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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Boxer is 7 years old 80 bls 5 days post op. She yelped getting out of the truck when I was setting her down and now has swelling near the rib cage on surgery side. Still get around perfectly isnt sensitive to the swelling. She is on gabpentin Carprofen Tranzodone and Tylenol 4. She has been alert and focused not really as spunky playful as before. Her front leg was removed because of a mass of cancer between her toes. My question is it normal to have swelling around her ribs or is that a injury she got when I picked her up? Already reached out to our vet at UT where the surgery happened but havent heard back.
Hey there, welcome to you and your pup. What's her name?
So five days post op isn't a long time, and it could be a seroma that is the issue. That's a fluid build-up and pretty normal after surgery. Is it puffy to the touch? Warm? Leaking at all? The body fluids left over from the removed limb need somewhere to go and usually that means the point of least resistance. Since you mentioned it's near the surgery site, that's what I'm thinking. It's good you called your vet though, just to be safe. Her pain control sounds good!
Let us know what the vet team says OK?
Her name is Melee I work at our family business and she has a sister and two other boxers all go to work together. She is very strong willed and determined she got up after surgery and is walking herself to potty and doing great . The soft tissue people at UT said what you said. Gave us some instructions on the wound cleaning and warm pads to help. I believe she hurt her latissimus dorsi thats what was swollen this morning but it has gone down significantly in the last hour. I dont know if I hurt her picking her up and setting her down but she seems fine I need to get a good harness or something to pick her up . Thank you so much I'll keep updating.
Melee, great name!
Her determination is such a good pawsonality trait to have at a time like this.
I'm glad things are looking up! And super happy that UT was thinking the same thing we were! Awesome. Any more swelling?
We love the Ruffwear Flagline harness for dogs who don't need a ton of support, and especially dogs missing a front leg, but it's really great for all Tripawds.
Let us know what else we can do to support you and Melee & the pack.
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