TRIPAWDS: Home to 22974 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

Join The Tripawds Community

Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:

Instant post approval.

Private messages to members.

Subscribe to favorite topics.

Live Chat and much more!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
To walk or not to walk
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Member Since:
16 September 2012
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
18 September 2012 - 4:23 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi again. I have another question regarding dexter.

We're trying to get him out 3 times a day. This is a bit of a production. He has to be lifted off his bed area and placed in a carrier to be carried down 4 flights of stairs and across a street to a park. He's then lifted out of the carrier and we use a sling to help him stand and do his thing and take a short stroll.

Sometimes, when we go to lift him up and into the carrier, he responds with snarls and attempts to bite. He also sometimes shrieks. My question is, should we push through and get him out for those three walks regardless of his response, or err on the side of this is his way of telling us, "not now, I'm not feeling good at all" and if he wets the bed, he wets the bed. We have wee wee pads down. We really don't want him to start thinking going inside is ok, but also recognize that these are extreme and unusual times.

Thank you!.

Orange County, CA


Member Since:
14 August 2012
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
18 September 2012 - 4:32 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I think what is probably causing most of Dexter's pain is the pelvic fracture. I would take advantage of the wee wee pads for the next week or 2 until the pain subsides more. Having the pads on his bed area is a good idea, but maybe also have an area with pads just outside the bed where you can put him so he has a chance to go somewhere other than his bed if that is upsetting him. Once he seems more comfortable, maybe try taking him out only once or twice a day... play it by ear depending on how he reacts. I making a trip outside 3 times a day may be too much for him at this point, especially seeing how much is involved to get him outside.

Just be thankful he is a little guy and not some big dog you're trying to lug around!!!

What pain meds is he on?

Right hind limb amputated 7/3/12 for OSA, started on alternating cycles of Carboplatin and Doxorubicin and oral Palladia. Single lung met 9/1. Met in the neck muscle removed 9/30. Large mass in sublumbar lymph node 10/2. Rescue chemo with ifosfamide 10/6. Mets to the rib and axillary lymph node 10/21. Started Leukeran and Pred 10/25. Wookie left this Earth for a far better place on 12/4/12. I miss you, Boo, you were my heart.

Member Since:
16 September 2012
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
18 September 2012 - 9:46 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

He is on meloxicam once a day and tramadol 2-3 times a day. Another problem is its really tough to get him to take the tramadol. It must taste pretty bad. Everything seems stacked against us right now and it's disheartening.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Sydney, Australia
Member Since:
13 September 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
19 September 2012 - 5:42 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Magnum hated Tramadol too.  We used to use empty gel capsules from the pharmacy.  We'd wear disposable gloves to carefully insert the tramadol into the capsule and close it up, trying not to let the tramadol touch the outside.  We'd then take off the gloves and hide the capsule in raw chicken and get Magnum to eat it that way. I know others have tried peanut butter and cheese as well.  Because she could smell the tramadol we found trying to hide them inside the empty capsules and then hiding them in food the best way to try and fool her.  But sometimes she still knew!!!

 

Good luck!

 

Karen

Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/

krun15
5
19 September 2012 - 10:39 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi Dan,
I've been following your other posts about Dexter, but I am traveling so posting is not always possible.
You are in the worst part of the amp recovery, plus you are dealing with a broken pelvis. Don't get discouraged, you and Dexter are dealing with a lot right now, it will get better.
Tramadol is nasty tasting. Quad pug Tani, who has taken pills most of her life with no problem, and swallows most things without chewing, ALWAYS finds the tram in anything I hide it in. She is little too so finding food to hide it in is challenging. When she needs it I usually resort to stuffing down her thoat. I like Karen's idea of the capsules.
Hang in there!

Karen and the pugapalooza

Member Since:
16 September 2012
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
19 September 2012 - 12:18 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thanks Karen and Karen!

The hardest thing for past two days is that he snarls and tries to bite us when we go to touch him in any way. This means we have not been able to carry him out for a walk since yesterday morning and I'm worried he will hurt himself holding it in.

I was able to get him to take a tram this morning. I hope I can get him to take another later.

I'm kinda freaking out from all this oh-my

Dan

San Diego, CA
Member Since:
29 October 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
19 September 2012 - 1:56 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Poor guy. It does sound like he's probably in pain if he's snapping at you. I hope you can get his pain meds dialed in. We hid Abby's tramadol in gross stinky liverwurst. Have you tried that?

I wonder if you should ask your vet about getting some gabapentin? We didn't use it with Abby, but I know a lot of folks here had good results with it - especially for shrieking from phantom limb pain.

Hang in there!
Jackie, Angel 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!

In your heart, where I belong.
Member Since:
9 February 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
20 September 2012 - 2:01 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

How are things going? Is he still acting so painful? Are you able to get the tramadol down him? It is nasty stuff. I've taken it because I'm allergic to opiates (codeine, etc) so I have few options for pain. It's very, very bitter and makes the back of my throat kind of swell. If I take it wrong, I not only taste it, I also smell it. For a long time! Jackie's idea of something equally potent is a good one. Liverwurst, canned cheese spray (it works), sardines. 

Shari

From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.

Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/

Tampa, Florida
Member Since:
17 September 2012
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
9
20 September 2012 - 2:16 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I am surprised to hear tramadol taste so bad. We have had no problems getting Belle to take hers, it is the antibiotic that has been such a challenge. A peanut butter chicken ball has become our salvation.

Shari
Belle's Mommy

krun15
10
20 September 2012 - 3:59 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi Belle's Mom,
Welcome to the forums, your future posts will not require moderation.

I did have some luck with melted cheese coating pills (not too hot) but with two of my pugs nothing worked for tram.

Karen and the pugapalooza

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 244
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17735
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256809
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG