Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So my Saffy is now 12 days post-op, is a 6 yo very healthy and fit Australian Shepherd and is unable to lie-down. This is driving us both crazy - she stands up staring at a wall, when she finally does lie down, it is hunched on her haunches rather than in the usual relaxed down position. Then she'll get up after a short while and stand up again.When she does get down she moans over it and often yelps when she goes to get up
She can't seem to relax. She's still on a high dose of Trimodol, also Rimodal and natural calming tablets.
This is really driving us both mad, and I'm not sure how long I can watch her obviously suffering...
Her stitches were out today and I'm hoping they were the stretch in the stitches - but they're now out and she's still doing it.
HELP!!!
Oh poor Saffy!
Hmmmm....did you see Dr. Pam's last post to you in "Ask a Vet"?
I have not heard of Zylkene. If dogs are really very anxious then I tend to use alprazolam or injectable midazolam. Acupuncture is a great idea!
Have you tried anything like what she suggested? To me it does sound like she is uncomfortable from the tightness around the incision area, which makes her anxious, but that's just a wild guess. Does your own vet have any thoughts about it?
I wish I could be of more help here. Tried searching in the Forums because I know others have had this issue but I can't seem to find any posts about this specific issue. Hopefully others will chime in. Hang in there, maybe we can come up with some more ideas for you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I wonder if it's because she's not use to the idea of being a tripawd, do you know anyone with a tripawd you could introduce her to? Maybe she is in pain, bone infection or something? Did you ask your vet? She could just be anxious from the tramadol.
You could also try gabapentin on the off chance that she is having phantom pains.
Pam
Have her staples been removed yet? Sometimes that kind of pinches them and makes it hard for them to get comfortable. Also, in our situation, the medication Tramadol was making her a bit anxious as well. As soon as the staples came out, she seemed much more comfortable.
Good luck!
You say that Saffy is still on a "high dose" of Tramadol. Does the vet (and your family) still think this is necessary? Many dogs need it for a couple of weeks, but a high dose may be part of the problem. I remember I weaned my dog off over a period of a few days, and I think day 11 was the last day he had any. He continued to take Deramaxx, which is similar to Rimadyl.
Have you thought of taking her off the Tramadol and using Gabapentin, like Dr. Pam suggested? I'm just wondering why she is still having that much pain that she needs such a large dose of Tramadol. What does the vet say about her pain and maybe changing up the meds?
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/
I remember Magic did not do well on tramadol....it changed him in a weird way and I don't think I would use it as a pain med for a dog again our experience was so poor...not that it is universal...but I remember one night I thought he had turned into devil dog just trying to get him back into the house...not in a mean way but just sort of in a space cadet, looking at me like i was a stranger...I THINK (my memory isn't that great!) we went to gabapentin at that point for any pain issues...
Could the yelping be phantom pain
?
THanks so much for your thoughts on this.
The vet thinks it's nervous anxiety about her lost leg and perhaps a memory of pain in that leg. She thought it might have been the stitches, but we had them out yesterday and she is still unable to lie down today.
Maybe I should reduce the tramadol dose. I don't think it's a drug reaction as she was on tramadol for a week after diagnosis with Osteocarcoma and she did really well on it.
She's on homeopathic and flower remedies to calm her and for any phantom leg pain and is still on rimadol.
It's so upsetting to see.... Really appreciate your input!
So sorry that this is happening. I want to echo what others have said-Lily was acting weird on Tramadol also. She would start crying or yelping really loudly; it was awful. We stopped the Tramadol, and the crying/yelping stopped. Just a thought. I also have noticed that sometimes Lily has a hard time "letting herself go" to lay down. Hard to describe, but she'll get halfway down and without the front leg, she goes down a little harder.
Hope this resolves soon for you!
Joan and Lily
Our beautiful Lily was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg on 12/14/11 at age 8 and had amp on 12/16/11. She completed 5 rounds of carbo. She was so brave and kicked cancer's butt daily! She lived life fully for 4 years, 3 months, and 15 days after her amp. My angel is a warrior princess. I miss her so much.
Didja see our Facebook page? Lots of good insight from others whose dogs have had this issue too, check it out here.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
That does seem like a long time for the Tramadol but every dog and every surgery is different. 12 days is a long time, so maybe it is just the adjustment to the trauma she went through. My dog was also very anxious with meds after surgery, although he was only on a few days. He didn't want to lay down or stand, almost like he didn't know what to do, but he continued to be anxious after he was off the meds for awhile. He would be missing and I would find him standing in the bushes or behind the garage staring like a space cadet also. Make sure it is not pain, like bone infection, that is how my Buddy lost his leg to start with. He also behaved this way when he lost his companion to mouth cancer, again another trauma. Good luck with Saffy, it will get lots better!
Thanks, everyone...
It continues and is pitiful to see. Bizarely, when I took her to the vet, she lay in the car as usual. So I now put her in the car to lie down when it's not hot. She doesn't sleep but at least she's lying down taking the strain off her other legs. I think she's just really traumatised by it as she's so sensitive. I'm reducing her meds and will see if that helps...
Dakota Dawg said
You say that Saffy is still on a "high dose" of Tramadol. Does the vet (and your family) still think this is necessary? Many dogs need it for a couple of weeks, but a high dose may be part of the problem. I remember I weaned my dog off over a period of a few days, and I think day 11 was the last day he had any. He continued to take Deramaxx, which is similar to Rimadyl.
Rumbles had the same protocol...daily Tramadol and Rimadyl for 7 days, then decreasing doses the 5 days leading up to 'stitches out' day. He took his last Tramadol the morning of stitch removal. It was the day I felt that he was back to "normal", personality wise.
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