Rascal, our lab mix, had his amputation today due to trauma.  Short story is he was missing for three weeks, showed up last week on our back stoop with a partial front leg missing.   When we took him to the vet last week, he was very septic and malnourished, so he has been on antibiotics for the last week.

When I took him this morning, the vet said the surgery would take about 45 min-1 hour.  Well, 2 hours later he still wasn't finished.  I was assured that everything was ok, and was told that I should go ahead and shuffle my kids and then come back to pick him up.  On my way back the vet called and said Rascal was having a hard time coming out of the anesthesia and in a lot of pain, so she would feel better about keeping him overnight where she could monitor him better.  I just called to check on him and she said he was doing ok, but had spiked a fever and she was giving him IV fluids and IV antibiotics.  The longer she talked the more I began to feel like he might not make it.  The last thing she said was to keep my fingers crossed and pray.  Feeling kind of sick at the moment.  Has anyone else had a furbaby spike a fever like this?  Any words of encouragement out there?  Thanks!

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that Rascal is having a hard go of it. He's already been through so much, poor guy. I don't know about fever spikes, as we didn't have that issue, but if he is having a fever than the vet's office is the best place for him. He is obviously a very tough dog with a strong will to live after what he's been through, so hopefully he will get through this as well.

Sending good thoughts out to Rascal. Hang in there. Please keep us posted and we will hope to hear a good update!
Abby sends healing kisses,
Jackie, Abby's mom

Said a prayer for your pal!

My Bud dog was in the ICU and he was given IV antibiotics, pain meds and fluids. He did not have a fever but there was infection in the bone which caused the femur to fracture resulting in the amputation.

His surgery also was to take 45 minutes and was over 2 and a half hours. The added time was due to scar tissue and culturing samples of the infection.

He stayed in the ICU on the IV drugs for 3 days.

I think the IV antibiotics are a powerful way to quickly get to an infection. It's also a good way to monitor dosing and be effective in the timing of doses.

Yes I was a wreck but we were allowed to come visit. Seeing him was very calming for me. It wasn't nearly as dreadful as I had imagined it all to be. Underneath the bandages and  tubes was our boy.

The reason I tell you all of this is because Bud is still here with us….now almost 11 months post amp.

At the time we had a friend send her priest uncle of another Faith to give Bud a blessing. I was honored by her request.I figured no one can ever have to many prayers or blessings. Maybe your vet thinks so too!

Keep faith and hope in your heart!

We are so sorry to hear about Rascal. Your family is in our prayers.

Ginger and pack

I'm so sorry to see Racal didn't make it. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing you had done and were doing all you could for him. Our thoughts are with you, Spirit Gus and Dan