Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat. Explore 17+ years of forum archives for stories and answers to questions about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery. Enjoy fresh discussion and connect with members in the new Tripawds Support Circle.
Join The Tripawds Community
Register your free account to join the Tripawds Support Circle. Connecting with members and getting the support you need is now easier than ever with the Circle app!
✅ Easy Photo Upload
✅ Direct Messaging
✅ Subscribe to Topics.
✅ Live Chat and much more!
Forums Locked: Search archives for answers & join Tripawds Support Circle to keep discussion going!
Log In
Members
9:06 am
Hello everyone! I have been combing the forums here looking for an answer to a side effect of the surgery and I can't find anything! Axel Rose, my female Great Dane (8 years old) 130# had her front right leg amputated on Monday due to the dreaded cancer. Thanks to all of you, I realize that her lethargy, her cries, and her not eating is sad, but expected. However, she has developed what appears to be severe chest congestion. Sometimes when she breathes, I can hear it rattle in there. Her vet isn't in today until noon. The vet tech said that it may have something to do with the trach or the amount of fluid they pumped into her pre-surgery (she was dehydrated). Has anyone else experienced this? I hate to take her back to the vet if it isn't serious. They are over an hour away and she seems pretty miserable.
Thank you,
Wendy
12:41 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
Offline
Hi Wendy, thanks for asking! I didn't experience anything like you describe after my surgery.
We moved your question here to the Ask A Vet forum, because most of us might just be guessing at an answer. Hopefully Axel's congestion is nothing more than just irritation from the tracheal tube used during the procedure.
Best wishes for a full speedy recovery! FYI: If you register and log in, your posts will appear immediately without requiring moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
5:40 pm
Vet Expert
Vets
Members
23 August 2008
Offline
Hello,
I would get your dog to the vet if she still sounds congested. If she has a cough that could just be from the endotracheal tube used during the surgery, but a fluidy sound could be upper respiratory (a cold) or something as serious as pulmonary edema secondary to heart failure. I assumed they took xrays of her chest prior to surgery so an enlarged heart would have shown up, but sometimes Great Danes and other giant breeds can have cardiomyopathy which sometimes has no symptoms until after the body is stressed with anesthesia.
It is probably nothing but I would at least call your vet!
Pam and Tazzie
