Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We need some pixs of your girl. You will find that most of the issues that will worry you are directly related to the meds. Ask anything and someone in this wonderful community will have an answer promptly. Keep us posted...
Well today Fern got up on her own and walked to her water bowl, hopefully soon she'll do the same or her food rather than waiting for us to feed her.
I'll try and take some pictures tomorrow.
Than ks again for the interest and support, things are getting better every day.
That's fabulous!
You may want to check out this video by our favorite canine rehabilitaiton vets, "Amputation Recovery Advice with Care." The docs give great tips about things we can do to make life easier during recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome to the family, this is the best place to be on this journey. Once these guys heal it is remarkable how well they do. Gus was back to his old self in no time, climbing hay mows, jumping into trucks, jumping in the bunk and harassing the cows, so don't worry, they don't even think about being three legged. Don't feel guilty about having the surgery, if you didn't think about what would have been, you would feel worse for not trying your best to help her. It's not the smoothest road you will go down, but it's worth every penny, trust us. Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Pictures will be lovely!
Every baby step of Fern will take her and you to wonderful places.
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
Once again, thanks for the kind words and messages of support, the video was good to watch too.
Today hasn't been the best day, when we woke this morning we noticed that, despite having a concertina type active drai, Fern's wound had leaked quite a lot. After cleaning her up I carried her down stairs and I obviously hurt her because she yelped quite loudly.
She's been very quiet today, no interest in food (until now we've fed her as she's led down) or water (she was never a big eater) and when we could encourage her to stand she would walk a few steps, then turn and get back onto her bed.
Even though when the vet came and examined her he said the leaking fluid was nothing to worry about, we're still concerned because this is exactly what happened last week when the skin graft failed, the vet said the same then. He did however change her antibiotics after seeing her!
We watched the video and although it was great to see the lovely boxer jumping around, when we looked at Fern led on her bed there is a marked contrast in energy and enthusiasm.
Are we expecting too much too soon? it's only been 3 days since the surgery (and in fairness Fern has had 3 major operations in the last 4 weeks so I wouldn't be surprised if she was down)
She's not on the Tramadol tablets anymore, she doesn't seem to be in pain (she has Metacam liquid pain relief) so her mood probably isn't caused by that (she only had 2 tablets once we'd collected her on Tuesday) although I'm sure there is still some soreness.
I'll try and post some pics later, I took a few but need to work out how to transfer them to the forum.
Sorry if I sound a bit low, everyone said the first 2 weeks would be ruff but days 2 and 3 were so uplifting.
Let's see what tomorrow brings
Fern has had a lot of major surgeries in a months time. I went through the same worries with Cooper the first few days and I was a wreck until I put it in perspective what he had been through. My biggest problem was I kept reading things online saying that most dogs are up and running around within 12 hours of surgery and my expectations we WAY too high for what Cooper had been through. Coopers incision leaked and leaked and it seemed like a lot - we just arent used to seeing our furkids bleed and whatnot and it throws a lot of us into a scare, all I kept saying to Coopsmom was , " I wish the incision was just healed so I can stop worrying"
And now he is all healed and I do worry much less. The first couple of weeks is indeed hard I cant argue. We are all here pulling for you and sending pawsitive thoughts though!
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
fernsdad said:
Are we expecting too much too soon? it's only been 3 days since the surgery (and in fairness Fern has had 3 major operations in the last 4 weeks so I wouldn't be surprised if she was down)
Honestly, it does seem like it. Most dogs are not very enthusiastic about much for about the first two weeks. And with the other surgeries that Fern has had, she's going to need extra time it seems. Going off the Tramadol after 3 days is a little unusual. Most dogs are on it for at least a week.
You have a vet that makes house calls? How neat! So if your vet looked at her today, and gave her the Paws Up, that's a great sign. Rejoice in these little achievements. A month from now, you'll wonder why you were ever so nervous. Sounds like she has great medical care.
Oh, that seroma (leaky fluid) is very normal for post-amputation dogs.
Here's a handy link to posting photos in the Forums, hope it helps.
Hang in there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks again, wow you people act quickly 🙂
Anyway here goes with some photos, my photography is like my IT ability...poor,
This was the graft that went bad, i took this last friday (7 days ago but seems like a century)
She's so beautiful and trusting after all she's been through
AWWWWWW! How adorable!
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.
What a sweetheart! Thank you for sharing these photos.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
what a beautiful girl!
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
Fern is so beautiful
!
Her post-op course is likely to be a bit slower than a dog who didn't have previous surgeries. The multiple general anesthesia events alone would make anyone (dog or human) tired!. Her body has been working hard to heal & then was impacted repeatedly.
I don't know if you have access to it, but cold laser therapy seems to be very beneficial in wound healing. Isabelle had quite a bit of drainage the day after surgery & I was prepared for her developing a seroma . She had cold laser every other day. The drainage stopped immediately & her wound healing was remarkably fast. I think it also helped that she was laying on her operative site from the beginning.
Fern's wound will also heal differently than others because the site was already insulted by previous surgeries.
Tramadol sometimes makes dogs depressed & can affect their appetite, that can last a while even after the drug is stopped. I didn't use it post-op. Isabelle had a fentanyl patch for 5 days,(the same patch, so it essentially weaned itself) which eliminates all the fluctuations in both pain & sedation. I restarted metacam on day 3.
You are taking such good care of her & it sounds like she's right where she needs to be.
littlemanjake said:
I don't know if you have access to it, but cold laser therapy seems to be very beneficial in wound healing. Isabelle had quite a bit of drainage the day after surgery & I was prepared for her developing a seroma .
Fern is so pretty, her eyes make my heart go pitter patter.
Littlemanjake, I've been wanting to write about cold laser therapy. I'm going to PM you some questions if you don't mind, for a Tripawds News blog post. Stay tuned.
Fern, you're a trooper, and I know you're going to do just fine. Hang in there sweet girl.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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