Question: My Jack Russell terrier, JP, is 6 years old. He was in a car accident and injured his back right leg. He was healing, but then started chewing his injured leg and, because of that, had to have the leg amputated.
However, since the operation, he cries as if in pain and that?s making me very sad. Could you let me know how to deal with this? It?s making me very emotional to see him in discomfort, too, and I am going through a high-risk pregnancy at the same time.
Answer: I am so sorry to hear of JP?s injury. It is not uncommon for this to happen. Most dogs don?t survive being hit by a car! When a dog gets hit by a car and survives, there is often an abrasion where the car ?ran over? a limb or where a limb was slid over the asphalt at high speed. This can have the effect of a ?cheese grater?. It not only removes tissue from the outside but also pushes dirt and debris into the deeper aspects of the leg.
These injuries are often deeper than we can see. The nerves may be injured and give of tingly or itchy impulses and the dog will lick or chew aggressively on the leg. Severe life-threatening infection can set in and kill the dog unless aggressive medical or surgical treatment is done. Amputation is often the option.
Most amputation surgeries are painful and require a carefully balanced plan for analgesia (pain control). Most dogs are given a combination of narcotic painkillers and NSAIDS (non-steroidal pain killers). Each dog?s medical conditions and unique personalities must be taken into consideration when developing a pain control strategy.
Sometimes the medications have to changed if the current ones seem inadequate at home.
Call your veterinarian and explain how JP is acting and ask if the pain medications need adjustment. You must be an advocate for your pet and speak up if things don?t seem to be working properly. In this case, the pet also has to deal with learning to walk again. When he starts to try and get up to walk it is important to place a sling or towel under his rear quarters to steady him and keep him from falling and bruising his surgical site even more. He should be confined to a small airline kennel to prevent too much activity. If he is too active post surgery it can lead to more swelling and pain. Occasionally tranquilizers may be needed to keep a pet calm an quiet so that they can rest and heal.
I always try to get dogs home to their owners as soon as possible after surgery to decrease their anxiety and stress. But sometimes, it?s best to leave the pets in the hospital so they can continue to get adequate pain control and physical therapy.
Due to your pregnancy situation, it sounds like you should take JP back to the pet hospital for a few days to recover. He may need a different combination of pain medication and some physical therapy to speed his healing. Some dogs do better with injectable pain medication. The pet hospital can also do wound care and laser treatment to provide for a smoother recovery.

Dr. Baker
Dr. Susan Baker
Baker Veterinary Clinic
1801 S. Congress Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
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Ask her a question Source: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/pawshere/2012/07/17/jack-russells-injury-from-car-accident-ended-up-as-a-pain-problem/
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