stand up to hop a few steps (he spent most of the time lying outside - which is unusual because he usually wants to be inside with people), to either pee or poo. We did not usually see both happen on the same day.
Tazzie dragged the vet tech and myself out of the clinic post amp, so the vets thought he'd be running laps by the next day. That is not at all how it went. It is not like he came home and thought "Yay, my leg pain is gone" the way some people or some vets say (and might be true for some dogs). I think he just wanted out, and he was slow to re-learn how to walk. He would perk up if someone came to visit, but otherwise he did not seem to be a happy camper for a couple of weeks.
Now, we are at 9 weeks post-amp. And I'd say he is as happy as ever, at least most of the time, and has been for a few weeks. Maybe sometimes he is happier than ever, and maybe sometimes not quite as happy (e.g, 7 days post one particular chemo drug).
Susan & Tazzie 2
Shiloanne, welcome.
It makes us so sad to hear that you got diagnosed, you are so darn young. But you know, you're young and strong and your energy will return soon, you'll see. Ten days is not a very long time, that's some pretty major surgery.
If you scan the Forums here (try looking for "Anxious"), you'll see that most of us see pink elephants when we're on Tramadol and any other painkiller after surgery. Some of us have phantom pain , some of us howl, not pooping is a big thing, and some of us go hide like you do. It's all pretty standard stuff, as hard as that is for your pawrents to go through.
As long as you saw the vet and they are monitoring things, you're in good hands. You have great pawrents, and we're all cheering you on.
Thanks for joining us here. Let us know how else we can help OK? Good luck, and keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So sorry to hear about Shilo. Brody was six when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Now, four months post amp and having just finished chemo, I can say that Brody is 100% his old self. He has become friendlier because everyone wants to come over and pet him. He loves to sleep on his back and it took a while to work out his balance when on his back. But the best part is taking him once a week to the dog park. He just can't stop wagging his tail and running (yes, running like a greyhound) around. It is the highlight of our week to see him so happy and outgoing. Way back after the operation, there were a lot of days when I wondered if we had done the right thing. Luckily we never had to think about it as the vet said his bone was so deteriorated it had to be removed immediately.
Be patient. Things will get better. If Shilo loves to go bye, bye, then go bye, bye. Brody now loves to go out and lie in the front yard; never did this before, but I just sit down next to him and talk to him. He closes his eyes and seems very peaceful. Be open to trying new things. We all wait for the cough or some other sign. However, I have spent more quality time with Brody in the last four months than I ever did with any other dog that I have owned.
Brody's mom, Pat
saraherica said:
… I have spent more quality time with Brody in the last four months than I ever did …
That's what it's all about! Thanks for sharing your pawsitive experiences with Brody.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
saraherica - Thank you so much for your post. It is funny cause the family has taken this road. Shilo has 3 teenagers and both her parents in the house. It makes for so much fun giving her all the extra attention, but I think she is getting a little sick of us now. 🙂 But, we really have taken on making the best of each day. We have gone bye bye and had a family friend (who she adores) over and she has really perked up. I just hope as I go down this road I can gather strenght from understanding and support that has given me the stength I have found here to get all of us through. Even when the day comes for the toughtest decisions of all.
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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