Most amputee Tripawds have appetite issues post surgery. Our vet recommended cat food - very stinky but works like a charm. Polli a real groovy chick! We wish you all luck and look forward to hearing more updates.

Hi Robin,

Pollis is beautiful; such soulful eyes!  What an abrupt change to go through- sounds like it went from diagnosis to amputation and chemotherapy within a 2-3 day period?  I know it is a great deal to adjust to.  If you can, give yourself plenty of time in your own life to digest it all.  My dog Sophie was diagnosed Wednesday a week ago, had her amputation Monday, and got back from the hospital on Wednesday. I know that I found this website particularly, and also some others like bonecancerdogs, to be really helpful in starting to absorb what was going on, as well as in realizing  that even with the uncertainty of how much time we have left with them, and with the big step of the amputation, there is life and joy for our puppies post-amputation.  I also found watching youtube videos (and Jerry videos here) of three legged dogs playing to be very helpful for the same reasons.

 Sophie got home three days ago, and is really doing quite well.  Every dog is different, but most stories I've heard dogs have adjusted very well, and I think it can be helpful as pack leader to model with pragmatic and non-anxious energy (even though we are naturally crazy anxious inside!).    We've actually had a problem I hadn't anticipated so much: that she wants to be going 100% so soon post surgery.  Last night, I moved from the couch where I've been sleeping, beside a dog bed, to lay beside her.  When I woke up, I was on the floor, partly on a dog bed, and she was comfortably sleeping on the couch!  Luckily, she didn't seem to get harmed by the hop up there. Anyway, something to also anticipate may be the case. Another thing I've heard about (but yet to experience) is that some dogs will feel better but then seem to fall into a funk a week or two (?) post surgery.

One thing that has surprised me that I hadn't seen mentioned anywhere was that she is trying to scratch her stitches with her back paw.  So far dealing with that by being with her 24/7, also found putting a shirt on her helped.

It might be helpful to know that often the narcotics seem to induce moaning- so I wouldn't assume that all moaning is pain.  Sophie got much brighter once she was off the morphine, and stopped moaning!  I was also surprised at how short a period of time she was prescribed pain killers for, but she went off everything but Rimadyl this morning, and seems to be doing fine.

I hope this is helpful, and I really hope that Polli is doing well (and eating!).  Good luck, and keep us posted, and if you can, be really kind to yourself these days too- it's a lot to take in all at once.

Sincerely,

Christine & Sophie 

My dog Dexter is now almost 3 wks post op and she is back to "normal" as far as behavior; and her eating habits are improving daily. It was very difficult for her for the first week, but after that we saw gradual improvement on a daily basis.  We can now thoroughly enjoy her like we did pre-amputation.  She does tire easily on her walks, but we're okay with that and stop frequently and carry a lot of water.  We are so glad that our baby is back and that we can make the most of the time we have left with her. 

Hang it there, it really does get better and you'll be amazed at how quickly your baby will adapt.

Sherri

Hi Robin and Poli,

Welcome to the best source of tripawd information in the universe!  The members here are so helpful and so supportive.  Bonnie and I could not have survived without them. 

Bonnie panted a lot after her surgery and the surgeon removed her pain patch late on the 2nd day after surgery.  That worked and I had my Bonnie back.  She did not experience that much pain after that and I could treat it with Tramadol pills.

Food is another challenge though.  I could not let Bonnie not eat since she is diabetic and gets insulin, so the challenge was unreal.  Luckily all my friends helped and we had an unlimited supply of different meats to tempt her with.  It was amazing, she would love the roast chicken one day and hate it the next.  She then switched to beef, pork, and finally elk.  It was a mystery every meal.  I hand fed her and gave her whatever seemed to sniff more than once.  Good luck on that one. 

As far as steps, my husband and I are both helicopter mechanics, so Bonnie has her own boarding ramp up the front steps which worked out perfectly.

For pills, I keep a tub of whipped butter out at room temperature now that the heat of summer is done.  I just scoop a little up and it totally coats the pill without much effort.  Bonnie seems to like it soft that way and, amazingly she does not spit the pill out of it.  With cheese she chews and separates out the pill which she then spits out.

We have tile floors in the kitchen, so, just like Heather and Zeus, I carpeted everything I could.  It really made a difference for footing.  Bonnie is now more functional, but she is stilll really cautious.  It is 8 weeks past surgery and we just had our third chemo treatment.  They really take her strength away, so I cannot really see the improvement since it takes such a toll. 

Anyway, keep Pawsitive and we are all here to reinforce when you need us.