Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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He'll be fine all day. Rests peacefully, deep rhythmic breathing. But late at night, around 10pm, he will start getting restless and panting. It goes away around 4am and he finally sleeps well.
He's not on any pain meds or anything but antibiotics. Phantom pain? Why at night? Just curious?
Dawn and Raven
Rottie Raven, osteosarcoma at 8-1/2 years old, amputation in October '09 and in February '10 due to liver mets he went back to heaven where he came from. raven.tripawds.com
Now I have Miles, rottie mix amputee from a shelter and traveled 1500 miles to find his way here through the Rescue Railroad thanks to tripawds.com. miles.tripawds.com
Hi Raven
Glad you are doing well overall. Have been following your story, but I can't remember how long it has been since your amp.
It seems common for many of our dogs to continue panting at night for quite a long time after the surgery. I recall conversations in August when everyone's dog seemed to be panting a lot, and probably not only because of the weather.
Tazzie continued panting at night for a long time, I think about 8-9 weeks post-surgery. Panting at night is supposed to be more common when a dog is in pain or has a heart issue. In our case, it eventually went away, although at the time I was worried that the Adriamycin chemo (which can affect the heart) was part of the problem. I have seen similar comments about panting and restlessness at night from other dogs on this site that have come along since, but those were not related to that particular chemo drug.
So, I do not have a good answer for why it is happening other than to say that this symptom seems to come up in many of our dogs. Be aware of the possibility of pain or heart issues, but don't fret about it.
We did have an ultrasound of the heart done prior to the last Adriamycin treatment, which gave me good information on the status of the heart. Ultrasound information is great, however, it has the downside of resulting in a shaved area which is getting to be dangerous if you live in a climate such as Manitoba. I guess you don't need to worry about the cold weather and insulation issue.
Susan & Tazzie 2
That's interesting, thank you for the info. It's only been 2-1/2 weeks post-amp for Raven. But he's been off all pain meds since the first week, and he never licks it or seems to care about the incision area. And we didn't do any chemo. So, I'll assume it's just common enough to not worry unless it worsens or continues to long. I will mention it to the vet our next visit. Thank you!
Dawn and Raven
Rottie Raven, osteosarcoma at 8-1/2 years old, amputation in October '09 and in February '10 due to liver mets he went back to heaven where he came from. raven.tripawds.com
Now I have Miles, rottie mix amputee from a shelter and traveled 1500 miles to find his way here through the Rescue Railroad thanks to tripawds.com. miles.tripawds.com
Only 2&1/2 wk. In that case, don't be surprised if the panting continues for quite a bit longer. Seems perfectly normal – when I joined the 'club', there were lengthy discussions on panting quite a while following each dog's surgery. I'm sure they aren't completely comfortable while they definitely develop new and improved muscles for their new tripawd life. Sounds as though Raven is doing really well.
p.s. Tazzie's panting lasted so long, I assumed it would be permanent. But eventually it stopped and he sleeps soundly and quietly - well, except for some snoring! So I don't think it was related to heart, chemo or anything like that. Just adjustment to 3-legged life and some sort of carryover from the surgery.
Dawn and Raven
At 2½ weeks, I would expect that things are only starting to really settle. Cherry did do chemotherapy starting just hours after surgery and continuing for nine more weeks. (Total of four treatments three weeks apart.) So, we did not see thing settle for quite sime time. However, my mother-in-laws sheltie which we inheirited, does pretty much the same thing. Eats, sleeps, and poops all day long until bed time. Then, he digs, pants, paces, and hyperventilates until breakfast. And he is supposedly "normal" (no illness).
I sure hope that this condition is just trancient with Raven!!! Talk to the vet next time if it continues, but as Tazzie implied, I would not get too worried - yet.
Bob & Cherry
Thank you both. What a relief that it's seems pretty normal. Odd, but normal. I wonder why?
Rottie Raven, osteosarcoma at 8-1/2 years old, amputation in October '09 and in February '10 due to liver mets he went back to heaven where he came from. raven.tripawds.com
Now I have Miles, rottie mix amputee from a shelter and traveled 1500 miles to find his way here through the Rescue Railroad thanks to tripawds.com. miles.tripawds.com
I had that same issue after my amputation too, and I did not have chemo. My Mom and Dad asked my vet about it and she said she believed that it was just my body recuperating after so much hard work all day long. I think it's because we're not being used to getting around on three legs, and new amputees tend to get wiped out but we don't want to show it until nobody else is around, at night.
After a while, the heavy panting at night stopped. I wouldn't be too concerned unless there's a lot of whining involved, but like anything, ask your vet if you are worried.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi There...I have a six year old ridgeback and after his surgery he panted at night for about three weeks. He was on a pain patch plus tramadol for the first two weeks. Jack was 100 lbs at the time of amputation so I took th epanting as him recovering from the stress of surgery and weight shift. I am no 5 weeks post op and he is running around like nothing. give it a few more weeeks. Keep us posted 🙂
Erin and Jack
Corgan didn't pant too much when she was first post-op. She was very mobile right away, despite being a 12 year old 75lbs Lab that just had a limb amputated.
She was re-hospitalized nearly a week after the surgery due to an infection that developed underneath her incision area. After spending three weeks bed ridden fighting this infection, she now pants heavily occasionally throughout the day, but mostly at night.
She doesn't appear to be in pain as she doesn't whine or cry. I think perhaps it's a combination of her recovering from fatigue as we are working with her to try and regain muscle mass in her remaining legs and frustration from not being able to get up and do what she wants.
One oddity that I've noticed since her surgery is that she will bury her snout into the elbow one of her front legs and start to breath in heavily through her nose and then out her mouth. This usually occurs during a panting "episode". It's almost like she's having a panic attack. She only does it in short stints, but it's something I've never seen her do before now. Has anyone else seen this behavior?
Sounds like the general concensus is that it is fatigue and adjustment. But, Corgan's way of burying her snout is interesting, Raven doesn't do that. He gets restless, repositioning himself a lot, panting, but that is all. Thanks for your input. 🙂
Dawn and Raven
Rottie Raven, osteosarcoma at 8-1/2 years old, amputation in October '09 and in February '10 due to liver mets he went back to heaven where he came from. raven.tripawds.com
Now I have Miles, rottie mix amputee from a shelter and traveled 1500 miles to find his way here through the Rescue Railroad thanks to tripawds.com. miles.tripawds.com
Ajax is about 10 weeks post-amp, no cancer, just had a CT scan, no mets, no lung problems, is zipping around all day on his three legs. But the same thing - around 10 pm, he starts panting. It doesn't keep him up, though - just bugs me a little. Our vet said basically the same thing others are saying above - fatigue and adjustment - she said if there were no other signs, it didn't necessarily mean pain. She also said it is common. I'll check back in if he stops, but for now I am just not worrying about it (he will stop for a treat, but I suppose you can't feeed treats from 10pm to 4am ...)
I did that too. I think it's just the activity of the day that finally catches up with us at night. Try not to let it bug you, it's just part of being a Tripawd.
Cheers to Ajax the zippy Tripawd!!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
guessing here...
Inflammation from muscle spasms from just basic activity could cause some heat in the body. Put a fan on him and see if that helps. Comet sleeps with a small fan blowing in her bed (which is a corner between the nightstand and dresser). She lays her face right up against it when she sleeps. I bought a small desktop tower oscillating fan which is perfect since it is small and the tower ones seems safer.
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.
Brilliance, cometdog! My zippy furry genius has already figured this out - he moved his bed - but I never put 2 + 1 together
This is probably related to the reason that 7 years of training Ajax NOT to flop down in city puddles (ick) has now flown out the window ... and I was so smug before about my super-listening dog ... he did it to his dad yesterday, so of course I said "he never does that when I am walking him"
Cheers back!
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