Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi, I’m Petra’s mom! Petra is a 9 year old boxer with squamous cell cancer on her left hind leg. After much consideration, we have decided to amputate with hope of a complete cure (the tumor was removed in October but was too large to be completely excised and has quickly returned). The tumor is pretty gnarly, large and ulcerated and she is avoiding putting weight on her leg. Because of the holidays we can either do surgery tomorrow or will have to wait until Jan. 3. I am torn about what to do. I’m reluctant to make her wait until Jan. 3rd, but I will be gone for several hours Christmas Eve and I’m worried that would be too soon to leave her alone after surgery if we do it tomorrow. She is on pain meds and I think the pressure from the tumor is largely what’s causing discomfort. She seems comfortable when resting. I would appreciate any suggestions y’all have and am especially interested in the early recovery process and whether 24/7 supervision is needed. Thanks so much for this wonderful resource and all the labor that has gone into it!
jill
Hi Petra and family, welcome. I'm in the Tripawds Chat right now if you want to talk. Back in a sec with some feedback.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
. I’m reluctant to make her wait until Jan. 3rd, but I will be gone for several hours Christmas Eve and I’m worried that would be too soon to leave her alone after surgery if we do it tomorrow.
I can see, why, I would be too. But based on the pain signals you've described, I would move to surgery sooner rather than later. Is there a way for your vet to keep her an extra night? If not, is there a way to have someone go and check on her while you are away? Chances are she will just be sleeping and as long as you keep her confined to a small space in your home she can't hurt herself.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sounds like you will be home EXCEPT for a few hours Christmas Eve, right? If you do surgery tomorrow (Saturday) will she spend the night at an over ight staffed cljnic snd them come home Sunday? So you would be home with her except those few hours on Tuesday night, right? If you have her confined and have a cone in her so she can't get to her stitches, as well as property medicated fot pain, she should be okay.
STAY CONN and we can help you navigate through recovery, okay? We'll have our TRIPAWDS HELPLINE available Cnristmas Eve (Tuesday) if you need support. Of course, keep your Bet's number handy as we do not give Vet advice. 1 844 TRIPAWD
Keep us posted and update when you can.
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!
Thanks, all. Yes, I will be home with her except for a few hours on Tuesday eve. Do you recommend using a crate? She doesn't use one currently but she also doesn't mind being in one. I do also have a room I can confine her in.
Okay, we are scheduled for surgery tomorrow. I'm nervous and worry about being a good caregiver post surgery. I have a firm bed for her, raised feeders, and will put down rugs to help with stability. I have two other boxers (Truman, 11 and Harper, 12) so will make up my study for Petra's recovery room where we can shut them out if needed. And I can set up a crate if that seems like a good idea.
Oh that's great!
If she's not crate trained then I wouldn't use one at this point if she were my dog. For other surgeries like a cruciate repair, a crate would be a necessity. But for this recovery, as long as you can keep her in a small room without stressing her out, and she's unable to jump on furniture, she will probably be just fine.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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Hello and welcome.
Another reason not to crate her is that she will most likely have a cone on to keep her away from the incision. We all hate the cone but it is really important that she can't get to her incision.
I hope she has an easy surgery tomorrow, keep us posted.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
You have done an excellent job of preparing your home for recovery!! You've really covered your bases very well. Add some yummy food to your cabinet to coax him to eat and to take his meds if necessary. And keep some yummy food for yourself. I find junk food to be very therapeutic for stress.😎
And yeah, just a room she's familiar with is uch better than a crate for all the reasons everyone mentioned.
When you go to pick Petra up at the Vet, don't even bother to look at her incision. She just wants to see your smiling face and hear you telling her what a good girl she is and she's going home! May have missed it, but is Petra spending the first. night at a staffed clinic?
Truman and Harper will most likely give Petra her space, but good to set up a room just for her.
Would ,loooove to see pictures of your pack. Here's a link to help: adding images
Your love for Petra will give you strength and calm and confidence to help Petra through recovery. And remember, recovery doesn't last furever!
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!
[Image Can Not Be Found]Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words!
CUTENESS ALERT!!! REALLY!! A HUGE CUTENESS ALERT!!!!! I'm absolutely in love❤❤❤ Such great mugs to wake up to every morning and to smooch goodnight every night!😎😎😎
Hugs to all
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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