On Friday I was sitting in my office when I received a call from my wife, the Director of Development at a local animal shelter.  We regularly foster pups, or adult dogs that do not do well in a kennel environment.  About a year ago, we fostered a pup that was brought north to Maine from a southern shelter.  The litter of pups were unnamed and this one happened to arrive at our home the day my best friend welcomed his first daughter into the world.  In tribute, we named her Avery and she was a shy but sweet mixed breed pooch.

My wife, on the other end of the line, simply said to me, "Avery is back at the shelter," which his her way of saying, "I'm bringing her home, whether you like it or not!"  What saddened me was what she said next… "and she only has three legs."  I immediately said of course she should bring her home, but now find myself as the first-time caregiver to a tripawd.  Avery had been hit by a car and her owners to their credit, saved her life.  They spent a ton of money on the surgery, but then followed it up by taking her home and promptly removing her cone.  Left unmonitored, Avery ripped out her stitches.  and with that, her former owners dropped her off at the shelter.

So now she is with us, and I am sure if my wife gets her way (which she always does), Avery will join our other three pooches on a permanent basis.  

With all the back story said, it has been about a week since her surgery and the area around her stitches is healing well.  My concern is some swelling that is not around the area of the surgery, but surrounding her other rear hip.  I am assuming that this is simply the fluid draining to the side of her that she has been laying on as she recovers.  I have seen other threads asking about swelling, but most of the questions have been in relation to the surgery site.  Any thoughts on if my assumptions are correct?  And advice on how much swelling is too much?  Its quite noticeable but doesn't seem to be bothering her.

Thank you for any advice given.

-Greg

Hi Greg and Avery,

I don't have any advice but just wanted to welcome you to the site nobody wants to join but everyone is glad they did. It sounds like poor Avery has been through a lot and I'm glad she found her way back to you guys.

Our Abby didn't have any swelling issues or bruising so afraid I don't have any words of wisdom. Hopefully a quick check from the vet will determine it is nothing too serious.

All the best,
Jackie, Abby's mom

Thanks everyone.  My avatar is a picture of Avery from when we first fostered her.

Just got off the phone with the wife and she was able to get an appointment with the vet that performed the amputation to check on the swelling and to get an overall sense of how she was progressing.  The swelling was not much of a concern, but the overall sense from the vet was that it was not related to the amputation, but rather, to the fact that the woman failed to inform staff when she was surrendered her to the shelter that she had also broken her pelvis.  I find myself beyond angry with her former owner, but also happy to know that she is in a better spot.  It's a wonderful dichotomy.  

So in addition to learning about her pelvis, we also gleaned some insights from the vet staff about her former owner.  Apparently she was just a wretched woman who essentially said in so many words that she didn't pet Avery because she "always bites her."  Maybe Avery just sensed evil, who knows, but what i do know is that I have been hauling this poor three-legged, broken pelvis pooch up and down flights of stairs, unknowingly causing pain that I can't imagine, and she has not once so much as mouthed me.

Anyway, frustrations with her aside, I am glad we are up to speed on all her medical needs and can now manage things more comfortably for her.  don't have any "good' pictures of her right now, but for the time being, this will have to do: Ferocious, Snarling, Biting, Beast below

littleaccent – not sure which shelter she was brought to maine from.  i know the shelter has worked with groups in georgia, louisiana, and indiana in the past.  not sure of the actual shelters though…  

Welcome Avery! So glad you found a GOOD home!(Glad you got away from Cruella DeVille)

You wont come across a better group of people anywhere on the internet! Can't wait to see some pictures!!!!!

She is absolutely gorgeous! My big girl is an injury tripawd too, but I got her that way from the rescue she had been staying at. Could not ask for a better pup! She looks absolutely snuggle-able in that pic, I just want to cuddle her like crazy. Definitely a ferocious beast you have there.=P Good luck on your journey, she looks like she'll be a joy to have in your family.

Oh that story breaks my heart for her. I'm so sad that she had to go through all that, but SO happy that she found her way back to you. Clearly, she looks like a vicious beast and you better be careful!

I want to kiss her and snuggle her! Please give her an extra snuggle from me and an extra kiss from Abby!!
Jackie, Abby's mom

Avery looks like such a sweetie! I'm so glad she got out of that bad situation. My tripawd Ranger was also a case of neglect after injury. He was hit by a car and pretty much ignored until the owner thought he needed to be put down. Luckily, a vet tech recognized his loving nature and got a charitable organization to provide the surgery. He went to a great foster home and eventually to us! I bet Avery knows that you rescued her (twice!) and will be an awesome addition to your family! Please keep us posted on her progress.

Lisa

Thank you for the kind words everyone…

A quick update on Avery.  She is doing much better and is getting more and more mobile.  The swelling that was likely settling in her opposite hip has reduced dramatically.  We ordered some compression socks with rubberized feet to help her navigate the house a little better (we have hardwood throughout with a few area rugs).  Between that and strips of shelf liner creating non-slip "bridges" between the area rugs have given her free range of everywhere but the kitchen.  Overall though, she is really adapting well to her newfound "limitation."

Other than that, she is really just working on strengthening her hind leg and being just "one of the pups"…  we have a german shepherd mix that is very good when it comes to playing/wrestling…  they both wrestle from a prone position, and avery often is the instigator…