Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
It's a little long...
I posted a blog, but will do a small post here as well.
Short background: Zuzu is an 11 year old Aussie that had a nerve sheath tumor removed from her knee 13 days ago. Originally we were told the only option was amputation, but after lots of searching we found a vet that was comfortable taking the mass and leaving the leg. We had initially planned on a skin flap technique for closure but the doc ended up not using the skin flap.
The first few days went pretty well, some swelling in the ankle and foot, but the incision was looking pretty good. Day 7 she popped a stitch and we had to go back in for some staples, which definitely seemed to help but there was still some minor gapping.
Couple days after this she popped another stitch and things we're staying to look a little green so we took her back in.
Doc says there's an infection so we put her back on antibiotics, and learn that we're gonna lose some of the skin around the incision, but things will be ok.
That night things kinda hit the fan- she popped the skin again, but there's nothing they could do so we just try to keep things as clean as we can.
The next morning things are looking pretty grim- the Neosporin and antibiotics aren't seeming to have any impact on the infection and things look even worse, very green and filled with pus.
I figured we'd go out and potty then I would clean it up as best I could. Within a few steps her wound rubbed up against a leg and out pop two of the staples. Well, s**t. We loaded her in the car and are on the 5 minute car ride to the vets when two more stitches pop. At this point the open wound is about the size of a quarter- maybe a little bigger.
The doc we saw say things looked pretty bad, but they're gonna get her all patched up. They do a manuka honey spread, rather than triple antibiotic success that doesn't seem to be having much impact, wrap it up really well and tell us that they can't resuture in any way so we have to just wait for the body to do its thing.
2 days later and her bandage is slipping and we have a few questions ( she threw up and was on a bland diet with no pain meds at this point) so we go back in. This time they have is drop her off, which is a bit of a blessing as I was finally able to get a few hours of good rest in.
We picked her up about 6 hours later. Great news! No visible signs of infection, the edits if her wound have sealed down and skin granulation had begun. After just 2 days!
They reapplied the honey and did another bandage. We go back tomorrow or the next day ( depending on how much it slips) to get another application done and they're going to teach us how to bandage properly at home so we don't have to continue to go in every few days.
I'm amazed at the results we've gained from using the honey.
Does anyone else have any experience with manuka honey?
Are these results typical?
I'm thinking of ordering some to have on hand, but have to check what % they used at the vets office.
Zuzu (and us) have had a very traumatic weekend but things are looking up.
now, what I know everyone really wants, pictures:
http://princess.....155942.jpg
http://princess.....079820.jpg
http://princess.....886873.jpg
http://princess.....184133.jpg
11 year old Australian Shepherd with soft tissue sarcoma.
http://princess.....ipawds.com
Manuka honey is LEGIT. I got some off of Amazon and it does a fantastic job of preventing infection and helping the skin granulation. I used it on Izzy's foot when it got smelling fishy (like knock your socks off when you unwrapped the bandage level stank) and it took care of it, toot suite.
You can buy MediHoney wound dressings but they are kind of stiff. Might be fine on Zuzu but it was too rigid for Izzy to have to walk on. I'd send them to you but already donated them to the surgeon at Izzy's oncologist's office.
Here is what I bought: Manuka Honey and the MediHoney
and the wound dressings - stock up on this stuff for at home bandaging:
1st layer - Non stick pads
2nd layer - padding
3rd layer - cotton gauze
If your doc wants you to use vet tape/coban - and the Elastikon that goes over the "seams"
Of course, you don't have to buy in bulk - Zuzu probably won't need bandages for as long as Izzy has been sporting one, but there you have it!
So glad the honey worked! It's funny because the oncologist was kind of "whatever" about me trying it but the surgeon was very enthusiastic - just goes to show that people who know, know!!
Keep us posted!
Amy & Izzy, too
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Ashley said
Does anyone else have any experience with manuka honey?
Please do not miss this Tripawds Nutrition blog post...
How Manuka Honey Helps Heal Wounds
Use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I have seen Manuka Honey work wonders and I really hope it is just the ticket for Zuzu.
Can I ask about this though - no pain meds after removal of a nerve sheath tumor? Seems early yet to me. Nerve sheath tumor and surgery removing them = very painful. Has she been on Gabapentin at all??
Sending best thoughts for Zuzu.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
hester said
I have seen Manuka Honey work wonders and I really hope it is just the ticket for Zuzu.Can I ask about this though - no pain meds after removal of a nerve sheath tumor? Seems early yet to me. Nerve sheath tumor and surgery removing them = very painful. Has she been on Gabapentin at all??
Sending best thoughts for Zuzu.
It seems to be the ticket, we just hope it keeps working.
She was temporarily taken off pain meds ( approx 40 hrs without) so we could get the vomiting under control and make sure she was able to keep down the antibiotics.
She's not been on gabapentin, but has been doing really well on carprofen and tramadol. One of the vets we saw ( not the one that did her surgery, but the one that did the original bandaging) mentioned the debate about tramadols effectiveness, but said that if we felt like it was helping to go ahead and continue it. Honestly, I'm not sure how effective that is, but it does keep her calmer and that is definitely aiding in recovery and she's not showing any pain signals
now that we've resumed all meds and the infection is decreasing so I'm calling it a win.
11 year old Australian Shepherd with soft tissue sarcoma.
http://princess.....ipawds.com
1 Guest(s)
