Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My Great Dane had his hind leg amputated Wed. He hasn't done well since. He won't attempt to sit up or stand. Now he is being transferred to the ER hospital for suspected bleeding. He will undergo exploratory surgery today to look for the bleed. Anyone with any experience with this sort of complication? I'm really worried and feeling like he's not going to make it.
Ok, breathe.
A lot of times the bigger dogs take a few days to figure out how to get up, stand, walk. They just seem to need a bit more time to get their balance. So he's probably right on schedule with that. Do you have a harness for him to help lift him? If not, you can use a canvas tote like this:
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
Hugs ((())). I don't have any experience with bleeding after surgery with dogs but my son had to go back into surgery because he was bleeding. Once they fixed that he recovered fine so I imagine it could certainly happen with dogs too. I imagine if he's got even a small bleed inside it could zap his energy to sit or get up. Sending lots of healing thoughts and prayers to you and your beautiful boy. Please keep us posted and know we are with you. It sounds like they are really on top of it so he's getting good care with 24/7 monitoring.
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
He is in the best place for him right now, so that is a positive. My boy spent 65 hours total in ICU for different reasons pre and post surgery, but when I visited at 20 hours post surgery, he really was looking rough and they had to change my bill estimate as they thought he would be in a few more days. I visited again about 5 hours later and got him to eat just a little and the next morning he had bounced back in a big, big way. He was standing in his kennel looking at the DVM student in charge as soon as she arrived to check on him and he sprang out the moment she opened the door she had to chase him before he got out of the ward! And then he pretty much pulled her off her feet to get out to potty, without assistance. They checked him out of ICU that morning and I took him home that night.
So things can change quickly, but it is major surgery, so it isn't always a straight line recovery.
I am pulling for your boy.
Lisa and Pofi
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. 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.
Surrounding you with healing energy for your sweet Otto. It does sound like your vet is on top of things and they are prepared to handle any complications. And yes, some dogs, especially larger ones, tak several days to start becoming mobile. They are heavily drugged during their stay at the hospital.
Lots of love
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!
Hi Otto, what a gorgeous boy you are, me and Eurydice are totally in love with you
I don't have any experience re bleeding after op but can tell you it does take time for Danes to recover, normally more than other breeds as they are huge and weight doesn't help ...
Nevertheless, rest assure he Will recover but you have to be very, very patient and take baby steps, knowing he will get more and more confident every day.
It took about a week for my girl to start hoping more confidently, she always wore a soft harness over a t-shirt at all times for the first 3 weeks and it proved incredibly helpful as I'd stand by her and make sure she was never off balance.
(Having said this, maybe Donna's solution is better in your case as he is a back leg amputee and Eurydice is front leg amp...)
It is so great that he is in good hands at the hospital, let us know the progress, we are thinking about you both and sending lots of good energy your way !!!!!!!!!!!!
Sending you kisses and cuddles to gorgeous Otto
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 :-)
Sending positive thoughts your way!
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.
Wherever they are, they are together.
More pawsitivity coming your way from this pack too. How are things going?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
How is Otto doing ??? Thinking about you both and sending much love and cuddles
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 :-)
Positive thoughts to Otto, and paws crossed for good news from mommy.
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
I really hesitated to bring this thread up again at the risk of upsetting you. I don't know if you are still subscribed to the site. I've seen you logged in a few times but with no update. I don't mean to imppse, I merely mean to let you know how much we care.
I, we, just want you to know that this piece of crap disease puts us in a position where we have to make risky "forced choices"'in order to give our dogs and cats a chance. We move forward with surgery because we feel we must TRY. We "hear" the vet say there are risks as with any surgery, but we are still compelled to try. That's what our dogs would want. We made this decision out of lpve and Otto knows that! 'He would expect nothing less from you.
We just want you to know we are all here for you. We care deeply.
From my heart
Sally and My Chunky Spiritual Being Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
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!
Thinking of you and hoping that Otto is doing better
Joan and her sweet angel, Lily
Our beautiful Lily was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg on 12/14/11 at age 8 and had amp on 12/16/11. She completed 5 rounds of carbo. She was so brave and kicked cancer's butt daily! She lived life fully for 4 years, 3 months, and 15 days after her amp. My angel is a warrior princess. I miss her so much.
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