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.
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10:30 am
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Bucketeers
22 February 2013
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Wow! Just wow!
Okay, good for you for keeping your wits about you and ,aking a decision to give uoir sweet pip a chance at more extended quality time....pain free!
Yes, get that sweet girl in for surgery asap and get that bum leg gone!!! For her to be soing as well as she is with a fracture is a testament to her not ready ro give up!!
Here with you and Puzzle by your side the whole way! Recovery is no picnic, but with good pain management and rest and love and spoiling, Puzzle will get through it and her sparkle will come back!
We are all on Team Puzzle now and cheering for her madly!
((((((((((Hugs))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
The surgery dept is super busy but was able to get her in tomorrow for the amputation. I hope she makes it. i am cleaning the house and getting it set up.
My surgeon also contacted me about enrolling in a clinical trial-using a new pain med-
BLIS-bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension (BLIS)- anyone heard of this? Good? Bad?
I have to decide whether to enroll. Link to clinical trial description below
6:49 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
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WOAH! Did he really say that? 
Good for you for following your gut and advocating for your sweetie. You rock!
That's pawesome she's going to get rid of that bad leg asap. You're doing everything right to prepare. Be sure to see our What to Expect articles so you can be ready for her homecoming.
The clinical trial looks great. It sounds like the UC Davis amputation pain control study we just wrote about. I hope she gets into Group 1, the drug, Nocita, is great stuff!
Holler with any questions! We are here for you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
9:26 pm
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Bucketeers
22 February 2013
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In a way, the fracture helped to make your decision easier, more clear. It would not have been fair to her to continue on with that painful leg until the pain got so strong she had to be "released". AND that probably would not have taken very long.
No matter what happens, and this is what you MUST remember, and even write this down, you are given Puzzle a chance for some pain free quaility time.
Your Bet will do proper work ups to make sure Puzzle isnit good shape for the surgery. Obviously, every surgery has a "risk", but all of us here have taken that "risk" because, to not do so, would deprive them of that "chance". No second guessing, no regrets, no what ifs. The path forward has been made clear with that fracture. Plus, Puzzle's zest for life and still enjoying being Puzzle is another plus.
Sometimes a doggy needs to spend more than one night at the Clinic, some just one night. Sometimes it takes a "mature. seasoned" eoggy several days to get their sea legs and balance.
It sounds like Puzzle will be getting some good pain management . After all the hospital meds wear off in several days, sometimes the pain med dose and frequency need to be tweaked.
We fully understand being stressed and anxious about all this. Of course, Puzzle isn't concerned about a thing!! The bliss of being dog!
Update us when you can, okay?
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
She is home-amputation surgery went smoothly. She ate a big bowl of food and pee'd. She got a white cone (can't see through it) so I am using a clear one (she is so visual) when we are home so she can keep an eye on us. She wanted to jump up on the couch- have chairs on all furniture now. Hoping for an uneventful recovery. Thanks for the support.
7:44 pm
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Bucketeers
22 February 2013
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WELCOME HOME PUZZLE!!!! GREAT NEWS!!!
And YAY for PEE and YAY for WOOFING DOWN SOME CHOW!!! Sjes already knocked down two hurdles... peeing and eating! Great sign that she wants to reclaim her couch!
Hoping you can get some rest tonight. Sometimes dogs are pretty zonked out the first night...,some not!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
12:51 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
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YAY Puzzle! That's pawesome she is home, sounds like she came home happy and bouncy! Good idea to keep her off furniture for now. How is she today?
A white cone of shame eh? That's a new one to me, must be a new thing? Anypawdy else seen those?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
4:56 pm
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Bucketeers
22 February 2013
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Just checking in on you and Puzzle.
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Puzzle has had ups and downs... She was in the clinical trial and got the new drug (non opiate)-seemed to work well. Yesterday was the last day of the trial and she seemed to be more irritated so I started her on gabapentin again. She is also on carprofen. The wound has some bruising-but my surgeon thinks it is healing well. She wants to lick the area so badly.
Its been hard for her to figure out how to get comfortable. She gets up and down. She hadn't been using her leg for almost a week before surgery-which I think has helped her to adjust.
I am home during the day-so can give her breaks from the cone. At night however, its been hard. She hates the cone and will get up and turn around or get up and wander around the room. I am getting up with her 3-4 times per night- feel exhausted. I have another dog so all the activity gets her up too. Ugh.
I am glad that she is peeing and pooping. I think meds give her stomach upset so she is getting some new varieties of canned food which she enjoys.
My surgeon said stitches can be removed in 2-3 weeks. Is 3 better than 2?
I cannot wait for the day when she feels like everything has healed.
Thanks for checking in.
Story to share-I have an amazing postal worker who loves dogs. He has left 2 treats in the door -for Puzzle and my other dog-every day since we found out about the bone lesion (5 weeks). Warms my heart.
5:38 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
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Hey Sally thanks for asking about Puzzle!
If she really wants to get at her incision this early on, she could be experiencing high levels of pain. Usually the incision isn't a huge target for a new Tripawd until the stitches start getting dry. Let your vet know, her meds may need boosting. It's good she's on the Gabapentin!
Her recovery sounds pretty standard, but of course still frustrating. The cone really stinks but it's such a necessary evil. The alternative is a recovery shirt. Do you think she might do better in a surgical recovery suit? Many dogs and even cats have had great success with them as cone alternatives.
The length of time stitches stay in really depends on how well the area is healing. I'd say the average time is about 2 weeks but sometimes dogs need a little more time to heal.
It's great that her appetite and GI system is doing so well! Definitely want to celebrate that!
P.S. Please start a new topic in Treatment and Recovery now that she's graduated from diagnosis. Thanks a bunch.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
