Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our 8 year lab-border collie mix had a rear-leg amputation 8 days ago (osteosarcoma). This site has been immensely helpful and comforting, especially during the first days! But now I have a question.
2 nights ago she started panting, and having some tremors or shakes (not just on the amputation side, but all over). She seemed distressed. We gave her another tramadol and about an hour later, a benadryl. She settled down some, and I took her to the vet yesterday. They kept & observed her all day. No fever, no sign of infection. Swelling is going down and the incision looks okay. The vet was really pleased with how she's getting around. He said it sounded as if she had been "in discomfort" and recommended we increase the gabapentin from one pill twice daily to two pills twice daily (She's been on gabapentin and tremadol since about 2 weeks before the surgery, with no signs of any side effects other than a little dopiness at first). He also said that we could add another tremadol...and that one 25 mg benadryl would be fine if she seemed distressed. last night was much better...but she woke me up about 4 AM with some panting and a few tremors. Tonight she is having some slight tremors, but no panting (at least not yet).
Any suggestions? I've started using some compresses near the incision site, otherwise we are just trying to be present and calming with her.
Hi Betsy, I apologize for the late response. I was in my car yesterday and approved your post but couldn't reply at the time.
Tremors and shaking are common when pain is getting too bad right after surgery and usually it's very temporary, and alleviated with good pain management . It was a great idea to go back to the vet, and your vet really sounds like he's up on all the latest pain management protocols. How did his suggestions work? Was the benedryl just to mellow her out or were you giving it for something else?
I hope today goes well, please let us know how she's doing.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
thanks for your reply! The Benadryl is to smooth things out...plus she has bad allergies, and that helps with itching (since we cannot use prednisone right now).
She has not been panting since Thursday---so I do think the gabapentin has helped. She is still having some tremors, and they're not just limited to her right haunch. She also seems a little "low"....but she really perked up when we took her outside this afternoon and sat in the yard with her, so she could monitor the squirrels and birds. She was very interested in everything going on there, and I think that's a good sign. We are troubled about these "shakes", so we've started writing down when we notice them and what's going on.
This site is wonderful. We told our vet about it and he seemed very interested.
Betsy,
I figured that was what the Benadryl was for. For allergies, we've used Zyrtec on Tripawds Spokespup Wyatt Ray and it worked great too but it doesn't mellow him out.
When you say she has tremors, do you mean leg shaking, or all over body tremors? I think that's a perfect idea to write down when they happen. A lot of times, dogs just get so tired in the weeks after surgery that they do wear out at the end of the day and get a little shaky and wobbly. What is her activity level like? Keep in mind 8 days isn't a long time, she should still be on very restricted activity (or whatever your vet has recommended).
And thanks for the compliment and telling your vet about Tripawds, we appreciate it!
Keep us posted on how she's doing. I know Border Collies are pretty unstoppable, and once she's through the first couple of weeks I'll bet you'll start seeing her old personality come back.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Keeping track of the timing is a great idea. It may give you (and the vet) some insight into what is causing the response. Could be the medication is wearing off and the vet may want to up the dose just a bit.
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.
This site/forum is SO helpful...very reassuring to me. I like the "think more dog", and I'm trying to do that.
Day 12 update: We see Rainey with a few "tremors" occasionally, but not like last Wednesday, and no panting. Her incision looks great. She has really become lethargic the past couple days, so now I"m wondering if she's over-medicated (past two days she's been getting Tramadol 75 mg twice a day, and gabapentin 200 mg twice a day, plus one 25-mg benadryl). Talked with our vet this afternoon, who said we could cut everything by half. I told him I was more comfortable with stepping down a little more gradually, so we'll go to 50 mg tramadol / 100 mg gabapentin twice a day for 2 days, then step down some more (she's on a third medication, substitute for rimadyl, that he said she should stay on full time).
This has been much more personally stressful for me than I had imagined and this site again has been GREAT.
Oh this is GREAT that she's not shaking like last week! I'm happy to hear that. I think your plan to decrease the meds is a good one, I'm all for doing that gradually. I'm sure you'll see her return to her old self when the medication has been eliminated. If she's like most Border Collies I've known, she'll be zipping around in a week!
Thanks for the kind words about our community, it's so nice to know that it helped you during this scary time. During good times and bad, we're here to help so don't be a stranger. Keep us posted on how the medication reduction is going.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The adjustment for the human is horribly difficult. I don't think I ever really stopped watching for something out of the ordinary. Luckily, Trouble had an awesome vet who loved her as much as we did. He never failed to see her if I thought something was out of whack, and even postponed a surgery one evening when I couldn't get her to move and freaked out.
As time goes on, you will become more sure of yourself and more confident in your actions. You will know when she just needs rest and when something is truly wrong.
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.
Came home at lunch today....and she was more responsive/interactive than she's been in several days. Same thing after work...I think decreasing the meds is definitely helping!
as for the shaking/shivering/tremors....she seems to do that whenever she first comes in the house after being outside. She's not outside long---less than 5 minutes, just long enough to take care of nature, and we let her sniff around a bit if she's interested. I'm wondering if it could be from general inactivity, some muscle stress. NO PANTING, and otherwise no signs of distress.
You all have been just right on target. Thanks for walking with us!
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