Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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You all may have read Ruby's blog, but I thought to post in the forum. Ruby went to the hospital last night to have staples removed, but ended up in surgery to restitch the incision line. She is in a lot of pain today whenever she moves, I'm wondering when the pain might ease up on her? I wasn't there for the first two weeks after her leg was amputated. She has had many complications with this procedure and remained hospitalized for a long while. She has tramadol for the pain and antibiotics. She has a wrap on right now and it's due to be removed tomorrow at 230. She is quiet and comfortable on my couch beside me. She will not willingly get up or go into the indoor enclosure I constructed that my friend sent me. I need to try and get her inside of it by the time I leave for work today, which is like in an hour. I'm just sad and stressed about her recovery, again. It has been a long time since she has been able to be normal. I don't like to hear her cry. Curious when her pain will subside.
4haunteddogs said
...I thought to post in the forum.
Great idea! Many Tripawds members never read the blogs, just as some blog readers don't make it to the forums often. You might consider starting a topic in Share Your Story and adding a reply whenever you update Ruby's blog. Your future forum posts will not require moderation. Many Tripawds Bloggers also add a link to their blog in their forum signature, which you can edit from your profile.
During recovery may not be the best time to start crate training, since Ruby is already stressed. try to take things one day at a time, and if you feel her pain management is not under control please consult with your vet.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sooooo glad you oosted in the forums!
I'm going to ask that everyone read your blog from start to finish sonthey are fully aware of ehstsw going on!!!
Just a couple of HUGE points
- Ruby has had the ORIGINAL stirches in fir almost ine month
- The Vet kept Ruby al.ost two weeks. Not an orthopedic surgeon....just someone who didnitnat a reduced price
- Ruby needed a blood transfusion....very touch and go
- Ruby has had nonstop xrainage since the surgery
- The Vet kept the stitches in and said to just keepmit clean
- Ruby did pull oit three stiches and the vet restitched three more
- So this last visit last night the Vet opened the incsion baxk and and redid the stitches
- I had her call her refular Vet and he is going to check her over tomorro and, hopefully, gonover this whole scenario with her and give her some advice.
It's my understanding that the iwner has inly met the Bet ince during all this time a d has not had any conversations about anymof this directlynwith the Vet except maybe once....could be wron
I m kw it's a @ot to read through, but you'll see my responses,along with others, as well.
You didn't see Ruby duri g the really rough recovery time, so I know what yiu are seeing nownis hard to watch. It is painful and she does need her tramadol at the right dose and twomor three times a day...depending on what shat Vet said.
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!
I'm so glad you posted here. You, Ruby, Nakoma, Pretzel and Baker have been through some ruff times lately! It's got to be an exhausting experience, I'm so sorry that she is still on the mend and needed another surgery.
Tripawds rarely take this long to fully recover, but unfortunately, it happens even when care is top notch. It's hard to say exactly why complications happen, but they do. We aren't vets and we know we don't get the whole picture, but it still makes us all so sad. We would love nothing more than to see her enjoying life again (and without a cone of shame !). So as her difficult recovery unfolds here are some tips that we can offer as you both journey through this:
Be an advocate for Ruby's pain management . You see her more than the vet, and know what she's like at home. If you believe she is in pain, you have every right to call your vet and ask for additional pain medication. Before doing so, take careful note of her symptoms so you can describe them to the vet. Keeping a journal, like your blog, is very helpful. Note when the symptoms happen and what she does to show she's in pain.
Don't hesitate to call the vet with questions. Ruby is going through some ruff times and I'm sure the bills are piling up. Don't hesitate to call your vet, that's why they are there. Don't feel guilty or think you are bothering them, you aren't. Vets want to know what's going on with patients.
Seek a second opinion if you think she isn't making progress. I know it's a big hassle to locate another vet right now, but if you feel she isn't making progress, you have every right to get an opinion from another vet. A good vet won't be insulted if you do.
Finally, be sure to read our blog post about 12 Things to Expect from Your Vet. It's full of helpful communication tips about working with your vet to ensure a good outcome.
Oh and I just want to add that with Ruby's difficult recovery she may have become weak during the recuperation period. Please get her to a canine rehab therapist for a consultation. They will assess her for issues and teach you how to help her get strong. And the best part is the Tripawds Foundation will even pay for your first rehab visit .
I hope this helps. Please keep us posted OK? We are all cheering you on and keeping paws crossed for a speedy recovery of your beautiful girl.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you for all of this helpful advice! Bear with me as I get use to the forums here. I noticed that I didn't get a notification that someone commented on my forum post...? maybe I just didn't see it if it did notify me. Oh well, I thought to check here and see if anyone responded and you did not disappoint! I will definitely take all your advice into consideration in all that I do regarding Ruby. I will also go "tell Ruby's story" under the story thread, once I locate it! I get so excited to see responses that I start to reply and forget everywhere else I need to check on here and on other sites. (Ruby is moaning beside me, laying on the couch. discomfort, I'm sure) She isn't as bad tonight as she was when I picked her up from the hospital. Time.... time is our best friend right now. Soaking in the moments... tick tock, tick tock. Everyday becomes a race to victory, so we can wake up and share another.
We see Dr. Fips tomorrow! yay! I am wanting to see her new incision line very much. To see if I can tell that it was worth letting her go thru another surgery. I almost think about... did I do the right thing by having the amputation done or should I have.... i don't like having those kind of thoughts. Did I just prolong her suffering in life instead of letting her go the easy way? I just keep thinking... she will get better. she will get better. get better.
Okay, no more wasting time on thise "wudda, shudda"questions, okay? You did what you did out of love for Ruby and to give her a chance for more quality time with you! You have had an INCREDIBLY tpugh recovery...long, drawn out and incredibly tough!! For whatever it's worth, we all second guess ourselves during the first twoo weeks of recovery! You've just had a much longer extended recovery time than most of us.....a full month already, and now more added on top!!
It took me three weks before I could say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!
I'm not very techie at all...to say the least! I think if you tap the "subscribe" word...next to add topic...add reply...that will alert you anytime there is a post. Otherwise, just check in a couple of times a day. And don't worry about trying to get another thread started for now if it's a challenge. Right now we just wnt to be able to follow you and Ruby in ine place and hear how she's doing!
I see you're on now. A couple of quick questions. What dose of Tramadol is she on and how often?
Has she peed?
Is she drinking?
Is she on Rimadyl?
Did that Vet do a culture of the seepage?
Did she say why it was draining for so long? Did she mak ANY other suggestions for stopping the drainage other than what she did...open up the incision and re stitch?
And I know you have always stated it being able to afford a second opinion and that you really trust this Vet. I'm REALLY glad that you are having her regular Vet check her out though tomorrow!! He may even bandage the incision again after he checks it. Sometimes the compression helps stop any drainage.
One more quick thing......can you take her cone off while you are home watching her carefully and while she's wrapped up?
Be right back.......
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!
Peed a couple of times tonight already and earlier too. She is such a strong dog. If not for the cone or the wrap, I bet she'd fool ya to tell.
drinking water, yes.
rimadyl no
Tramadol 100 mg every 12 hours.
clavamox 375 mg every 12 hrs
no culture of drainage to my knowledge. I have not spoken with her over the phone yet. I will call tomorrow after I have the wrap removed and update her. All I know is to keep it clean like I was doing. Is it still going to seep like it did?? 🙁 gosh, this healing process has taken so incredibly long and torturous.
I should say the Vet did supply a note of aftercare for her. restricted movement and about the wrap. medicine... such
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR PEE!!! 🙂
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR DRINKING WATER!! 🙂
I'm no Vet and not givin Vet advice, but from my kwn experience and from what wevew seen here, Ruby DEFINITELY needs more pain meds more frequently!
Just ro give you an example, many Vets suggest Tramadol every eight hours, and even every six if necessary. And that's generally when they are also on Gabapentin and Rimadyl!
Once the pain gets ahead start, its harder ro get it under control.
As far as the "xeepage", it's not anything that should have been going in as long as it did originally. So I woukd REALLY hope that all this new surgery woukd take care of it. Generally when we do see bad drainage, a Vet sometimes has to actually put a drain in and special care is taken managing that a d it is .anaged fairly quickly usually. So keeping the stitches in for a month......and then opening her up and putting new stitches in for another two weeks, is not anything I was familiar with! Of course, I'm not a Vet!!
I woukd ask that Vet if she did anything else other than restitch it and why she feels confident this woukd stop the drainage. I'm not veing a smart alec, I would just want to know that! 🙂
So again, not a Vet, so certainly follow yiur Vet's directiins. I'm just telling you that, based on what we've seen here, every twelve hours is not NEARLY enough! I'm so sorry she's in pain and I'm sure it's because she needs more pain management .
Really glad you're gonna be home for a couple of days! 🙂 That will donyiu both good!! You probably won't get much sleep tonight. Hopefully her added pain meds will kick in!
We're all cheering for this brave strong girl...And her brave strong mom!!
Lots of hugs again!
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!
Ruby the Rock Star!
All signs point to a good recovery ahead, but I do agree that every 12 hours is probably not enough pain medication if she is vocalizing as you describe. Please see our post about Pain Signs in Dogs and Cats to know what pain signals pets give off when they hurt.
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ruby is cleaning herself, I have the cone off of her right now. I'm watching that she doesn't try to lick the incision, but also reading and studying about how to help her quality of life in the future. I notice her panting some. I read that is a sign of showing pain. I have stepped up her meds to every 8 hours and she isn't due again until the middle of tonight again. alright, now she fell back to sleep. The Vet tech today showed me how to massage ruby to help with her rehab. at home. And I asked her if she knew of anywhere I could go for a rehab consultation and she said Indianapolis. I'm going to watch videos and learn some techniques. I have a lot to learn before I start. 🙂
Where do you live exactly? Rene can look up a Certified Rehab Specialist for you.
It's too early to start right now untile she gets healed, but definitely something you can check into later!
And good for you to giving her pain meds every eight hours. Did you think to ask the Vet today about adding Gabapentin to the mix? It sounds like she may be having a @ittle bit of "btreak through pain". That's when the meds don't last quitee long enough and the pain starts breaking through before the next dose. ONLY with the Vet's directions, aybe yiu could give every seven hours. Just keep a notation how long she seems to be fairly comfortable before the next dose. If she starts showing pain at the seven hiur mark, the Vet may tell you to go ahead and give it every seven hours.
I'm glad she settled back down just now though. That's good! I know she loves having that cone off!
You're doing a really good job of taking care of her! Give yourself a pat on the back!!
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!
4haunteddogs said
I notice her panting some....
FYI: Panting is also a very common side effect of many pain medications, especially so with Tramadol.
rehab. at home...I have a lot to learn before I start.
Find links for help finding a CCRT or CCRP near you on the Tripawds Resources page. You will also find many helpful tips, articles, interview videos and podcasts in Loving Life On Three Legs – as well as lots of information about pain management , recovery, and care in Three Legs and A Spare. Both are available in the Tripawds e-books Library.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am exactly in Muncie, Indiana. Not much around these parts. I moved here from Las Vegas two years ago, huge change! I am reading and learning how to help her the best. I figured it would be too soon for rehab, but didn't know exactly.
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