Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our furbaby, Jilly, just had her front leg amputated Thursday. The vet told me to take off the bandage today (she doesn't have a drain). However, yesterday I noticed a little bulge (pictures) on her under belly where the bandage ends (bandage is loose). It looks like fat or blubber and from what I read, it seems to be a small seroma . The vet is not in until tomorrow so I'm hoping someone here can help from knowledge or experience. I've read that pressure bandages help them reabsorb so I put an ace bandage loosely on it and it seems to be getting smaller (was never large to begin with). However, now I'm wondering if I should just leave her original bandage on or remove it like the vet said. Her incision looks nice and there is no bleeding or oozing and the seroma isn't hot to the touch. I just don't want to mess anything up! And it's so nerve wracking when you can't speak to the vet (especially when this wasn't one of the things that's on the "watch for" list that they give you. So any and all help would be amazing!
Kim
Hi there Kim. Try to breathe, it's scary but we're here to help.
Well, seromas are pretty harmless. I'm not a vet but I know my own Jerry walked around for a seroma for a couple of days without a bandage and he was fine. The seroma had to be drained but was harmless. In fact back when Jerry had his front amp, he was not given a bandage. Many dogs don't get them, many dogs do. It just depends on the vet's preference. More are finding that a bandage does help absorb the wound but if she's not wearing one, she will probably be OK. Is there an emergency hospital # your vet gave you for questions on the weekend?
How come your pup lost her leg? She's really sweet, thanks for posting her avatar photo.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Hi! Our old vet had thought that she was re injuring an old injury and that's why she was limping. After a few months of being on duramaxx, she started limping again so I went to another vet for a second opinion and he did xrays and found a large mass in her bone. So we amputated because he said if he took a sample her leg would most likely break because of the spot it was in. So we amputated on Thursday. Thank you so much for your opinion! I'm going to take the bandage off and put a tshirt on her just to keep it clean. There is a 24 hr vet, but they said they can't give me any information over the phone so I would have to go in (I'm guessing for security reasons). The hospital is about an hour away and from what I've read, it will be okay until tomorrow. I know it sounds bad, but after paying for the surgery and xrays (which she need anesthesia for) and the emergency visit already, we are kind of strapped for cash and the hospital charges a pretty penny just to see her. If she seemed like she was in pain, I would take her right in, but it hasn't changed for the worse and shes just been lounging around all day with no crying! 
ETA: We should find out in about a week whether it's benign or malignant.....hoping for the best! We adopted her when she was 2/3 and have had her for 8 years....so fingers crossed! She came before our children so she's still our first baby!
Hi Kim
In my opinion you should not have to pay for any after-care surgical costs. I see it as the surgeon's responsibility to ensure the cat or dog heals properly. You have followed the vet's directions and have a concern. If that vet isn't available and you have to go to an emergency vet then they could have a financial arrangement between them. I may sound hard-nosed on this but you did spend a lot of money on the surgery.
Just to let you know my cat had her amputation on a Friday, the vet took he to spend the night at his house and then I picked her up the next day. He gave me his cell phone number if I had any questions and also the number for the emergency vet if I couldn't reach him (my vet was going camping out of cell phone range). I did phone the emergency vet on a Sunday because I thought Mona was having an allergic reaction (the emergency vet said it was probably red from being shaved and told me to take her to the vet on Monday). It turned out it was bruising and the vet hadn't warned me about that. Then Mona pulled out her drain early and I had to go back for that. There was no additional costs for this aftercare.
To put your mind at rest could you email the photo of the seroma to the emergency vet? Would warm or cold compresses help? Perhaps you can research this first. Mona seemed to enjoy when I cleaned her incision area with a warm facecloth.
Wishing you the best with the diagnosis.
Kerren
Hi Kerren!
I actually wound up taking the bandage off and what I thought was the seroma may have just been skin being pushed down because I don't notice it anymore. I didn't even think about them having a contract with the emergency hospital. I called and explained my situation and the girl sounded a little clueless so they might have. I thought it was strange that my new vet has an after hours service but you can't get a hold of them after hours. They simply redirect you to the emergency hospital. Why not just have a voicemail saying that? And I didn't think of emailing but I just checked and they do have an email address....so if I have any other issues I'll try that route. But I completely agree with everything you just said!
I hope Mona is doing better now! 
Kim
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