Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat. Explore 17+ years of forum archives for stories and answers to questions about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery. Enjoy fresh discussion and connect with members in the new Tripawds Support Circle.
Join The Tripawds Community
Register your free account to join the Tripawds Support Circle. Connecting with members and getting the support you need is now easier than ever with the Circle app!
Easy Photo Upload
Private Messaging
Subscribe to Topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Forums Locked: Search archives for answers & join Tripawds Support Circle to keep discussion going!
Log In
Members
Offline
[Image Can Not Be Found]
Hello everyone. Â Well our Monday appt got pushed til Tuesday and as we thought they had to schedule Ruby to have her incision debrided because "they" had stitched up necrotic tissue. Â So once again we were NPO after midnight and dropped Ruby off at the vets yesterday am where she was supposed to have a simple wound debridement (Photos of her wound are on my blog and some other posts on this forum). Â The simple surgery turned out involved BECAUSE ITS RUBY AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN A CLUSTER!! They found some rampant infection underlying the necrotic tissue (which was not apparent at all from her temp or the condition of her incision that I monitored closely). Â She told us there was no way we could have known (nor did she) and we did not do anything it was just a "Bodily compilation". So they have sent out more cultures of the wound to the tune of $200. They installed a JP Drain (Jackson Pratt) which I am familiar with because I am a nurse thank goodness! Its a little grenade looking plastic bulb that drains the fluid from the incision and I had asked about this at our first appt because her seroma was so bad. Â I really think it would have prevented where we are at this point. Â
So suffice it to say we've started over again and are now Day +15 and Day +1 (amputation, debridement dates) . Â We are icing, giving serious pain Meds around the clock, Rimadyl and now an antibiotic. Â She is better than the first time around but it's just a big hassle. Â We have decided that this is going to mean all our cultures will be clear next week with only soft tissue tumors NO HISTIOCYTIC!! Â WE ARE PRAYING!! Â
She continues to ride in her wagon and is getting around well. Â We will start physical therapy next week. Â Kacy got thru her first week of starting hands on Grad teaching/masters program and will start teaching for real next week. I return home on Saturday and of course will be worried leaving her alone. Â She is certainly one spoiled girl now. Â LOL.
Heres a photo of our happy girl a few days ago. Â We love hearing about all the other updates and being able to help ppl as we go along in this. Â Â Thanks for all the support!!
[Image Can Not Be Found]
Awe, Ruby, sweet girl! You'll get through this, too! 
Unfortunately, you photos didn't come through ... Breathe deep, you'll get there! Luckily you took her in and they're able to get it all taken care of. I know it seems like it's never-ending. It really does suck. Sweet Ruby seems like she's handling it like the true warrior that she is.
Hugs to you!
Donna
Donna, Glenn & MurphyÂ
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 Â
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
I am so sorry you are having such a hard time with sweet Ruby. Â I'll be praying for all cultures to come back clear as well. Â Our Max had to go back in to restitch part of his wound also (he somehow tore it open) and they also put a drain in due to a seroma we had been playing with and after that he healed up quite fast and well. Â Hopefully Ruby will do fine now going forward. Â I'm sure Kacy will hate to see you go on Saturday but you'll only be a phone call away and we'll be here for all of you. Â Please keep us posted on beautiful Ruby and let us know if we can help in any way!
Many hugs to all of you!
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
Glad that they have found the underlying problem, and hopefully she is really on the road to recovery this time.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.  Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma. Â
Wherever they are, they are together.
Okay, that's done now and she can continue to heal! No more funny stuff Ruby!! It's time to get back to a "normal"'recovery, if there is such a thing! I'm sure they are, but make sure they're culturing for MRSA . It's rare but we've seen it happen arou d here.
And congratulations to Kacy on her career endeavor!
If I recall, the visit with yiur ddaughter was your "vacation time". Maybe you can treat yourself to a spa day when you get home and have a little R & R time for yourself!
Ha g in there! This has to be frustrating as all get out. You are on the right path now to get this taken care of for good!
BTW...I love her new avatar picture! 🙂 She's a beautiful girl!
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!
Sigh! Â I know you are frustrated, but what a trooper that Ruby is! Â As everyone else has said, they have identified the issues and you have a plan. Â Lots of pain meds are probably good as she will be sedate and that will aid with healing - along with the abx, of course. Â
Is the culturing about Histiocytic concern or are they trying to be sure they have the most effective abx (plus whole MRSA question as mentioned by Sally).
Pofi had a Jackson Pratt drain in hospital - he stayed in for nearly 48 hours post surgery - thought he might come home with it, but they decided it could come out and literally removed it moments before they brought him to me. Â His surgery was very deep - removed a lot of tissue very close to chest wall - and they used the JP drain and had him on abx for 10 days due to this.
Thinking very best thoughts for the outcome of cultures and Ruby's rapid improvement from this point!
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. Â 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.
Man! When it rains, it pours sometimes. Wishing Ruby a speed recovery from this lates step back....she's a warrior, she (and you all) can do this!
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 Â yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Â Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Ok, so its done, YAY, she is finally on the road of recovery, real recovery 😉 I can't find any update of the blog??? Good luck for the rest and don't let go, Ruby is so lucky to have a grand mother like you!
Milo Ruby!
P.S. I bet that Pratt thing smells great! What a beautiful perfume for a beautiful girl!
Popped in to see how Ruby is doing and how things are looking a few days post debridement. Â Update us when you can!
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. Â 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.
1 Guest(s)
