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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Member Since:
20 September 2017
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22 November 2017 - 8:04 am
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Oh regarding the bloodwork, they said it was just "slightly" elevated which they deemed to be from inflammation, same as the high liver enzyme.  I called her regular vet and they faxed the biopsy and her blood tests.  It was the ALT enzyme that was high.  They also sent me all the xray reports.  

Bobbi & Maddie a/k/a ManiacMads

Front leg amputation 10/17/17 due to Osteosarcoma

She's Madeline, She's Madeline

Virginia







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22 November 2017 - 8:34 am
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OOOKAAAAYYYYYY!!!!   HERE WE GO...ALL TOGETHER NOW. YAAAAY FOR SEROMAS!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

  One more time,  YAAAAAAAAAA FOR SEROMAS!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Yeah, only on this journey do we cheer for SERO.AS and UTIs!! 🙂

WOW!    What a crazy couple of days!!  Im really glad you got a Vet who was so helpful and compassionate!   And DO NOT beat yourself of for not knowi g what was going on with Maddie!!  You are NOT a Vet and you did exacrly what anynofnus woukd do.  You took her to the experts and chronicled everything going on with her with great detail, including her incision!!  

SOOOOO HAPPY SHE'S GOT HER SPARKLE BACK ALREADY THIS. MORNING!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂  

A drive thru cheeseburger and a Starbucks Puppacinno on the way home for Maddie!! 🙂 🙂

AND CHOCOLATE FOR YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER!!!

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!

On The Road


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22 November 2017 - 10:38 am
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Oh what a relief! Here's to just a seroma , sorry it scared the you know what out of you and your daughter. I know they look so frightening if you've never seen it happen. And yeah, no wonder she felt so icky. Can you imagine? Yikes!

Really glad that the new vet is working with you on making amends for the first one. Don't forget that you can always have a talk with the practice manager if you feel like your concerns aren't addressed or aren't happy with the service. If you plan on staying there it might be a good idea. 

Here's to Mads feeling better, that's wonderful news superstar

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



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22 November 2017 - 11:23 am
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Wow ...

Maddie, Maddie what an ordeal, sweet girl ...

Just came back to the site and lots have happened with you ...

Your Mom just made me laugh with her hopes for an UTI, we DO celebrate infections here 🎉🎊 ...

In fact once I celebrated Eurydice's butt infection by giving her double cheese burguers 🍔🍔 ...

You are so wise to follow Rene's advice and find an oncologist or a vet who is familiar with cancer, not only you can benefit from his/her experience but also you will feel better knowing you are in knowledgeable hands ☝🏼 ...

As for osteo spreading to the lungs and X-rays/cat scans.

Xrays can only detect bigger size mets but cat scans detect minuscule mets as in mm, not cm. 

So if Maddie had a clear scan it IS a clear scan 👌🏽

Lungs are the most likely place for osteo to spread, one of the reasons is lungs are very rich in blood supply (which tumours feed from) but having said that not all dogs have it spreading there.

And some never have mets and enter into remission of cancer 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 don't forget that!

However rare this is, it DOES happen so no reason why Maddie would be ruled out automatically 😉

We're all rooting for miss cutie face 💗

Lots and lots of kisses and cuddles and woof woods from my baby above 😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹

Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-) 



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22 November 2017 - 11:32 am
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Goodness me 😑

I replied too soon and didn't realise there were two more pages ...

what an ordeal sweetie 😳

So glad to hear all is well in Maddieland now 😆

You can all get on with enjoying life together YAY 😁😁😁

Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-) 

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22 November 2017 - 12:22 pm
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Hopefully she will be on her way to recovery now winker Bandage changes will be a pain, but well worth the effort. What was that? I think I heard Maddie chime in about drive-thru's and cheeseburgers?? Oh, french fries too, lol laughing

I will chime in again, like Rene said, practice manager may be a good route to chat about your first experience. Also what it lead to. And if this new doc that you like is good, I would let them know that too. They took a condition that obviously was not diagnosed correctly, and lack of attention lead to an emergency run to the ER, not fair. 

Big hugs to you and smooches to Maddie heart

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

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23 November 2017 - 6:13 am
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Things are better and I am definitely going to have a talk with either the Practice Manager or the Managing Vet per Rene's advice.  We were there twice yesterday, the first time in the a.m. and the vet thought we should stitch up the hole?  This was the same vet from Friday night who said it was cancer spread and not her incision, so I said no, that I wanted to follow up the advice of the doctor who we saw the night her incision burst and leave it draining and wrapped at least until we got the culture back.  When went back for the second change, that doc agreed it should be left open and not stitched.  She did suggest we may need a drain but we're going to give it more time since it hadn't even been 24 hours.  With it being a holiday I want to wait until her surgeon is back next week and see what he thinks.  Maddie is feeling better - she's exhausted understandably, but standing to eat and drink and moving.  She's also laying on the amp side again which I think is good news.  No more fever so the antibiotics seem to be working.  All in all, loads of improvement!  Have any of you ever seen a similar situation where the incision broke open like this?  I ask because there seems to be a lot of blood coming out.  I'm afraid she's losing too much blood.  Although the second bandage change yesterday was done very well so she's been able to get some rest.  

Bobbi & Maddie a/k/a ManiacMads

Front leg amputation 10/17/17 due to Osteosarcoma

She's Madeline, She's Madeline

Germany
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23 November 2017 - 8:00 am
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Manni's incision didn't break open but he did have a drain for almost 6 days which leaked quite excessively at first and lessened over time. You may want to look and see if it's really blood (as in thick) or if it's more "bloody fluid", which is more transparent, or watery. The latter is usually fine and should be leaving the body, as far as I know anyway. 

It really seems time for you guys to catch a break and finally get on with recovery! all the best from us

Tina & Manni

Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.

Manni's blog -dogblog-

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23 November 2017 - 8:18 am
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Good morning,

When you have a seroma they are nasty and messy. Take a paper towel and let some of the fluid seep on to it. It should be thinner and a bit more clear in consistency than blood. They are a mess, and drains can be used but I really don't think waiting at this point will hurt anything as long as it doesn't seal itself back up so that it can fester again. You WANT it to drain. I am sorry, here I go.. that doctor was an idiot. No doc in their right mind would ever seal something like that up. The pressure made it break open, the fluid had to have a place to go. It does happen. If you don't mind the mess it may be causing you I would agree with you and just keep nursing her back to health. Make sure she takes it easy, and keep and eye on her temp. Hopefully she is still drinking and eating well. Seromas look a lot worse than they are. I am so sorry you are going through all of this. Can you schedule these appointments around the other doctor? I would insist that I see somebody other than that quack. You have the right to request another doctor and you have the right to request NOT to see a doc that you are not seeing eye to eye with, it happens all the time. 

I hope the rest of your day is peaceful heart

Jackie

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Schofield, WI
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13 August 2015
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23 November 2017 - 9:52 am
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We played with a seroma for over 3 weeks with our Max.  I found as the others have stated when you actually get it on a paper towel or Kleenex you can easily see if it's blood or mixed with other fluid.   seroma 's need to heal from the bottom up.  If they are culturing the fluid they'll be able to tell if it's just a seroma or if there is some infection present and put her on an appropriate antibiotic if needed.  One thing we did notice is when Max got up and moved around the drainage increased and then would get much better after he laid back down.  Guess that fluid has to get out right?  Eventually it got less and less until it healed up.  Hang in there and sending hugs to all of you!

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23 November 2017 - 10:11 am
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Wow thank you all!  I agree with you Jackie, she was an idiot and we're not going to see her again.  Everyone else there has been great.  I think that when it burst, it looked like blood but smelled BAD, as in stunk.  Honestly I've never seen that much blood so I'm not sure if that is the normal smell.  But last night when it was draining outside of her bandage (the hole wasn't covered ???), it looked more like red water.  So I think that's good.  It also doesn't stink anymore.  Her new bandage is not soaked and they told us to bring her back in when it was soaked thru.  You can't see anything at all, so we are waiting and watching before returning.  I'd love to give her a day of rest. I do know the doc last night 'manipulated' it to get more out.  So maybe that's why.  And maybe the antibiotics are helping.   We are actually having trouble keeping her quiet!  She wants to go romp outside - it's been so long.  And thankfully she finally pooped.  Not constipated, just couldn't get in that position with the pain in her side and neck I guess.  She's drinking and eating and BEGGING again lol.  It's been quite a while since she did that.  I do not want to jinx her by saying maybe we've turned a corner, so I'll keep my fingers crossed, knock on wood and say a prayer.  Thanks - I feel better about the amount of blood now.  You guys ROCK!  

Bobbi & Maddie a/k/a ManiacMads

Front leg amputation 10/17/17 due to Osteosarcoma

She's Madeline, She's Madeline

Member Since:
18 September 2017
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23 November 2017 - 1:58 pm
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When Bender's incision reopened because of a seroma , they did not restich it immediately. Instead, they packed the area with surgical honey and wrapped it with a compress bandaid. They also placed him on antibiotics for two weeks. As the wound started to heal, they switched from surgical honey to silver infused bandaids and compress wrap. Lastly, they restiched the area once the incision was 90% closed. 

All in all the process took about 2-3 weeks but the incision looks great now and no repeat seroma



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23 November 2017 - 3:44 pm
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Hi Maddie and Mom 💗

I have no experience with seromas but it sure sounds like Maddie is progressing 👍🏽

You have the best advice and changing vet is a wise move too!

Me and Angel Eurydice are sending both of you lots of love and rooting for Maddie's swift recovery 😘😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹

Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-) 

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23 November 2017 - 11:44 pm
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Omg I just got caught up with this entire thread, and was holding my breath when I skipped from page 1 to page 3. I am SO relieved that this was a seroma / UTI situation, and that you have found a new vet who is clearly a better fit. Whew! Keep feeling better, Maddie!!!

🐾 Loki, Dog of Mischief 🐶

I loved life as a tripawd for over three years following right forelimb amputation due to an aggressive and recurrent hemangiopericytoma. I reclaimed my place among the gods and valkyries in Valhalla on November 11th, 2020. My parents miss me tremendously, but I know they'll keep me in their hearts forever... and don't worry, I've approved my mom's use of my Tripawds account.

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25 November 2017 - 6:37 am
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Hi everyone.  We are going in to her regular vet today to have her take a look at the 'hole' (it is a big hole ick) and change her pressure bandage.  They did such a good job late Wednesday night, her incision didn't start leaking until yesterday early a.m.  We took her back to ER vet, got another doctor who didn't do as tight and she was seeping out of it by the time we got her home.  We called and they told us to reposition the wrap ourselves and bring her in this a.m.  Since her regular vet is in today, we're going there instead.  We'll be back to the ER tomorrow, but the normal doctor is much closer and so she'll have a lot less "car anxiety".   Her UTI seems to be 100% better - she got 5 days of Baytril.  The culture will be back Monday hopefully so we'll be getting a new antibiotic for that I guess.  I've been reading a lot about seromas and I see they are really pretty common.  I guess our issue was that when she saw the doctor last Friday, they didn't diagnose it so it festered for 6 days and grew and grew causing her a lot of pain.  Poor Mads.  She's back to her old self now though - thankfully.  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Bobbi & Maddie a/k/a ManiacMads

Front leg amputation 10/17/17 due to Osteosarcoma

She's Madeline, She's Madeline

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