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.
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!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
cometdog said: If you want to add a profile pic (it's called avatar) Here's an easy way...
Mod Pawd to the resue! Thanks cometdog! 
You will also find detailed instructions for uploading your user avatar in the tech support forum.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
THanks for all the advice.
If it is the Tramadol...what alternative can I use? He already had the gastritis from the Deramaxx and is off of that.
I guess I should ask the vet. He does not seem to be in a lot of pain, but he will whine a bit at night or in the day when it wears off.
I have taken to giving him a very low dose (25 mg vs 75 mg) but giving it more frequently. He was prescribed 75 mg every 8 hours - I have been giving him 25 mg every 3-4 hours and it seems to be better. Keeps a little in his system all the time.
When were most of you able to stop all the pain medicine?
I can't wait to get him off this stuff.
THanks again!
PS - Our standard Poodle, Mike, is coming home today - this will be the first time he sees Vinnie on 3 legs. Wish us luck for a happy and SAFE reunion!
monica
PPS - YES, thank you - The avatar is what I was asking about! I will hopefully get a picture of Vinnie up soon!
Hi Vinnie the lab & family,
Welcome to our Tripawds family! Sorry that you have to be here because of Vinnie's diagnosis... but you definitely came to the right place for information and awesome support...
Glad to hear that Vinnie's vomiting has stopped and that he's not lost his appetite at all. My Jake did real well on his pain meds, just needed some pepcid... He recovered from his surgery in about 2 weeks and was able to go swimming in the pool again, his favorite thing to do! He also had a rambunctious (sp?) german shepherd brother (Wolfie), and I too was worried that he would be too rough with Jake... but except for a few body slams... things went pretty well... except for the lack of sleep for me and my hubby... 
I was worried about every single thing!
Looking forward to hearing more about Vinnie's progress!!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Monica,
Keep in mind I'm not a vet, but have experience with Tramadol, Rimadyl and weak doggie stomachs! The tramadol should NOT cause any stomach problems. It's a non-opium pain pill and is very mild. I personally would give as much as the vet says so your Vinnie can rest comfortably especially since he isn't taking anything for the inflammation (Derramax).
Everything that has been cut inside Vinnie is sore and swollen and needs time to heal. (the Derramax was prescribed to reduce the swelling and inflammation) It will heal on it's own without it – it just isn't as comfortable. The tramadol won't do anything for the healing but it blocks out the pain signal to the brain. It will just make him comfy.
Hopefully someone else here can talk to you about the possibility of phantom leg pain .
But honestly, he sounds like he is doing great – a major surgery takes a lot of time to heal. Even with people surgeries, usually it takes a while just to get rid of the anesthesia out of your system, not even counting the healing process.
There's a lot of stuff going on in his body right now and as long as he seems to be improving a tiny bit daily and the wound looks good. I would just do what you are doing and be Nurse Mom for a little longer!
But for sure, I give him as much tramadol as prescibed. They really are so mild. And keep giving him Pepcid if his tummy hurts - that for sure isnt going to hurt him.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
1 Guest(s)
