Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone. I am brand new here. My mini schnauzer mix named Remy is having his right leg amputated on Monday due to a mast cell tumour on his hock that is not cleanly removable so we opted for amputation as the best option for him based on his oncologist and surgeons advice. I am trying to not feel anxious as I know this is very needed for him and don’t want to project my anxiety on him. Monday .. and the following weeks are going to be very bad.
Thanks in advance . I have already felt very comforted from reading the stories of other tripawds.
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
So, Remy is losing a back leg? It sounds so familiar! My first Tripawd Maggie lost her left rear leg to a MCT way back in 2006. You can read her story and about her amp and treatment if you are interested, the links are in my signature below.
Do you have any specific questions or concerns? Have you seen the Reading List? Lots of good info there on what to expect with amputation and recovery.
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
Remy's avatar picture is absolutely adorable! Can't wait to see more photos.
Stay connected to us, okay? We're here to answer any questions and support you through recovery.........AND cheer for Remy as her sparkle comes back..
The first two weeks of recovery it's all about rest, short leashed potty breaks and more and more rest,
Is Remy staying overnight at a 24hr staffed clinic? When you go to pick her up. don't even bother looking at her incision or drawing attention to it. She just wants you to tell her she's a good girl and she's going home!
She'll most likely come home with Gabapentin, an anti-inflammatory like Rimadyl and an a antibiotic. The first day or so she'll still have strong hospital meds in her, but may have a bit of a crash after they are out of her system.
Drinking and peeing important. She may not poop or have much of an appetite at first.
Try and get some rest. We know how raw your emotions are right now. Of course, Remy has no concerns and is just enjoying g the bliss of being dog.
Let us know when she's home, okay? We'll be thinking of you two Monday and sending pawsitive energy.
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 for the love. Yes it is his right hind leg that he is losing. He is going to a 24 hour speciality clinic in Toronto Ontario called Animal Health Partners and he will be there for 2 nights perhaps longer . I am confident that he will have top notch care there . Hoping for a successful surgery and that the tumour turns out to be a low grade!
Hi Remy and family, welcome! We are so sorry you had to join our club but glad you are here. Your clinic looks excellent! Remy is in good hands with their board-certified surgeons.
Please let us know how we can help oK? Check out our What to Expect articles so you are well-prepared, and keep us posted!
Update: Remy’s surgery is complete and he is officially a tri-Pawd now . There were no complications and all went well. Now they will send his limb to the lab to see the grade of the tumour and whether he needs chemo or not . The surgeon said they have a soaker catheter in so that they can infuse numbing solution right to the site. Hopefully I can rest tonight knowing he is in good hands.
YAAAAAY REMY!!!!! AND YES YOU CAN REST TONIGHT!!!! Remy will be feeling no pain and most likely seeing some pink elephants!
Thanks for the update and we look forward to hearing about his homecoming!!
Now go get some zzzzzz's
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!
Wooohoo! Wonderful news! Congratulations on getting that out of the way and moving forward with recovery. Remy is getting really good pain control, so that will help make it easier. Like Sally mentioned, he'll be skipping around with imaginary pink elephants when you see him but don't panic, it's only temporary 😉
Great to hear this step is done.
Now on with recovery and the rest of his life!
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
Oh boy am I ever struggling mentally with all of this. I am about 2 hrs away from my boy and wish I could go see him.. but on the other hand , it will break my heart when I see him without his leg for the first time.
They will give me an update on how he is doing in the morning and possibly let me know when I can go pick him up. I’m worried that he thinks I deserted him 🙁
Nah.....he's not thinking you "deserted" him...he's thinking how good his meds are😉
I know it's hard to wrap your head around right now, but you ARE doing this FOR Remy, not to him.
Some Surgeons do seem to be a vit clipper Happy when it comes to shaving their fur. I remember being shocked about the amount of fur shaved down😫
If you are so inclined and of uou think it will help, you can do a search on the site for amputation incision. Try and focus on the outcome of the surgery as opposed to the physical way the inc looks. That's just temporary. Once your Remy starts living large on three you won even notice he's a tripawd. ‐
Remember, Remy will follow your lead and feed off your energy. Be upbeat and happy to see him. Have a strong co fident energy. He's not expecting you to be sad to see him....he's expecting you to be happy to see him....just like he'll be happy to see you!
May sound crazy, but try not to project how you may or may not feel. Remy isn't thinking about the tomorrows or the yesterdays. Remy is living in the present...in the now. Surgery is done and it was successful. Now your Remy can get on with a pain free quaility life full of spoil and loving and tummy rubs!
Stay connected, okay? We are all here for you to help you navigate through the recovery.
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!
For me I would not go see one of my dogs in the hospital unless they were going to be there a long time. I think it would be too hard for them to see me and then have to leave without them again. And for now Remy is pretty high on the good surgery meds.
If you want to look at some pictures you can go to the Gallery and scroll down to Surgery and Treatment pics.
When I went to pick up Maggie it was weird but not heartbreaking. By then I had come to terms with the necessity of the amputation. She would have not survived more than a few months if I hadn't chosen the surgery.
Don't focus on what is gone- focus on what is still here! No, it's not easy in this situation but it will be better for both of you to be as positive as you can be.
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
Thanks everyone. I agree that perhaps it is a good thing I am not seeing him right now. I will try my best to not show sadness when I pick him up .. I definitely will be relieved to have him home. They updated me and said that he is still really groggy so they are going to try to scale back his pain medication today. He is not interested in eating or drinking but is on IV fluids. He is not trying to walk on his good back leg so they are using a sling to help get him up. No peeing or pooping at all . I guess these things are all normal since he just had surgery and they don’t seem concerned . I will get an update this afternoon from the Doctor
His Doctor just called . They had to adjust his pain meds this afternoon and he is responding well to that. He is eating and drinking now and going pee . The doctor says that if he continues to improve he might be able to go home tomorrow !
YAAAAAY FOR REMY!!! SPECTACULAR PUPDATE!!
Yes, little pain med adjustment does wonders as far as eating and drinking AND peeing!!! He'll get his sea legs. May take a couple pf days, but he'll get more and more stable as the hospital meds wear off and he recovers more and more from the surgery itself.
Now get some rest!!!! Remy is in really good hands!
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!
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