Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Hello all,
So glad I found this site. You've all been so helpful since day 1 after surgery.
My main worry right now is the amount of fluid that's draining. I've gone thru an entire roll of paper towels and have spent a few hours soaking it up. I took her to the emergency vet tonight and they gave her an antibiotic (she wasn't sent home with one). They said that it's actually a good thing that it's draining. But how do I control it? I can't but probably will, just hold paper towels on her all might long.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
TIA
Hey there and welcome. Your future posts won't need approval so post away. How did last night go?
Did the vets say that it is a seroma ? This is usually a harmless fluid discharge that happens when a leg is removed. Sometimes it can happen this far out of surgery, I believe that's about the time we recognized that our dog Jerry had one. I'm glad they gave her an antibiotic.
Yes, letting it discharge is good. As long as it's more watery than bloody that's normal. OH and it should not smell or look greenish. You can absorb the fluid by placing a sanitary napkin over the wound if it gets bad, then putting vet wrap over it. But just change it out often. Placing doggie wee wee pads underneath her where she lays on her bed is also a good idea, or just a lot of old towels you can wash.
Did your pup come home with pain medication? If so, what kind? Just wondering.
What's her name? Why the reason for the amputation? Tell us more, we are here to help.
Meanwhile I saw you in the Tripawds Chat yesterday but you didn't say anything. Be sure to bark so we know you are there. I'll be back in the Chat later this morning, hope to see you there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you for the suggestions!! I'm going to try then all..my house looks like a war zone this morning!
Her name is Izzy. She's a 5 yr old German Shepherd/golden retriever mix. She was diagnosed with mast cell last October. She had surgery to remove the tumor, but it grew back in 4 months. We took her to the local university vet hospital and they found the cancer had gone to her lymph node in her leg. It had not metastasized. Deciding to amputate was the hardest decision. After surgery, they shaved a small patch of fur for a fentanyl patch. At that exact spot they found another mast cell tumor. Sigh. So we'll go back in a week to get her stitches out and talk to oncology about the next step. Sorry, that was long story 😉
The ER vet never mentioned seroma . From the forums and google, I don't think that's what it is. But I could be wrong. The flesh around her wound is hard and deep red. She had a fever for 2 days. They just said it was an infection and they were glad I brought her in.
She's on so many pills. Gabapentin is the pain killer. I'm trying to not give her the pain pills unless I think she's in a lot of pain. She's refusing to eat and I have to force feed her a tiny bit so she can take the Rimadyl. I hate doing that.
She continues to gush bloody disharge. I changed her blanket last night, added a towel and a hospital sheet they sent with her as a makeshift sling. I can tell she's feeling better as she really wants to be up and about. Which means bloody discharge all over the house.
Sorry for the long post but I'm so grateful to have a place to vent. Friends and family don't quite "get it"
Thank you again!! Jen
Hey you can post as long and as much as you want, thanks for filling us in. You and Izzy have been through so much! What university did the surgery? For sure she's getting good pain management then, just weird how they didn't give her an antibiotic. Sorry about the seroma mess and the infection. Yes it's good you caught it!
About managing pain ... I'm not a vet so take this for what it's worth, but you don't want to wait for her to show signs of being in pain. Dogs and cats will do anything they can to avoid showing pain signals . By the time that happens, it takes 2x longer to control pain than it does to keep her medicated at a consistent level. So, do whatever you can to keep the meds in her as prescribed by the vets. Hide them in treats to get her to eat them and put some food in her belly and the recovery will be much, much easier.
Here are some articles you may find helpful:
Give Pills to Dogs and Cats the Easy Way
How Dogs Show Pain and What You Can Do About It
Our Best Tripawd Pain Management Tips (So Far)
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and welcome.
Did Izzy lose a front or rear leg?
My Pug Maggie lost her left rear leg to a MCT, links to her story as well as her amp and treatment are in my signature below if you are interested.
We didn't deal with a seroma or infection with her amp, but she did have a seroma when her first MCT was removed about 6 months before her amp. I don't remember it leaking, it just re-absorbed. Gushing sounds like too much fluid coming out? Definitely keep your vet informed. Also try and keep her from moving around too much. Our surgeon said that Mag was only allowed short, leashed potty breaks for the first two weeks post amp.
I second Jerry on keeping the pain meds on board and consistent. I think gaba is more effective when given consistently and the sedation lots of pups have seems to abate after a few doses. That was true when my quad Pug Tani started on gaba for her arthritis. Are you worried she isn't eating because of the meds? Not eating can also be a pain sign. Or that she is too sedated? Right now keeping her quiet is a good thing. Not a vet here, just sharing my experiences.
I made a video last winter on pilling my Pugs. My current Tripawd Elly had a broken tooth (with pulp exposed, ouch!) and then had a very invasive dental surgery so was on pain meds for several weeks. Maybe something in the video can help get pills into Izzy.
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
Thank you for telling me your story and experience. Izzy lost her back leg. I got her wee wee pads, which are a God send. She hates laying on them but does it anyway 😉
The gushing has stopped. The er vet told me it was ok, as long as it wasn't bright red. Her infection needed to come out. I noticed yesterday that it's not from the incision. She had what looked like fluid filled blisters along the incision, and that's what would drain. The spot that was gushing is now healed up but there's a new spot further down. It's leaking, but not gushing. It almost looked like the blister popped and created a hole in her skin. I'm watching it very closely for infection. It's not smelly or green, so I'll just monitor it for now.
Her personality started to come back yesterday. I got my first kiss since surgery!! 
And she wanted so badly to go chase squirrels but I was the mean mom and wouldn't let her. Obviously. AND she's finally starting to eat. We haven't had to force feed her since Tuesday. That is a huge relief.
Thank you all so much. It's nice to know other people know how hard this can be.
YEAH! 
I'm soooo happy to hear things are getting better. Whenever a recovering Tripawd struggles, we all feel it. So thanks for taking time to stop by and let us know how things are going. Here's to more good days ahead!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh good, things are improving!
Those potty pads come in handy for several things...good thinking!
I'm glad some of her sparkle is showing through- it lets you see the light at the end of the recovery tunnel!
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
Another question. I had to leave her alone today for about an hour. She was wearing her cone but she had free reign of the house (she can't comfortably fit in her crate with the cone and no way to keep her in one room). When my husband got home, she was on the couch. And then later, she followed him up the stairs and jumped on the bed. He lets her on the couch every night. I know we're supposed to keep her as immobile as possible during recovery. Is there any reason I should be concerned with her on the couch. She's not jumping, more like climbing.
Thanks again!
Jen
Just catching up on your amazing Izzy! And just in time to say YAY FOR THE RETURN OF THE KISS!!💋👄
You are doing a great job of caring for Izzy. Good job of staying on top of the "gushing". Glad to here it seems to be under control now.
Now, as far as the couch. There seems to be an ongoing theme around here, and that is, don't even think of trying to separate a dog from THEIR couch!! It's truly an unbreakable bond!!! The main reason to avoid stairs and "jumping" up on the sofa, etc. is to avoid any chance of pulling the stitches and opening up of the incision. The fact that your girl is doing more of a restrained up/climb is good.
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!
Heyyy there! Sally gave some great insight. I can understand what you mean about climbing onto the couch, our Wyatt does that as well because he's big and our couch is low to the ground. That seems OK for a big dawg like yours.
But....I would be more cautious about bed jumping both before and after stitches come out, especially if your bed is higher off the ground. The hard landing puts tremendous pressure on any dog's joints but especially a Tripawd. If possible, pet stairs are the way to go, especially as a dog ages. Our Tripawds Gear shop has some pet step ideas.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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