Scout, our 8 year old male Jack Russell Terrier, unexpectedly and suddenly attacked a gas powered hedge trimmer while in use this past Sunday. The trimmer caught his front left leg just above his front left carpus/wrist joint. The entire event happened so rapidly and in front of all of us (wife, daughter and son) that we barely could even figure out what was going on. Scout barely cried out, but did so enough such that we knew something had happened. At first we thought is was his face but that was fine. Noticed the blood on his leg and upon really looking at it saw that he was losing a lot of blood rapidly. 

We rushed to the vet as quickly as we could and they were able to stabilize him. A while later, an xray showed his radius bone completely severed with some damage that made saving the leg not possible. We had to decide then and there to either amputate or put him down. No real time to think, research or anything, we decided to amputate. 

It has been an overwhelming struggle for us all, Scout first and foremost, since this event and decision. For me personally, I was operating the machine, I am overwhelmed with guilt, sadness, sorrow and the feeling of failed responsibility. My wife and kids are having similar feelings but ALL of us are pouring all we have into Scout's recovery and well-being. Problem is, this is such a major surgery and we have little experience with this type of trauma and recovery. One of us is with him round the clock so far and will be for as long as we can manage to keep it up.

Scout seems to be recovering normally, at least based on what I've read on Tripawds forums. He's managed to restore all of his bathroom activity, although it's spotty. He does hop to use the bathroom and then just stands in place when he's ready to be picked up. He is sleeping a good deal of the day and night but shakes a lot during the day and maybe 1-2x per day lets out a squeal.

We have two other Jack Russells in the house, females both, one 14 and the other 3 years old. They are concerned, check in on him now and then but otherwise are giving him his space so far. 

Scout was sent home with Galliprant (once a day), Gabapentin (twice a day) and Clavamox (twice a day). He receives all of these with his evening meal and only the Gaba and Clavamox with his morning meal. He seems better at night than he does during the day which I suspect has to do with only getting the Galliprant one time a day. I have a call in to our regular vet and the emergency vet to ask about this, hope to hear back soon as we want him as comfortable as possible. 

His stitches are internal and will dissolve on their own. The wound/incision looks ok, no weeping but lots of bruising, only minimal swelling. We are keeping him still, actually he's doing that on his own and is not showing any real interest in moving much other than an occasional adjustment in his bed like flipping from one side to the other, he will even lie on the side with the incision. We were instructed to place a warm compress on him 2x/day, we are actually doing this more like 4-5x a day since he seems to really like it and find comfort in it. 

We've ordered a Webmaster Harness and some booties for his paws since all our floors are either hardwood or tile, I have my doubts that he will take to the boots but figure it is worth a try. I am reading and researching like a fiend right now to try and get a grip on what comes next, how to best care for him at the various stages of recovery and how to address all of his needs (present and future). My worries are to numerous to list and I am trying to take things day-by-day. I hope and pray we made the right decision here, at times it seems so inhumane to have made the choice we did as he looks so pathetic and not even remotely like the vibrant, energetic pesky dog he was just 4 days ago, it....is.......heartbreaking. 

I am grateful to have found this website and community and hope to learn and draw inspiration from it going forward.