Hi Deb,

Tucker was nine years old when he had his right front leg (and scapula) amputated six months ago.  Tuck had an invasive but localized sarcoma that had been removed once earlier in the year and grew back quickly so I knew amputation was his only chance.

Tucker had his surgery on a Wednesday and I picked him after work on Friday and stayed home from work with him the whole next week.  I think I needed to stay home more than he needed me but I wanted to be there for him....just in case.  I didn't go anywhere the first week or so but then went out for an hour to see my granddaughter or go to the store.  The next Monday I went back to work and Tucker had his stitches out the next day.  His recovery had some ups and downs but generally he did very well.

After lots of reading, I knew the importance of a slow and steady pace during the recovery and I let Tucker guide me....our first few walks were literally two doors down the sidewalk and then home.  As well, I knew that Tuck needed to lose weight....10 pounds post amp.....so he is now down to a svelte 84 pounds

Even six months later, I am still looking forward to more firsts for Tuck....I want to take him swimming again and have to find a place where he doesn't have to walk too far to get to the water.

I'm REALLY glad I joined this community the day that Tuck had his surgery...I could look at photos, read success stories, come and vent when I was worried and ask questions.

Good Luck with your decision for Lexie....you will make the right choice because you love your girl.

Hugs

Linda and Tucker - who is celebrating his 10th birthday today

Lloyd is 13yrs old diagnosed on his birthday -1st March and had his amputation on the 3rd.

He had a one night stay at the vets,  he was refusing to eat or drink so they thought that he'd do better at home.

I don't work at the moment so I was with him all the time - we also have 4 other dogs so it meant that he was with them and didn't have to be separated.

He's doing well at the moment- he has been trying to roach in the sun- which makes everything we've done feel right.

The only thing we had that sent us back to the vets was his remaining right front leg swelled  and he also suffered some fluid build up on his chest, which seeped this had to be washed a few times a day- now he's looking good.

Hi Deb!

Our 12 year old boxer, Stella Belle, underwent amputation of her right hind leg, sixteen days ago. 

She stayed one night in the hospital.  If you can swing it, I recommend it.

We had five or six nights of restlessness and pain - then we obtained a mild sedative from the vet, which made all the difference, for Stella and for us!

One of us stayed with Stella all day, for the first thirteen days.  It's a luxury...for all of us.  In hindsight, I would have felt comfortable leaving her confined in the kitchen, with a cone on, after day eight.

Stella had a knee replacement surgery (remaining "good" hind leg) about five years ago.  She has been on Rimadyl since then, for inflammation and arthritis.  Stella was prescribed Tramadol when diagnosed with a mast cell tumor two years ago, and took it through surgical removal of the tumor and radiation therapy.

After her recent osteocarcoma diagnosis, and before we amputated the leg, Stella was taking 100 mg of Tramadol two times per day, plus the Rimadyl and 100 mg of Gabapentin.  We saw some behavioral side effects from pain meds after amputation, but we believe that a large majority of those side effects were the result of the Fentanyl patch.  The more pronounced side effects - crying, quaking, panting - resolved completely a few days after the patch was removed.

No loose skin, but Stella's osteocarcoma is believed to have been born from radiation - the area of the leg effected was very sensitive and the skin was very thin.

Tripawds was our lifesaver through all of this.  That being said, I wish I'd had Stella fitted for a customized harness before surgery, because lifting her 60 lb frame up and down the stairs with just the Ruffwear harness wasn't good for any of us.  I also wish I had been more diligent about getting her fitted for a booty (on her remaining hind leg) before surgery, so that I could have spent more time getting her used to wearing it, before she really needed to.  Lastly, I wish I'd been a bit more prepared for some of the "ups and downs" of post-amp care.  Stella is, literally, a puppy version of herself one day, and the next is tired, anxious and uncomfortable.  I know that this is all part of the post-amp process, but it is still really difficult to deal with. 

I also think that, no matter how many times you read other people's account of situations and issues, until you go through them yourself, you just don't know what is truly involved.  The people on Tripawds are honest...brutally honest...about what to expect.  And while that gave me guidance and a bar to which I measured Stella's progress, every dog is different and will react in its own way.  It's tough...but would I do it again?  Yes.  Undoubtedly.  I believe Stella will acclimate to this change fully, and will be back to being herself in a few weeks.  It is just taking her a bit longer than others, because of her age and her pre-existing difficulties.

Hope this helps...best of luck to both of you!