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Rhiley's Story 3 yr Yorkie Front leg amputee this week
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Member Since:
11 August 2016
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11 August 2016 - 7:33 am
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Three-year-old Yorkie broke his front leg two and a half years ago freak accident they said had to do with one bone being longer than other from elbow down all he did was place front legs on someone calf and rolled on his back squeeling.

Multiple surgeries were performed at the animal trauma hospital in Appleton Wi where they tried things like pinning the leg. 3 Days Later a broken pin popped out the skin on the back of the leg and we had to have another surgery. That time they use screws. After we realize he still wasn't using the leg at week later and they x-rayed it was found the screw had come loose and was loose floating in the leg.  Back the 75 mile drive to Appleton we went again . The surgeons at that time told us they didn't make small enough screws for the size of Bones he had. So when we left that day the things they told us or we may find over time the leg healed itself or it may not.

Fast forward two years and the last couple of months we have found him not using the leg at all. Our groomer reported to us nearly a year ago there was no muscle mass at all in that shoulder. He had never healed over the last couple years limping  at all times . Over the last several months he would attempt to walk and fall to the ground in pain. It was at this time we decided we either had to put him down or amputate the leg. With over $6,000 and Care Credit charges still paying on from all the surgeries we contacted his local dr. who agreed to do the amputation on a payment plan.

Coincidentally when I spoke to the on-call surgeon at the animal trauma Hospital asking his opinion on whether we should go forward with this. He told me in fact he had a 12 year old yorkie that had broken its leg at 3 years old and he personally was not willing to have any surgeries done on his: he splinted it, casted it, and after three months of that not working he did the amputation. Said his went back to the fun-loving puppy it had been prior to the injury within days of amputation.

Day 1- call at 1:30 in the afternoon stating surgery went well no problems and he was starting to come out of anesthesia.

Day 2- vet called 9 a.m. said they removed his catheter they had had to give him additional pain meds through his IV during the night but he could be released at 11. She said he had stumbled a bit outside trying to get balance has not urinated but did walk around was not willing to eat. I was not prepared for what I seen when I went to pick him up nor the condition he was in. When walking in the office doors I heard the squealing sound that I had only heard once prior from him and it was the day and time of the break itself. I brought him home and put him in his kennel in the living room I cried thinking you made the wrong decision and that I never meant for him to be in that kind of pain. My husband came home and just kept reminding me that hopefully the pain was short-lived and he would be pain free for the rest of his life after spending the last two-and-a-half years and constant pain. For the most part he slept most the day the doctor stated he could go for walks already that night if he felt up to it. He is such a rambunctious dog I was terrified to have him out of the kennel my husband and I sat on the floor thinking he would only walk to us. Instead he ran and ran around the house jumped up on the furniture and we had to quickly restrain him. The night went smoothly as he slept through the night. He did eat a bit drink a bit and was urinating at home. We were carrying him outside to sit him down to go potty. By the end of the day the spoiled little bugger wouldn't walk just being lazy and would stand and stare up at me for me to pick him up and carry him. But when down wanted to run like a fool.

Day 3- let him out for about an hour in the morning loose in the house he acted like it was any other day walking around chewing on his bones ate some food but then jumps up on the couch and I decided it was time to put him away not wanting to risk any problems. He is having no balance issues. He's having no problem going up and down the steps that we have to the furniture. The doctor stated they didn't think this would be a hard transition for him as he hadn't been using that other like for quite some time anyways. Around lunch-time let him out for another hour supervised keeping him from stairs or furniture. Again he decided to jump up on furniture and we decided we needed to put him back in the kennel to rest. Mealtime he did have bowel movement was eating fine and spent several hours out in the house with the whole family supervising but him wanting to act like it was any other day with his behavior and activity. The night was rough and I really do mean rough. We went to bed at 11 at 2 he woke up barking we took him outside he urinated. Put him back in the kennel and that lasted until 4 when he was barking crazy again. This time he was stiff and shaking it was clear he was having problems with pain. He is on Medicam once daily and we knew he could not have it until 7 a.m. . At that point we made the decision to bring him into bed with us and that seemed to soothe him back to sleep.

Day 4- I put a shirt on him today as his incision was starting to look red I believe from him laying down quite a bit on different surfaces and rubbing. He does lay down even on that side, the doctor did leave the full shoulder in which is also another reason I put the shirt on him because it almost looks like there's a bone poking out the skin which I know there isn't but it looks terrible. He is acting and behaving like everything is normal and we decided today he needed much more time out of the kennel so hopefully he would sleep through the night tonight.

His post-op medications are Clavamox twice-daily as antibiotic and Metacam once daily for pain. Praying the night goes better tonight.

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
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11 August 2016 - 9:44 am
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Hi and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.

The first thing that jumps out is that Rhiley does not have enough pain medicine!  Most pups come home with a patch and at least one pain med in addition to an anti inflammatory like metacam.  You should talk with your vet and insist on better pain management for your boy!

Also you may want to restrict his activity a bit more for the first two weeks.  Our surgeon said only short, leashed potty breaks until the stitches came out. 

It's great that he is eating and eliminating and has so much energy but you don't want him to pull out a suture or staple or hurt himself. It's hard with the young ones because they seem to bounce back so quickly and I bet he feels so much better with that bum leg gone, but rest is the key to a smooth recovery.

He looks quite adorable in the avatar photo!  Here is how to add images to your forum posts if you would like to share more pictures.

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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11 August 2016 - 12:08 pm
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Can't wait to see pictures of Rhiley!

Absolutely 100% agree with Karen....he needs more pain meds and less activity! The first couple of days he probably still had some hospital pain meds in him. It appears they have worn off now and the pain is really kicking in.

Al.ost ALL dogs here come home with Tramadol, Rimadyl (or Metacam), and antibiotic and wuite often Gabapentin too! So.e even have a morphine patch too. 'This is MAJOR surgery and the Surgeon didn't send him home with any heavy duty pain meds...OWWEEE! If the vet had ro have najor surfery, I guarantee he woukd be begging for lain meds other than just an an anti-inflammatory! Of course, we aren't vets, but call your vet TODAY and ddiscuss more pain meds asap.

So yes, Rhiley is not sleeping and is shaking most likely due to.pain. Most vets advise total rest and just short leashed potty breaks for the first two weeks! And yes, Rhiley should adjust to three legs just fine....but first he needs to heal from the major surgery.

Some surgeons remove the shoulder, some don't. My Happy Hannah was a rear legger, but I don't think it should "appear" that the shoulder is poking out through the skin. I thi k the tee shirt is a good idea simply to add a tiny bit of cushion. Do you feel like he needs a padded wrap arou d the incision site?

A couple of really good thi gs to celebrate...EATING!''DRINKING!! POOPING!! PEEING!! 🙂 You're doing a really good job! Recovery is no picnic for a couple of weeks. Rhiley will be sooooo happy that bum leg is gone!

Update us after you talk to your vet about adding pain meds.

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!

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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11 August 2016 - 1:40 pm
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The first couple of days home are sometimes like a honeymoon period because they still have some of the anesthesia in their system.  But I can't believe your doctor only sent him home with 1 medication!  Murphy came home with Tramadol, Rimadyl & Gabapentin.  We were also told to limit his activity for the first couple of weeks.  Just going outside for potty breaks is enough.  Most don't start going for walks until after their staples are removed. 

I would get ahold of your vet today to get more medications.  Gabapentin is the one that works for nerve pain.  Tramadol is more of a narcotic.

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

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