Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Yeah, the movement of getting up to go potty, the stairs, etc can keep the drainage "acting up". Just keep an eye on it and update your Vet with pictures.
Chemo really is such an individual decision and there are NO guarantees either way. We've seen dogs seemingly get great extended time with chemo. We've seen cases where all the rounds of chemo weren't even completed before the crap disease took over.
Some dogs have done no chemo and seemingly get great extened time. And, some don't.
It really is a crap shoot!
I did decide on four rounds of Carboplatin for my Happy Hannah. The foundation of my decision was that I could stop at anytime if she had bad side effects. Happy Hannah had no issues with going to the Vet or car rides. The appointments were such that I could stay during her treatment and we were in and out in probably 30-45 minutes! And this was just me, but I felt like I would second guess myself if I didn't try that route for her. I was able ro work out a payment plan. Had I not been able to do that it would jave been off the table. So finances certainly need ro be part of the decision making process.
Happy Hannah sailed through her four rounds of chemo without even any of the "expected" mild side effects (lethargic and off food for a few days, maybe some nausea thst they give you meds for). So I felt like the decision was a good one for her.
Again, such an individual choice with no guarantees one way or another!
The most important thing you can do on this journey is make every day count and spoil, spoil, spoil!! Stay focused in the joy of the NOW with no worries about the tomorrows.
Give Zelda a big smooch for us...And an extra treat 🙂
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!
3042save said
I fabricated a pressure bandage/wound cover from a pair of Spanx and a Kotex....
Please be sure to inform your vet and provide a description of what you've done there. Many vets do not apply bandages after surgery, each for their own reasons.
Let us know what they say, and share a picture if you can too!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The vet said to apply a pressure bandage to lessen the drainage. We couldn't get anything to stay in place. That is when the whole spanx idea came to play. Would love to add a pic, but my computer isn't allowing me to do so.
Ah, OK that makes sense. What a neat idea! We'd love to see photos. Here's a post about adding images to the Forums. If that doesn't work please private message me and I'll help share it. Can't wait!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My dog, Murphy, had quite a bit of drainage after his amputation. It was hard to leave him after his surgery, and as much as he hated it, I had to put him in a 'comfy cone' that was soft, but totally restricted his ability to get to the incision site. I avoided it for the longest time, but a few days of him in the cone really helped to stopped the drainage once and for all.
I was on the fence about chemo, too. I also had a similar mindset to Sally, try it out and see if there were any side effects. Murphy never had any -- he was also hungry and didn't even seem too tired afterwards. He had five rounds of carboplatin. My vet had me drop Murphy off in the morning, I think they gave him fluids first through the IV before chemo or something to help ensure that it was all hooked up properly and then they monitored him afterwards as a precaution too. He would go in around 8 a.m. and would be ready to come home around 2 p.m. They were very sweet to him and often gave him a festive bandana to wear. After his last treatment they had all signed a card and had a bag of treats and dog toys. I have never regretted his chemo treatments, though I know that others have had different experiences. And, as Sally said, it is totally your choice and there really are no guarantees, it really is a crapshoot.
Murphy, became a tripawd on August 17, 2015. Went to the rainbow bridge on July 5, 2016.
Zelda has had a set back. Infection set in. Culture came back yesterday. Staph. The cephalexin prescribed in not effective. We should have more lab results today and will be able to determine a better treatment plan. two weeks post op tomorrow. Still have an open, draining wound.
Bummer! Yeah, unfortunately infections like this do happen. This is why we say the recovery period is like a roller coaster ride.
Okay, you're on top of this and can get a better treatment plan and move forward. Once the appropriate antibiotic is administered, thing should start clearing up.
Let us know what the new treatment is when you get a moment.
Hang in there!!
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!
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