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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Help! Post Leg Amp ?s
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Member Since:
7 May 2016
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30 March 2017 - 11:58 am
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My dog Charlie had his shoulder amputated last Wednesday. We brought him home on Monday. He was covered from head to tail in blood and bedadine. Is this normal for them not to clean at least their body after this type of surgery? His first surgery a year ago was much better than this. They also removed his draining tube that day. It's continuing to bleed and leak serum. Is this normal? And for how long? I have a blog that goes into more details.

On The Road


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30 March 2017 - 12:15 pm
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Charlie and folks I"m in the Tripawds chat , come on over. I'll reply here in just a sec.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







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30 March 2017 - 12:25 pm
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Oh good! Vlad you posted here. The pictures you put on the vlog help. You also explain how long this has been gpi g on.

http://charmand.....llo-world/

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!

On The Road


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30 March 2017 - 12:25 pm
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OK first, know that we have seen situations like this before and animals do recover well despite it looking so bad.

But oh my DOG no wonder you're panicking, I have no doubt that I would have too. I just had a chance to see Charlie's blog and was stunned at the pictures. NOT because I think it's a bad recovery or Charlie is in danger, but just the fact that a clinic would release him to you that way. It's understandable that he can't have a bath but they could have mopped up some of the blood with a damp cloth or put a compression bandage on him. Vets are used to seeing dogs like this but people are not. When you are over this hurdle, make an appointment to calmly let the practice manager know about your experience (I know it will be hard!), it will save someone else the shocking experience. Thank you for sharing everything because unfortunately I know at some point, someone else will take comfort in knowing they aren't the only ones in a similar situation.

In the meantime, yes, it does happen sometimes but more often than not what we think is bleeding is actually seroma fluid build up (click on the link for info). If the fluid is more watery than bloody (pinkish as opposed to red), doesn't smell or look greenish, he's probably fine. A scapular amputation means a LOT of bodily fluids get lost, which is why we see seromas on front-leggers more than rear-leggers.

As for Charlie's fluid and appetite. Focus on getting him to drink over eating right now. Add a no-sodium broth or Gatorade or even canned tuna fish water to his bowl and see if that helps. Appetite is usually diminished because of pain medication and it generally picks up after a few days. You can try giving him scrambled eggs or boiled chicken to see if you can get something in his stomach so he'll tolerate his meds. By the way, what does his pain medication routine look like?

I hope this helps. Please let us know how he's doing OK?

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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30 March 2017 - 1:07 pm
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Thank you! Yeah it's pretty ridiculous. His eating and drinking is okayish. But his pain medication routine is non-existent really. They gave me 3 tablets of antibiotics left in his container and about 2 and a half more days left of pain meds. We took him to his regular vet who agreed we needed to refill the antibiotics....but he didn't think we needed to refill his pain meds and that he'd be fine.

Schofield, WI
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30 March 2017 - 1:19 pm
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We had a seroma we played with for quite a while with our Max.  His lasted almost through the third week because I remember hoping that last little bit would close up before his scheduled chemo.  It did.  We also noticed it leaking more after he would come back in after going out to potty so I guessed activity made it leak more.  As Rene said as long as it isn't smelly or greenish he's probably fine.  Had they cleaned him up better for you they could've lessened that panic for sure.  Ugh!  Poor pup and poor you.  As if the shaved area and bruising and incision isn't enough to deal with let's add a little extra in.  Boy makes you wonder sometimes right?  I think you'll find the next few days showing some real improvement in the healing and the leaking will slow up too.  Another thing you can try for drinking is plain flavored pedialite like they give babies for fluids. Not the flavored ones the plain clear one.   It'll help replace the electrolytes.  Vet told us that.  You can mix some in his water.  And as Renee said some yummy foods that are light on his stomach so he's getting something in there to mix with medication.  I believe Paula spoon fed and syringed yogurt into her Nitro just to get something in his stomach.  Hang in there things should start turning around very soon here for you and sweet Charlie.  Hugs!

Virginia







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30 March 2017 - 1:20 pm
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WOW!!!! Most dogs here are given enough Tramadol and Gabapentin for a MINIMUM of two weeks, plus an anti-inflammatory like Rimadyl!

This is MAJOR SURGERY and he just had his shoulder removed and the remaining stump! Humans would still be in the hospital on aa morphine drip!!

So YES! At the very least get enough pain meds for a other week. Most Vets give enough to go into the third week and you can taper off if full doses are not needed!

You poor thing...and Charlie too! You have been through a lot!!

What pain meds is he on now? How often? Dose amount? How much does he weigh?

Yes, give your Vet a call and insist on enough for at least a other FULL week (and that amount woukd be based in the fact that many dogs do better with three doses a day of Tramadol as opposed to two. The Gaba is usually okay twice a day). Not a Vet and not giving a Vet advice. This is based in what we see here day in and day out.

Let us know how it goes! There are all sorts of links on here about pain management . Unfortunately there are still some Vets who aren't as up to date as they shoukd be! Ugh!

Hang in there! It does get vetter! You are veing a spectacular advocate for your sweet Charlie!

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!

Schofield, WI
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30 March 2017 - 1:34 pm
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I totally agree with Sally.  With all poor Charlie has been through he needs pain management at least one more week.  I'd like to see the vet go without pain management not even two weeks out from major surgery.  Don't be afraid to tell them he needs some.  We pay big bucks to them for this journey.  They need to hear us and listen to our needs as we become fierce advocates for our furfaces.   

Michigan
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30 March 2017 - 2:13 pm
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I totally agree with Rene (Jerry).  As long as the drainage is clear or clear red and not foul smelling, it should be ok.  That's why they had the drain in to begin with.  You want to keep the area clean, with just water.  You can boil water and let it cool to room temperature if you want.  Don't use peroxide.  You could use a cloth to clean up the rest of him, too, since he can't have a bath....or baby wipes would work ..poor form on their part.  My first thought when I saw the pictures was "why is he so dirty?"  The seroma is an accumulation of fluids and the fluid has to go someplace .. since there's an opening there from the drain, it's draining out.  If the opening hadn't been there, it would still be built up under the skin.  It definitely is not normal for them to come home looking like that - Murphy has a ton of hair, and he was very clean when he came home.

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

On The Road


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30 March 2017 - 2:24 pm
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Ditto x100. FYI, Donna is a human RN who knows lots about wound care (thanks Donna!).

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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30 March 2017 - 4:20 pm
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He only received Rimadyl as his pain med...I thought that was the normal choice? But like I said it was only 1 weeks worth and then the second vet said he didn't need it so he wasn't worried about filling that one. Idk it's just annoying. But basically it is safe for him to be leaking the fluid out of the seroma until his body decides it's ready to close up? His dirtiness REALLY pissed me off. I mean I expected him to look rough, but only in his little shaved square, not everywhere else on his body. His first surgery was MUCH cleaner and he was on pain meds for a couple weeks after that one, so I don't understand why everyone is treating this one differently you know? Btw, you all are amazing and comforting. Thank you for all of the helpful advice!

On The Road


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30 March 2017 - 4:25 pm
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I can't blame you for being mad, I would too. Whatever you do, please don't blame yourself. Amputation, is a learning experience for everyone and you don't know what you don't know, you know? 😉 

No, Rimadyl alone is definitely not the standard in the U.S. or in most developed countries (and if it's not, it needs to be). If your vet isn't adhering to the American Animal Hospital Pain Management Guidelines, then find a new vet as soon as you are able.

Again, please don't hesitate to call that clinic and let them know what's going on. None of us are in the room with you and your pup so we can only guess. For peace of mind, let the vet know what's going on OK?

{{{hugs}}} 

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Schofield, WI
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30 March 2017 - 4:42 pm
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Wow I can't believe that's all they gave him for pain.  Is he showing signs of being in pain?   Like panting, whining not wanting to move around not eating etc?  I'd definitely ask for more.  I also looked at your updated pictures on your blog.  As Rene said that drain hole seems a bit large.  That seroma will need to heal from the inside out.  If it just scabs over it will tend to reopen again.  So since it looks so deep I would be checking to see if it's healing from the bottom up and getting less deep each day.    Unless the pictures are making it worse looking than it really is.  Hard sometimes to be able to tell on a picture.  After surgery one time I developed a huge seroma and I had to pack it 2xs a day to get it to heal so when Max developed his at the drain site I already had an active knowledge of what they were.  Most dogs heal quickly though and I'm hoping that'll be the case with this one for you.  The liquid doesn't really seem too bad that's about what Max had at times throughout his.  I'm so sorry you guys are having problems.  Fingers crossed that from here out each day gets better and better!

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30 March 2017 - 4:54 pm
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Linda- Did you pack Max's cut as well? Or were you just referring to yours? And it really is large. When he got the infection about 2 weeks ago, they lanced his stump and that opening never stopped leaking until he had his amputation that was a little over a week long. This hole is slightly bigger than the lance was. How do I check to see if it's healing from the inside out without hurting him? As far as being in pain. He tends to shake uncontrollably quite often for hours. It's very hard to tell if it's from pain or being cold or his hate for the cone on his head? The room tempurater has been in the mid 70s for his comfort plus we try to cover him with a blanket when he shakes. He's also been quite vocal today, first time he's whined since he's been home and he's very wobbly and weak when he gets up from the bed. Otherwise he's been eating and drinking (sometimes a good amount and sometimes hardly touches it) and he has pooped and peed just fine (thank God).

Schofield, WI
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30 March 2017 - 5:16 pm
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No I never had to pack Max's it healed on its own.  By checking I meant just look at it each day.  You don't even have to touch it.  I just shined a flashlight in Maxs to make sure it looked like good healthy tissue healing going on inside and that as the days went by the hole would be getting smaller and smaller.   I really think your best bet at this point in time for mommy piece of mind is to do as Jerry (Rene) says and check in with the clinic that did the surgery.  Tell them all your concerns about the seroma and how big the hole is, the pain relief and how weak he seems.  I'd much rather err on the side of caution plus I do think your boy needs better pain relief at the very least.  In this day and age no animal should have to suffer when the doctors can prevent that from happening.  Please keep us posted we're all with you here.

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