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Today has been a bit better. Molly got her Fentanyl patch and drains removed last night and she seems a little more lucid now. She's still very exhausted.
I'm trying the tough love approach now – thank you for that advice. It's hard for me. But today now she's been outside twice and is getting off the couch to eat and drink on her own, but needs some encouragement/reminders. Her back legs seem really week. I'm wondering if maybe it's from laying down too much and not moving them enough, so maybe they're stiff?
What a scary thing this is. I have a lot of faith in her recovery. She's a strong, intelligent and otherwise healthy wonderful girl. For now, I'll just be here with her and tell her how good she is with each new step. She's been doing the same for me for almost 11 years now.
It sounds like Molly is doing really well for what she has gone through. Not only has she had major surgery but she got hit by a car first! I think I would have to forced off the couch a bit (a lot) if I got hit by a car. I know right now it seems like you will never forget what she is going through but it is kind of like childbirth. It is agony at the time but afterwards you get a bouncy baby, and Molly will get bouny again and run and jump and enjoy life. Keep the faith. It will happen.
Debra & Angel Emily
12:34 pm
Team Tripawds
25 April 2007
OfflineOne. Step. At. A. Time. Thanks for the update.
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We're glad Molly's doing a little better. Continue to be strong for her – she will appreciate your faith and will look for it. She will amaze you as she recovers – I still look back on Holly's recovery with wonder. The first two weeks can be rough, as you are already seeing. We're all here for you and Molly and will help however you need us to. We're sending lots of pawsitive, healing thoughts your way!
Hugs,
Holly, Zuzu and Susan
Hi Jan. Molly has really been extremely lethargic and listless, and even when she did get up to go outside she was just so wobbly and weak. So today I got her in to see the doc. Most of her blood work came out fine except for one of her liver enzymes which is significantly higher than it was before surgery. Otherwise she doesn't have a fever and the doctor took her staples out. The doctor gave me Tramadol and Denamarin to give to her for pain and liver function. I also have to get her up to walk for a few minutes every three hours. I really hope she starts to feel more like herself soon.
I keep reminding myself that it's only been 8 days and if I had my leg amputated I doubt I'd be much into taking walks either!
10:29 pm
Team Tripawds
25 April 2007
OfflineYou're so right! Humans don't handle this nearly as well as dogs do.
Some dogs just take longer to recuperate. The lethargy could be due to the Tramadol, not all dogs do well with it. As long as the vet checked her out and feels confident she is otherwise OK, just hang in there and give it time. She will come around.
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My beautiful, resilient, strong and determined Molly came upstairs last night! I was So surprised! I was up there getting my jammies to come back down to sleep with her on the couch, and when I turned around there she was
She even hopped up into the bed. I was really worried this morning how she would get down. She refused to use the ramp I bought for her and just jumped down onto the ottoman and then to the floor. She took the steps down to the 1st floor slowly, but did a really great job. I'm so proud of her. This is the first real change I've noticed since the surgery. She's such a good girl!
8:30 pm
Team Tripawds
25 April 2007
OfflineYipeeeeee! What a victory!
Most dogs will shun the ramp at first, just out of habit. Don't give up though, they are sooo good for dogs to use as they age. The less jumping from high objects the better. Once they get trained on how to use a ramp, most of them will prefer it. Here are some ramp training tips we published a while back.
This is great news. She's really on her way.
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Hi everyone. Sorry its been so long since my last update. It's been 15 days now since Molly's amputation. She's very tired, but making very slow progress. Yesterday she came to meet me at the door when I came home from work :) Today when I came home, she was upstairs sleeping in my bed, which was great since she's never gone up there on her own without encouragement since surgery. But mostly she just stays on the couch, 23 1/2 hours a day, going outside a couple times and getting up to eat when I make her dinner. She has doggie doors so she can go outside anytime she wants, and I think she goes maybe 3 times a days or so.
I got two harnesses this weekend – a simple inexpensive one at a local store, and a Ruff Wear. I was really hoping the cheap one would work, so I could take the other one back …. but Molly had other plans. I put that harness on her and turned away to get the leash. I was away from her for less than 30 seconds. She scissored through it in record time. So then I put the Ruff Wear one on her. She went out the doggie door. Came back in about a minute, and also had chewed through one of the straps! I could have just killed her! Well not really, but you know what I mean! Luckily she only ruined the side where her leg is gone, so it still works. I just can't put it on her and leave it like I was hoping.
She struggles to get down off the bed. I have an ottoman there that she jumps down to and then to the floor. She gets scared, but since I can't keep a harness on her it's tough to help. Now I keep a scarf on the bed to wrap around her chest to give her a little assistance. She does well with that.
I'm still giving her the Tramadol twice a day and the Denamarin in the mornings. I do think she has pain. When I tried to wean her from the Tramadol, she was panting and got really bad breath. She seems better on it, but then gets really sleepy.
I hope she gets her happy bouncy confident spirit back soon. I feel bad when is scared to do something or doesn't get up off the couch when we come home. I hope her quality of life is not so drastically reduced to make this a bad decision. I want her to be happy.
7:50 pm
22 September 2010
OfflineHave you spoken to your vet about the tramadol? Molly is going to have withdrawal issues, & panting may be one of them…the breath odor can be from hyperventilating, after being on the drug for so many days. It may be something you just have to tough out She's likely tired & depressed, giving her no motivation to get up randomly.
It seems like when she really wants something, she can accomplish it.
Cynthia
11:03 pm
Team Tripawds
25 April 2007
OfflineIt's good to hear from you. Her recovery sounds like others that Tripawds have gone through, it's not all that unusual if it makes you feel any better. Fifteen days is not a long time for a dog to recuperate. Some take longer than others.
Have you talked to the vet about her pain meds? She may be in pain, but maybe there's a better way to be managing how much pain relief she gets so that it's not so hard to wean her off of them. I would definitely give the doc a call to talk about this.
Meanwhile, if she's up to it, it's impawtant to get her acquainted with her new physique so she will become more confident. You can play body awareness games like having her walk on a couch pillow for treats (uneven surface work is great for building confidence on three legs), or sitting and standing a couple of times a day, anything to get her to strengthen those muscles without overdoing it.
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