Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Rough night. Lots of groaning. She started to really hate the ice pack and would stand up as soon as I put it on so I stopped that. She did a lot of standing and circling. Thought she wanted to go potty and we walked to the door a couple times, even went outside once but she just stood outside the door and then turned around to go back.
she hasn’t drank water since she first got home. She did lap up a few tablespoons of wet food that I added extra water too.
going to talk to her vet today about increasing pain meds. She’s doing a lot of standing and walking even though I think it’d be better if she just layed down and slept
her skin feels cool to touch (not cold) where they shaved her is that normal just from there not being fur there?
Everything you've described is not unexpected at all for coming home same night as surgery.
Aside from shaking off the effects of the anesthesia, the Fentynal patch is keeping her confused and a bit whacked out and whiny, actually a bit "dillusional". My Happy Hannah actually did spend one. night at a staffed clinic, didn't even have the patch, but the first couple of days and nights home she was soooo restless and whiny. Just couldn't seem to get comfortable at all.
I'm sure tarla had plenty of fluids at the hospita, so not surprising she isn't drinking. That said, some dogs, for whatever reason , just don't want to drink water for a few days. That's when you jave to get creative and add bone broth or some other ki d of flavoring. I actually swirled in a scoop of ove cream for Happy Hannah. I would let her take a lick off the spoon then stir it in her water as her nose followed the spoon.
As far as eating ,try any stinky food like liverwurst, or really yummy foods like rotisserie chicken, warmed steak, cheese eggs and bacon, etc.
As far as skin being cool to the touch in shaved area, can't recall one way or another. Makes sense though since there's no fur to keep her warm. As long as her limbs aren't cold, gums are not white, shouldn't be an issue.
And many dogs just will not tolerate cold compresses. It causes them. Ore stress than good in those cases.
So what is the frequency of the Gaba, the dose amount and how mich does she weigh? When does the patch come off?
She is able to hop......that's great!!
Of course, not a Bet and not giving Vet advice. Any concerns at all, check with Bet.
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!
I increased her Gabapentin this morning and that helped her out a lot. Called the vet and they said it was ok to keep her on the higher dose every 8hrs for now. She just ate again pretty ravenously and drank some more water.
she keeps wanting to go outside but she just stands in one spot until she’s weak once we’re out there.
Didn’t see your response before I posted my last reply…
She’s 75lbs (or at least she was before the surgery), Gaba dose is now 800mg every 8hrs (was 400mg before). Vet ok’d that dose increase. Fentanyl patch comes off Monday
Hey there,
Sorry for the rough night. I'm so glad you were able to talk to your vet.
So it sounds like things are getting under control now, which is great. Eating is a great sign too! And the drinking of more water.
The Fentanyl should be wearing off by sometime today so you should see some improvement (the patch just stays on because vets don't like folks touching it in case there's any residual medication left on it).
Is there any way you can take her to a spot where other dogs go potty? That would likely prompt her to urinate. Don't let her wait too much longer to do it. It may be a few days until 
happens and that's totally fine.
Mostly she is doing a lot better. Her appetite was suppressed today but she did finally eat at dinner.
I think she might be developing a seroma . There is No fluid leaking from her incision but it looks like she has a small sac of skin on the lowest part of her belly that waves when she moves as if it could be fluid filled.
The skin on the underside of her incision is dark red which might just be bruising?we’re going to the vet tomorrow to get her fentanyl patch removed so I’ll have them take a look at incision too. She’s on cefpo as an antibiotic
shes peed a few times now but no poop yet except for a small nugget while she was laying in bed yesterday
YAAAAY FOR PEE!!!! And yesm snall nugget is good news too! It's a start....even if it was in bed.
I referred to my Hapoy Hannah's seroma as a sagging boob. It even went away once and came back for one more "sag".
Some bruising is certainly normal but I know your vet will check it out tomorrow. Glad the patch is coming off and, you should see some more alertness, slowly but surely.
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!
Sounds really good! And yeah that's probably a seroma but your vet can tell you for sure. That's good you get a check in tomorrow. It'll probably be a quick visit to be sure to have any questions ready.
Yay for poop this evening! And she’s peeing more regularly too.
her energy came back full force today. Was a bit of a challenge to keep her from hurting herself
vet tech confirmed seroma and bruising, said a warm compress should help it absorb.
she wanted to go for our typical morning walk today but I wouldn’t let her. Is there a guide for when and how to increase her activity? I don’t want to let her do to much too quickly and injure her remaining leg or pull staples out.
I looked into the Maggie moo grant which seemed great but the nearest certified rehab place is a solid 5hr drive away
So happy to read this!! We knew she'd get there! And it's still verh early in recovery
Yay for poop this evening! And she’s peeing more regularly too.
her energy came back full force today. Was a bit of a challenge to keep her from hurting herself
Generally Bets advise ahort leashed potty breaks the first two weeks. After that several. Ahort walks as opposed to o e kr two long walks, if a dog sits down on a walk they are a,ready tired and have done too much. Obviously every dog is different and so e do more. Some less.
If dogs are used to going on long walks, a lot of people get a stroller so the dog can walk and jo jnto the stroller if they get tired. Rest up, hopmout, walk more.
There are some videos on here of actual Rehab visits and the techniques used for strengthening core, maintaining muscles, joints, etc. I'm horrible at trying to do "search" on here, but "someone" (Jerry) will come all g and give you links to videos of Rehab at home
Thanks for sharing the good news. And it only gets better!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie!
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!
WHEEEE! Great pupdate!
As Sally mentioned, keep things really chill until her stitches come out. Once they do, start very, very short walks. Like maybe 1/4 of what she used to do. Build up from there over a week or so. Engage her mind with interactive brain games in the meantime to keep her busy.
I'm so glad you want to look into therapy! I can try to help find one for you...about 90% of the time I can usually find a therapist that's much closer than someone realizes. And if there really really isn't anyone around, you can always look into online rehab consulting, and/or the online Tripawds recovery fitness course by Dr. Waterhouse. It's a great option for anyone who doesn't have access to therapy.
Thanks. She’s getting so antsy about wanting to lay outside and go on walks. Just 9 more days little one! Her incision looks like it’s healing well and the bruising is subsiding
Jerry if you could try to find a closer therapist that would be much appreciated. We’re near Eureka, Ca. The very far Northern California that’s actually closer to southern Oregon than to San Francisco area where a lot of the therapists were located.
OK I just about fell off my chair:
We’re near Eureka, Ca.
WOW! 
We are from Eureka, spent 10 years there, and we adopted Jerry (Tripawds Chief Fun Officer) from the Sequoia Humane Society way way back. Too funny! In fact we are thinking about going back to visit our friends and take Nellie to Jerry's old stomping grounds on Samoa Beach!
Have you ever worked with Dr. Green at Healing Spirit? They are a terrific practice. I'm not seeing a credentialed CCRT or CCRP therapist on their website but it can't hurt to call and ask them if they have one on board.
I know about the trade-offs of living in such a beautiful place. Jerry had his amputation at UC Davis because at the time, no vets in the area that we saw could diagnose his cancer. We sent down there and they instantly saw it on the scans. Shortly after we moved from Eureka in 2007 and have been on the road ever since. But we still miss it there, such a beautiful part of the country.
Crazy small world! We just barely missed crossing paths as I moved out here in 2008. Manila beach is our usual haunt.
I haven’t worked with Dr Green directly but Healing Spirit is the clinic who saw Starla through her epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. And she might be getting her chemo there. I know they have a cool underwater treadmill, I’ll look into it.
Technology of digital imaging and tele-consults definitely made Starla’s diagnosis possible without having to travel for treatments.
Oh how funny! Manilla beach is great too. Jerry couldn't walk too far into those dunes though after his amputation. Walking in sand is tough so something to consider.
That's cool that you worked with Healing Spirit! Yes talk to them about therapy for Starla and see what they say. Last resort you could do virtual consulting or a home rehab program.
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