Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Tripawds Three Legged Dog and Cat Forums Ask a Vet: For Amputation Questions…Can a 12wk old puppy cure from a se…

Can a 12wk old puppy cure from a septic joint?

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jjruch

Member Since:
28 July 2011

Offline

1 August 2011 - 9:07 pm

This is my posting on Tripawds: http://tripawds.....th-advice/

He's overcame Parvo. They think he's overcame Vasculitis through antibiotics and steroids.

Last week when they started him on steroids, he showed some mass improvements since, also that day they said there could be a reaction to the Steroids called "Septic Joint" which I guess is a bacteria in the joints.

His left hind leg has caught that at the thigh area. It's swollen.

The day before yesterday, that evening he was walking. Not fully but with a limp on both hind legs. The next morning he was walking the same. I took him in for his treatments yesterday morning, after that he hasn't been able to walk.

He's sitting up fine, he's eating like a horse, he's drinking lots of water. He's eating the A/D and I have him on a Caesar Cuisine moist food.

I emailed this to the doctor that's been treating him since she started him on the Steroids last week:

My fear is do you think he'll pull through all of this or do you think we're putting him through a lot of things that he just can't do. I don't know, I guess I'm feeling bleh about it.

Her Reply was:

I think a lot depends if we can get him through the septic joint and if he is in fact done with the vasculitis. If the joint doesn't respond and/or the vasculitis comes back, I think we've exhausted all options. At this point, I'd give him 48 hours to show us what he's going to do. If he doesn't show us improvement, we will have to take a next step that may be nearing the end.

My question to you guys is, have you ever seen a dog come through with this joint issue? With a fast healing process? etc.

I'm faced with 2 options…

a) Obviously take him out of suffering by sending him over the Rainbow Bridge.

b) Continue being selfish and optimistic that he'll pull through.

Obviously, if he continues to show improvement, I will be optimistic. But, on the other hand I'm prepared to put a stop to his suffering.

I guess with my question, I want to either prepare myself for the worst of stopping the suffering or continue to be optimistic.

What do you think? Any honest true opinions? Have you ever seen a puppy come through this sort of thing? What is your opinion on this? etc. All advice welcome.

Thank you so much!

tazziedog

Member Since:
22 August 2008

Offline

3 August 2011 - 9:03 am

Is it is the stifle (knee) joint that is swollen? Some dogs needs to be sedated and have the infected joint flushed out and others would respond well to antibiotics alone. Puppies tend to do better than older dogs so I would try the antibiotics for a few days and see how he does.

Pam

cometdog

Las Vegas, Nevada

Member Since:
14 August 2009

Offline

3 August 2011 - 9:27 pm

Little Oscar passed peacefully but in his short time in life he touched a lot of hearts.

Comet - 1999 to 2011

She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.

She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.