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Hi everyone, I have some questions about after surgery, that I've been unable to locate the answers...... Akiko had his surgery on Friday , and still hasn't urinated on his own yet. Has anyone had the same problems? They won't let him come home without going on his own. Second, he's only 80 lbs, but is having a tough time getting his "sea legs" back...he is also still refusing to eat...please advise if y'all have had these issues.
Thanks, Tera & Akiko 
We didn't have any issues peeing or walking, but many do. As for the going to the bathroom, try giving him as much liquid food as you can (chicken broth, pedialyte, popsicles, etc) and trust that he will go when he needs to go.
We did struggle with appetite, and continue to do so, two months later. You might try enticing him with stuff like hot dogs or ice cream, etc.
It's only been two days, so don't worry...you're very early into it. Akitas and similar breeds can take a long time, sometimes, to throw off the effects from the anesthesia, at least that's been our experience.
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Tera, hang in there. Two days is not a long time. Has he urinated yet? Is he drinking water? If he's not drinking enough that could explain things, but many times dogs need extra help urinating after surgery. Some dogs go back to the vet for that, hopefully Akiko won't need to. Dogs shouldn't go longer than 10-12 hours between urinating so if he isn't yet, that's a reason to contact your vet. In the meantime adding low-salt chicken broth, or even a splash of Gatorade to his water can entice him to drink.
As for not getting his sea legs back.....I agree with Megan. Some dogs just take longer than others. What kind of pain meds is he on? Pain meds can also make a dog see pink elephants, constipated, and not be very coordinated.
Only you know him best, if you are nervous that something is really wrong keep your vet informed. In the meantime try to put yourself in his paws and remember that even with 3 legs it's not very easy to just bounce back. He WILL but he needs time. Hang in there, we kn ow how hard this is!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I kept reading your post to make sure I got it.....he already IS at the vet's and they won't let him come home until hr urinates. Did I get that right? . That, to me, means they are on top of it and will take the necessary steps. Is he at a facility with overnight/weekend 24 hour care?
The ability to get his "sea legs" will normalize shortly. I know it's hard to feel reassured at this point but he's in good hands at the ver's office and he will start feeling better as soon as he gets home. The eating will also improve.....loss of appetite is "normal" sometimes also.
Try and get some rest.and yourAkiko will be home tomorrow:-) 
PLEASE post us tomorrow as soon as you talk with the vet.
B r e a t h e...and again..b r e a t h e
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Hello everyone, talked to the vet this morning....Akiko still hasn't peed, but good news is they said he finally got up all by himself once last night. They still want to keep him there at the specialty surgical center. @Sally, the surgical center is in the same building as the animal ER, so it's monitored 24 hours....one of the pluses of the surgery center. Akiko is still on a fentonyl(sp?) patch for pain.....he's been sniffing around the grass trying to figure out how to go I guess. Other good news, he finally ate..... Guess I've been worrying more than I should....
Thanks for the words of encouragement & support
Tera & Akiko 
Hi Tera,
It was nice talking to you last night. I am glad that Akiko is making progress. You care so of course you are worrying. It will get easier, I promise.
Chris and Cora
Topher
Vet Assistant (in school to be a licensed vet technician)
1.5 years Oncology department, moved to rehab & sportsmed December 2024
Tripawd Angel, Cora the Determined <3
benny55 said
I kept reading your post to make sure I got it.....he already IS at the vet's and they won't let him come home until hr urinates. Did I get that right? . That, to me, means they are on top of it and will take the necessary steps. Is he at a facility with overnight/weekend 24 hour care?
Sally and Happy Hannah
Sally can we borrow your glasses? Cause we didn't see that! Doh!
Tera I'm glad to hear they're dealing with his issues in a clinic setting. And oh if he's on Fentanyl, well that will make any dog a little tipsy (or a lot!). It's a pretty darn strong painkiller and really causes the pink elephants to come out!
I hope today is a good day for him and you both. Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tera... one thing, which your vet probably talked about with you, akitas and other northern/pac rim breeds can have freaky deaky responses to pain meds (esp. with some of the narcotics). Fentanyl is a VERY strong pain med, so that could explain a lot of it.
My Sam has terrible drug tolerance--morphine and the like give him the crazies. He DID have to have some morphine for his surgery, there was no other option, but we went with the absolute lowest does possible, and switched him off ASAP. Once that worked it's way out of his system, he was markedly improved.
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Hi everyone,
The vet did say that some of the artic breeds have that problem, but thanks for confirming it. She did say that some of his post-op issues probably
stemmed from the meds, but I still kept worrying he wasn't going to ever come home or get the hang of it....we convinced her he would probably go in
his own grass, and I'm so glad to say he finally went a couple times this morning. He has decided that he doesn't want our help getting up anymore.
Every time we approach to help, he rolls on his side...silly boy, he's so stubborn sometimes, but this will probably help his recovery some. Akiko still
isn't eating much, but as y'all have all said it to will improve with time.
Thanks for the advice and support and when this is over, I hope to pay it forward.
Tera & Akiko 
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW:-) WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW:-)
I don't think I,be ever been so glad to hear a dog took a whiz in all my life!!!!!:-)
I was literally holding my breath as I scrolled down to read your post........"please, please let it be good".
My sigh of relief was probably as long as his first pee:-)
So happy:-) Is he home? The eating will come....we've got all sorts of tricks on this site when you have him home!
DOING THE HAPPIEST PEE DANCE IN THE LAND:-) WE LOVE PEE:-) LET US KNOW WHEN WE CAN DO THE HAPPY POOP DANCE:-) WE LOVE EQUALLY AS MUCH:-)
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
That stubborn temperament will be both a boon and a bane to you in the coming weeks. 
There is something to be said for having a stoic, resilient, I-will-do-this-now sort of dog, for sure. Right off the bat, I was amazed at how many of the issues I was prepared for never materialized and how easy many things were for us.
OTOH, I was (and continue to be) driven absolutely nucking futz over some of the things that Sam would just decide. he. will. or. will. not. do. For us, eating continues to be one.
Granted, age, other infirmities, and now the amp have definitely decreased his size to a much more portable bulk...but nothing plants roots like stubborn akita drawing a line in the sand. "DAMMNIT, SAMPSON! YOU MAY BE 2/3rds YOUR ORIGINAL SIZE, BUT DO NOT MAKE ME THROW YOU OVER MY SHOULDER AND PADDLE YOU SILLY, MISTER!!!"*
I have found that the whole experience of OSA and the amp and all that follows is sort of like the "Good little girl" nursery rhyme...
There was a little girl
who had a little curl
right in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was good,
she was very, very good.
But when she was bad,
she was horrid.
All of Sampson's (and, let's face it, probably my) qualities are amplified like a hundredfold. All of our experiences are drawn in sharp relief. The good traits and bad are exacerbated, the happy moments and sad ones become monumental some days. It's as if the cancer is like salt--heightening the flavors, but sometimes threatening to overwhelm the whole damn dish.
So be ready for the highs and lows (ahahahahahahaha, as if anyone can)...and know you are absolutely not alone, and while everyone of us is unique and special in our own little ways, chances are someone, somewhere here has gone through whatever it is you are going through now.
*Note: No animals in the Rocker household are ever ACTUALLY paddled, no matter how insouciant they may be
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Sally.....get ready.......yep that's right third time to go out to pee, he decides he's gotta poop.......and.... He did it with grace!!!! Never even wavered in his stance. Akiko refuses to accept help from momma, but he's doing better getting up and going out alone(I watch from the sidelines, just can't let him go alone yet)....nobody was happier than me when he peed the first time.....before I knew it, yep, there the tears were. I'm glad we were able to convince the vet to let him come home with us yesterday evening.
Megan, thanks for the ditty....that definitely describes our other Akita , Tsuki. Akiko is being unusually stubborn , but I'm glad he's learning to cope with his new found abilities, because not every one could be a tripawd.
Thank you everyone for all the support , I would be a bigger basket case than I am without all of y'all letting me know you've been there before.
Tera & Akiko, the very stubborn Akita 
Ohhhh I'm ready alright..... I was born ready to do the HOPPY POO POO DANCE. And let the poop keep falling out!!
And with grace??? Now that's one fine poop!
So glad Akiko is doing well...and rher are soooo many more good times to come!
Tee hee..... I just thought of the tune Happy Hannah and I are gonna dance to.......... "Freeee...free fall in'.....yea I'm freeeee.....free fallin':-)
And we're still dancing....CONGRATULATIONS to mom too for hanging tough during a tough time!!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Yay, he pooped!!!!
He he he... don't you just love the stubborn dogs? And yes it can be a blessing and a curse.
Topher
Vet Assistant (in school to be a licensed vet technician)
1.5 years Oncology department, moved to rehab & sportsmed December 2024
Tripawd Angel, Cora the Determined <3
Yea poop!
My little pug Maggie was quite stubborn- she really took her time adapting to being a tri-pug (she was a rear amp). One of the biggest challenges was her...um...poop routine. She HAD to spin with her nose to the ground (always clockwise!) before she could make a deposit. Well- the first few days after surgery she tried to spin but ended up on her butt- looking at me like her world was completely out of wack! She did keep trying, and finally on day 6 or 7 kept her balance long enough to spin and poop!! Everyone says it's the pain meds, but in Mag's case she just wasn't going to go without her routine.
I hope Akikio's recovery goes as smoothly as possible.
Karen
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