Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Let us know how the visit goes!! Remember, just praise her and smooch her face and tell her what a good girl she is!! Be confident a d positive! Maybe take a bit of chicken or some other special treat as a reward!!
I tried a towel sling with my Happy Hannah for a time or two and she basically just stood there until I took it off!! Then she oved along just fine! Many dogs don't need a harness at sll, some do. Just play it by ear.
When you do get her home, rest and potty breaks, and more rest!! Taking her out "every hour" is NOT what she needs at first, so you needn't worry about that.
If you aren't comfortable and confident taking her home Friday, that's completely your call! Whatever works best for you and as long as being at the Vet isn't something thst she hates. Whenever you do take her home, she will feed off your energy, A strong pack leader energy is what will help her the most.
One of the grest life lessons this journey teaches us is to Be More Dog ! BE MORE STELLA!!! She has NO worries! She kives in the NOW, in the MOMEU, in the PRESENT!! She doesn't care about statistics or days on a calendar, she just cares about loving and spoiling and living in the NOW with you by her side! Ahhhh....the bliss of being dog!!
We'll look forward to your update!
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!
Just catching up with you and your gorgeous Stella. Do let us know how the visit goes and just to repeat what others have said re bringing her home, do whatever you feel most comfortable with. My Meg was in one night before surgery and three nights after. That seemed to be pretty normal for the hospital she was at (though it's longer than average for most dogs on this site). Her pain was well managed both before and after surgery and she had a straightforward recovery. I think for me the hardest part was actually before she came home. That was when I was most fearful. As soon as I saw her, my fears disappeared and we just got on with it.
Remember, once you do bring her home, we will all be here for you. Any worries, concerns, questions, we will be here, okay? You are not alone.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
I am so happy, for Stella (what a beauty!!!)! I hope she is doing great! My family took Giselle out the day after surgery! She actually did amazingly! It is almost four days after surgery and she already walked half our first floor! Our dog is fifteen and still did fine. I hope Stella does great w/ her surgery!!
Just a quick update on our visit.
she seems to be doing ok. Walking around well enough for starters, but tired out quickly. She is NOT happy with cone of shame . She kept trying to itch a spot on her back (slight razor burns? And only stopped being aggravated after I started scratching the area.)
She was very excited and a rather over stimulated by our visit.stsrtrd to worry me a little. Whining and crying a lot.
Her "food-Hoover-trick" (she inhales food) still works fine apparently. So good appetite.
Wound site didn't look as bad as I imagined. Insicion still looked a bit angry with some swelling/bruising and some fluid around the areas. But man, they truly went bonkers with those clippers. All the over to the other hip and halfway up her back.
Her wound at a little bit of seapache (sorry not sure of the spelling). Hospital just called me and said doc wants to keep her in over the weekend to monitor that, albeit some seapache is normal and I shouldn't worry too much.
Now I worry.
Had to chuckle....on this journey if a Vet points out an "issue", and then says , "Don't worry!"..'HA!! Good luck with the not worrying part, right'?
But really...DO NOT WORRY!!! This is perfectly "normal"! The swelling, the bruising, the seepage, all normal!! It's merely a matter of monitoring the fluid just to make sure it doesn't appear infected with pus, blood, foul smell, etc. Sometimes a drain has to be put in...again, no biggie!!
Just a guess, but is probably keeping her the extra time because you indicated earlier that would be okay with you! It is a 24 hr clinic, right'
Yeah, the meds can make her whiny. But seeing you a d being very vocal about being happy to see you and wanting to go home is perfectly normal!!
She's mobile, she's eating and obviously alert...all great news!!
Yeah, they sure get clipper happy...a little too much sometimes!
Have a great week end a d get some rest!!! We will all be looking forward ro hearing about her homecoming!! We're right here bynyiur side should you have any questions or need support in anyway!!
Lots of 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!
Of course you worry. That's our job! But try to rest up and take care of yourself, so you're ready to welcome Stella home on Monday. Seepage is entirely normal as is some swelling and bruising. I think it's good they are being cautious and monitoring her carefully. They kept Meg an extra day because they wanted her to be more mobile. I was certain she'd never walk again. Not quite how it turned out...
The whining and crying is extremely likely to be a side-effect of the anaesthetic and the superdooper pain meds they've got her on. She's on another planet right now. It's great that she's eating. Good excuse to stock up on all her favourite treats so you can spoil her rotten once she's home.
I know what you mean re the clippers. Meg was at least a quarter shaved. But it will grow back soon enough, all lovely and soft and new.
Now have yourself a treat, okay? A glass of wine, some chocolate, whatever you fancy. This is tough and you are doing great!
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Her stump definitely looks more angry today. Less bruising but more swelling and more red.
Spoke to surgeon during visit and even thou he is not too concerned over it, he would rather have her at clinic instead of home for now to monitor the fluids. Stella doesn't know it, but her digs at vet are bigger then the crate I have set up for her. Especially if the cone has to stay on for a while longer....
Surgeon suspects she may have figured out a way to utilize her cone of shame to scratch/itch the area 🙁 ... always the clever girl
Stella was more alert and perky today but she still felt very restless. I'm not sure if our visits do her good or do more harm in getting her over excited..
Yep,all sounds pretty normal!! The Bet seems to have a good handle on the fluid leakage. Stella is right where she needs to be so theVet can keep an eye on things.
A lot of Vets advise against "visits" for exactly what you observed with Stella. They get all excited and anxious thinking they are going home. Then it takes them awhile to settle back down afterwards. Yeah, it's hard to NOT see them a d ake them think they've been abandoned. Catch 22!! And add some meds into the mix a d maybe some pain and that can make them restless too!!
Stella sounds like a little spitfire of a dog!! Those collars can't easily be manipulated....unless Stella has ine in and she has an itch that needs scratching!! 🙂 🙂
Hang in there!!' She'll be home soon, recovr will be over, and all her sparkle will be back big time!!!
Thanks for the update! Looking forward ro more!
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!
Yeah, it's tricky knowing whether to visit. I didn't with Meg, even though she was in several times for a very considerable length of time because I figured it would stress her out. I agonised over whether this was the right decision. Basically, I think whichever you do, you worry the other way might have been better. Such is the fate of the dog Mum!
Just try and focus on how great it will be when you can bring her home.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Hit the nail on the head: visit, no visit, no guilt, guilt...I LOVE to visit even in the worst of circumstances but then realized- I am a slow learner sometimes- that having 24 care when you need it allows you to bank the sleep that you will definitely lose when your loved one returns home!
I learned to trust the vets to tell me if my WonderPyr was "stale" and needed his mom. And it was a big production to get any doped up WonderPyr up, moving down the hall to a room, settled, moved again. Now, of course, those were WonderPyrs who are slightly more couch potato than the average bear.
Whatever you decide- and you can decide on a daily or half daily basis-Stella is in excellent hands at the vets AND at home!
Best wishes, hugs, and PyrPaws all around.
Any updates? Just wondering how you and Stella are doing.
Sending you every pawsitive wish,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Stella is home. She was very excited to see us and steamrolled/hopped in lightning speed towards us.
I did ask and received some acepromazine for her.. otherwise I would go crazy.
She settled in nicely in her crate. I left the cone off because I was able to keep an eye on her but that only lasted for 20 min, she tried to sneak in too many licks fore my comfort.. cone had to come back on. She probably did not exactly envision her homecome like that but what can a soft mommy do.
The oncologist gave us a big refill of her meds prior to surgery, ended up not needed them because she had surgery so fast. now she gets a much smaller dosage and I can't cut the gabapentine capsules... bit of a waste 🙁
She has her check up in Friday. Let's hope I can keep her comfy and relaxed and happy in the meantime
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR STELLA BEING HOME!!!! I KNOW SHE IS SOOOOOOO. HAPPY!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Some had good luck using a tee shirt to help keep their pups sway from the stitches.
Stay consistent with the pain meds so the pain doesn't get ahead start. And I'm sure the Vet cautioned you about the ACE. It's a very heavy sedativea d can cause a lot of lethargy and possible suppression of the respiratory system. Hopefully,she wont need it though!!
I know having Stella home is ABSOLUTELY spectacular...for both of you! 🙂
Hope you can get some rest tonight!
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!
Hi Sally,
she would probably find a way to remove the tshirt (but I'm open for sugggesfions on how to affix it to her rear to keep her.. spoor thing is not happy with cone and it's making her like the plastic and she is all damp with all her long fur on her face/neck)
my old Australian Shepherd went through 2 tplo, so I have quite a lot of exp with ace..
I'm starting her on a very low dose to keep the edge off (nothing worse then having a dog buddy jump around you wile you are confined in a crate).. once she is off crate rest I wean her right off.
I am a bit concerned about her gabapentin dose.. it's every 8 hours in small doses vs every 12 hours in a higher dose.
she got her last dose at 7pm so she would be due at 3pm.. I do hope she and I will be asleep then but it will push th time to next dose to closer to 12 hours 🙁
Yeah, hopefully you can stretch the Gaba out a bit longer tonight so you can get some rest. She's on tramadol so maybe that will help her tonight too. Paws crossed!
Nah, doesn't sound like the tee shirt idea would work. Your Stella is a very determined girl! Burpt that's a plus when it comes to healing! 🙂
Have you seen the soft donut cones? Don't know if that would work. Maybe some others will have some suggestions. I was very lucky in that my Happy Hannah didn't bother her stitches.
Hugs and.... zzzzzzzzzzz,...
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!
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