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Ruby's Surgery Day Tomorrow! | Friday, August 29
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On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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30 August 2014 - 8:43 am
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YESSS!!! That is fantastic, Ruby is just UNSTOPPABLE!

I know it does seem scary that they can come home so soon, imagine if a human did...that just wouldn't happen, humans are wussies next to doggies! Ruby sounds like home is where she needs to be. Don't be too surprised if she comes home and crashes by sleeping a lot and acting different than how she did in the hospital, this is pretty normal. Just keep your vet informed about how she's doing and things are gonna be OK!

You are doing GREAT, good job. Hang in there and if you have any questions we are here to help.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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30 August 2014 - 11:05 am
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I think most of us brought our pups home the day after surgery.  If the vet thinks the pain management is good and she will do better at home you should be OK.  Sometimes there is a bit of a crash after they come home from the vet- the meds used during surgery are very powerful and once that is out of their system they seem to regress- but really it is just coming off those meds.

Glad she made it through surgery and is already figuring things out.  I hope the biopsy report comes back as clean as possible.

 

Karen

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Member Since:
28 August 2014
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30 August 2014 - 3:39 pm
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We have been home for an hour and she is still very wiggly. She is crying a lot, but only a soft cry. She keeps moving around like she can not get comfortable. She had a lot of meds and we are only 24 hours out of surgery... They felt they released her with pain under control. She is very happy, but is all of this pretty common?

Tips/advice for the first night?

Thank you fellow friends!

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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30 August 2014 - 4:06 pm
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What meds is she on right now? Sometimes the pain meds cause restlessness, Tramadol made Maggie agitated. Unfortunately pain and the effects of pain meds can mimic each other.
Maggie came home from her surgery with a fentanyl patch, Tramadol and an anti inflammatory.

Karen

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Member Since:
28 August 2014
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30 August 2014 - 5:05 pm
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Karen,

We were sent home with the same meds as Maggie.

I know the IV and surgery drugs are still in her system.

We are having a hard time and not sure what to do for her. She can't not sit still and keeps moving around and trying to walk.

Member Since:
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30 August 2014 - 5:14 pm
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Rubyred,

Many of the dogs I have watched on this site have had agitation from the tramadol. I was fortunate that my Jake did not.  Keep advocating for her with the vet, until you find the right amount of pain control.  Her being uncomfortable and making you upset just causes a viscous circle, and helps nobody. We are here, but remember the 1st two weeks are the hardest. The main goal is pain control, hydration and nutrition. She probably won't eat so hot at first but try to offer something every hour or so.

Laurie

Martinsburg, WV
Member Since:
3 June 2014
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30 August 2014 - 5:36 pm
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I'm just catching up on how things have been going for Ruby.  It's awesome that she did so well that the vets let her come home early.  And I pray that got all the cancer.

Regarding the pain meds...Leland didn't do well on Tramadol so we had him on Gabapentin.  If Ruby continues to seem uncomfortable you may want to check with your vet about adding that.  Gabapentin is used a lot for "phantom limb pain" as it's a nerve blocker.

I'll be sending you and Ruby positive thoughts for safe and speedy recovery!!!

Sahana and her Angel Leland

smiley

Leland

November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014

May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!

Member Since:
28 August 2014
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30 August 2014 - 6:50 pm
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Thank you all for your prayers, and comments.

We have given her a tramadol and it seems to have helped her calm down some. This is the only medication we have given her since we picked her this afternoon. She has really bad anxiety, and I can tell she is very anxious. A good friend of ours is a vet (he is not our vet as he lives out of state, but he is a great resource) and he let me know that the IV patch can cause her to be disoriented and loopy, and that the tramadol along with controlling pain can help with her anxiety.

I pray that this medication will begin to work and she can rest. Sweet girl has already drank a lot of water and gone out to pee twice!!! She only ate a tiny bit of cheese to take a pill but that is better than nothing, right? :)

We are all tired and hope we can get a little rest tonight!

I am grateful for this site and all of those that are on here. I am overcome with gratitude for the help that I am receiving.

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
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30 August 2014 - 6:55 pm
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I can tell you the patch AND the tramadol made my shelby very anxious and she would pace and pant. It was awful. We had to get her on an anti-anxiety med (like doggy valium) so if it get unbearable, that's something to ask the vet about. It soothed Shelby and helped her to sleep and rest which she needed. 

Otherwise, it sounds like she's doing AMAZING!!! Water, peeing, little bit of cheese! She's going to be great!!!

Stay close to us... we love updates!

XO

Alison with the Spirit of Shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little Jasper too)

Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.

October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014

Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
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30 August 2014 - 7:04 pm
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Another thing you might try is icing the incision site for a few minutes if she tolerates it, don't get it wet and use a towel between the ice (or frozen peas or whatever you have).  

Mag was agitated on tramadol, but my quad pug Obie had knee surgery last year and he came home on a patch and tramadol and he was just zonked out!  Hopefully it works this way for Ruby.  

It is really important for you to be strong and positive around Ruby- especially since she is prone to anxiety.  Obie is quite sensitive too and I could really see him pick up on my emotions.

As far as sleep goes- maybe you should do shifts.  Whoever is with Ruby will probably be awake a lot- remember to sleep when she does.

This part is hard but it will get better.  Remember to call the vet (or your secret resource) whenever you are not sure about something. Having peace of mind will help you be confident with Ruby.

 

Karen

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Orrtanna Pa.
Member Since:
25 January 2014
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30 August 2014 - 7:13 pm
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Ty came home with both Tramadol and Gabapentin. He was pretty vocal and loopy from all the drugs. I know Labs can be vocal and I think Beagles also. I called the vet in panic the night he came home after being sedated for X-rays. He was just howling and I thought he was hurting so bad. Turns out, it was mostly the meds working out of his system. Evidently, they see stuff that isn't there. I slept on the floor by him for a bit, as he always calmed down if I laid next to him. I hope you all get some rest tonight. In a few weeks, things will get a bit easier. They really will. Lori and Ty

TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed  and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater. 

Member Since:
28 August 2014
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30 August 2014 - 9:31 pm
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Update: we have drank more water, hopped all the way out to pee (and back again), and ate more cheese! (Not much but about 3 balls of shredded cheese the size of a quarter) Best part, After struggling since 4:30pm, 3 calls to the vet, many texts to vet friend, and tears (Karen I made sure to go outside for my meltdown and not come back in until I was done)... We seemed to have gotten Ruby calm, comfortable, and not crying.

Karen, Alison and Lori thank you for letting me know it is normal for them to be restless on the medication. It helps to know that others have experienced this and that it will get better.

Lori - As soon as I read that I might need to get some anxiety medicine a lightbulb went off in my head! For the last 2 weeks we have been giving her Trazadone to help keep her calm. I called the clinic where she was and texted my friend for advice and turns out the tramadol and Trazadone work well together. They suggested we cut back to half a pill of Trazadone and see if it would work. That was about 1.5 hours ago and she has been asleep and still for the last 30 minutes!!!

I can't show enough gratitude for this site. I am a talker and my fiancé is not. I need to talk about his stuff to heal and he can only handle so much (he heals by quiet and meditation). I love being able to "talk" with others that went through this for a season of time. I can't wait to pay it forward to someone else when the times comes.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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30 August 2014 - 10:58 pm
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Ohhhh, this sounds soooo familiar! My Happy Hannah literally did not sleep for the first nineteen hours! She paced, she just could not get comfortable and barely even sat down for more than about thirty seconds at a time. She whined and cried and was just begging me to help her! Absolutely broke my heart.

She did not have a patch, but had Tra.adol, Gabapentin and Rimadyl. She was defpinitely having some pain as well as some reaction to all the meds.

Happy Hannah ate...it's just something that she would do know matter what! She was not about to miss a meal!! She did not want to drink though, and that took some coaxing and creativity.

For me, it took until three days and nights before I was able to get any sleep at all...and that was very limited. I thought I was going to go nuts from exhaustion and worry.

I didn't share much of this in my previous posts because I wanted to wait and see how Ruby's first few days home were going. This is not unusual behavior at all for some dogs. Remember, it IS major surgery and it hurts. And even though pain meds can cause some whacky behavior, itsw better than feeling n pain!

It gets better!! It does!! Ruby's sparkle will be back bigger and brighter than ever!!!

Hang ontonus, okay? We're here!!! We understand!!

Hugs to all!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle

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!

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
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31 August 2014 - 8:02 am
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rubyred said

Lori - As soon as I read that I might need to get some anxiety medicine a lightbulb went off in my head! For the last 2 weeks we have been giving her Trazadone to help keep her calm. I called the clinic where she was and texted my friend for advice and turns out the tramadol and Trazadone work well together. They suggested we cut back to half a pill of Trazadone and see if it would work. That was about 1.5 hours ago and she has been asleep and still for the last 30 minutes!!!

TRAZADONE was our miracle drug! 

Good luck!!! Glad it was a better night for you!

Alison with the Spirit of Shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little Jasper too)

Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.

October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014

Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife

Member Since:
28 August 2014
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31 August 2014 - 8:51 am
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Well... We made it through the night! We took turns watching over our girl and from 5:00am-9:00am we ALL got some rest!! 

GREAT NEWS: Ruby is eating!!! She ate a little bit for me at 3:00am to take some meds and this morning she ate about 3/4 of a meal she would normally have!! It was a pretty weird mixture of food but she ate it (pumpkin was one ingredient, so hoping we can help her with pooping).

She is hopping around, but we are scared to let her hop to far. Yesterday she fell over and hit the ground hard and it was very hard for us, so we are trying to not let that happen. When we go outside we are still supporting her with a sling. I am not using much pressure but still there to catch her if she falls. It has rained and the grass is soaked, as well as, I feel it is helpful for us to support her when she pees. 

How long were you supporting your pups with a sling?  Is it okay to let them sit on the grass and concrete, or should we continue the sling to keep her up when she is outside? 

She normally lays half on her bed and half off. She is currently doing that, and while it looks like it would hurt her, she is still and quiet. Praying that today she can continue to rest. 

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