Hello.  My name is Lydia and I am the mom of a 13 year old greyhound, Dee Dee (or Deeds, as I call her).  Deeds is  obviously elderly for a greyhound.  A week ago, we noticed her limping and dragging her left front leg.  Went to the vet a week ago tomorrow, did x-rays, found osteosarcoma with a severe fracture by her shoulder.  Was given the option to amputate or euthanize her.  We chose amputation.  Her chest x-rays were clear as of last Monday. 

Amputation was performed last Tuesday.  Deeds was exteremely groggy afterward but I assumed it was normal.  I am usually totally OCD about researching anything, but the dx and surgery happened so quickly, I think I was (and still may be) a little in shock and did a lousy job on finding out what was going on outside the vet's abbreviated comments.  Wednesday AM came and I got a panicked call from the vet's office saying Deeds was 'down'.  My immediate reaction was "ummm….if you had your leg cut off, wouldn't you be down, too?" .  I  went there ASAP and Deeds was acting very medicated, but lifted her head in greeting.  The head vet later confirmed to my husband that Deeds was indeed overmedicated Tuesday evening.

Deeds only received IV fluids while at the vet's and mediocre attempts were made to force-feed her recovery gruel.  I noted on my frequent visits that her mouth and tongue seemed very dry.  I now feel like a crappy mom, as I should have asked why this was so. She started sitting up a little.  They released her on Thursday evening to us.  She was carried out to our truck.  The care sheet was scant at best- keeping her from running up and down the stairs for a month ( I find this ironic, as it is a struggle to get her to stand at this point).  I had gotten Deeds a transdermal pain patch which the vet applied before her release. 

When we got her home, I suggested that we try to let her walk to her bed.  Deeds immediately fell down.  My husband picked her up and carried her to her bed.  I had at least had the foresight to purchase training pads to place on her bed, and that was great, as Deeds has only gotten up once to use the toilet away from her bed.  I can't tell the urine from the feces- everything is very liquidy.  Since she hadn't eaten in almost a week, that doesn't concern me, but what I AM worried about is that she is passing some blood (very watery).  The vet is unconcerned about this, but I am.  :(

I am cooking some chicken and liver for her and she is eating this fairly well.  She is also drinking well.   There was a happy surprise this morning when she got up unassisted and went out of the garage to sit in the driveway.  I cried, I was so happy.

I feel that the vet TOTALLY blew off giving us a realistic picture of what post-surgery care would be.  I have lost faith in this office and will start working on finding a new vet tomorrow.  In the meantime, any feedback regarding her progress so far is welcome.  I feel as if we are flying blind at this point and hope we made the right decision for Deeds.  Thanks in advance- you don't know how much I appreciate any comments.

i have a lurcher (greyhound saluki cross) front amputee too due to OSA. Her recovery was ok, sighthounds can react differently to the anesthetic and take longer to come round, as already said they are also known bleeders. don't forget greyhounds are lazy dogs and resting is good for them to begin with as for not letting them run up the stairs for a month Dizzy was up the stairs unassisted in 3 days and down in 5 days. As for the bleeding I would be asking a vet for their opinion. Welcome to the site.

Ooops…FENTANYL patch.  Sorry!