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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Amputation is today - aftercare wonderings
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Member Since:
17 April 2019
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25 April 2019 - 12:16 pm
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I'm glad I found this forum. Thank you. Our Sugar is right now at the vet's awaiting the removal of her back leg, which has a low grade chondrosarcoma. Excision was not recommended as the tumor is all up in her tarsal joint and excision would've rendered the joint unusable. She is almost 9, lean and healthy and has an energetic and happy disposition, so it was said she is a good candidate for amputation. All that making-good-sense aside, I am a nervous wreck. Will update when she gets home but any tips for the first couple of days' care (and realistic expectations) would be appreciated.  Thanks.

On The Road


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25 April 2019 - 12:59 pm
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Welcome and best wishes for a speedy recovery! Is Sugar a dog or cat?

Your future forum posts will not require approval. Start here for help finding the many Tripawds resources and assistance programs.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
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25 April 2019 - 1:31 pm
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Hello and welcome.

I'm guessing by your avatar that Sugar is a pup, although you do have 'kat' in your user name...

Is she staying overnight at the vet or coming home today?  Most stay at least one night but a few come home same day.  It is a bit more challenging but can be done.

You will want to have a quiet place for Sugar to recover without access to furniture to jump on or stairs.  Also be sure there is good traction for her- any slippery floors should have rugs or yoga mats to help her get around.

Be sure you know what meds she will come home with and the dosing schedule.  You want to be sure she has enough pain meds.

Have you seen the Reading List? Lots of links there with information 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

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Member Since:
17 April 2019
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25 April 2019 - 3:32 pm
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Yes, Sugar is a Lab plus 🙂 . She will stay overnight at the vet's and come home tomorrow late afternoon I suspect. Thanks for your replies; I've been reading a bunch and will make sure I read those. I appreciate the positive stories as well as the stories that address bumps in the road others have experienced.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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25 April 2019 - 8:24 pm
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Looooove the avatar  pic of Sugar! She is stunning!  Amd yoi xan tell she's jist as sweeeet as can be!

Even though your "logical  mind" knows you are doing  EXACTLY  what needs to be done to give Sugar a pain free and quality life!  And then there's  the scared, uncertain part that's  keeping you up at night wondering  what in the world are you doing!!   It may not feel like it during recovery,  but you are doing this FOR Sugar and not TO her!

Karen's given you some good input.  We've  all been through the recovery  "adventure" and can pretty much reassure you on what's  " normal and what needs a call to the Vet.  

Drinking  and peeing are important,  eating and pooping may be off for a few days due to all the meds.   Some dogs are somewhat  mobile right out of the clinic, and some need several days before they can stand in their own.  This is majpr surgery and Sugar will be on some strong pain meds, all while trying to adjust to three!  

Rest, rest, rest, short leashed potty breaks and then more resr.  And you need to try and get some rest too!  It's  quite exhausting,  emotionally  and physically,  getting to this point in the journey!  Stay strong and confident  and Sugar will feed off of that energy. 

And when you go pick her up, don't  even bother to look at the incision.   She won't  be.  She'll just be looking st your smiling  face while you are  telling her what a good girl she is.  And when uou fo take a glance  later..just know that  the Surgeons love to shave a lot of fur!.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  Sray connected  and let us know how we can help, okay?  Looking  forward to celebrating  all of Sugar's victories as she loves her life to the fullest in three!!

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!

Member Since:
16 April 2019
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25 April 2019 - 9:08 pm
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My cat, Raz, had her hind leg amputated a week ago, removing a painful tumor that was putting pressure on her pelvis. My roommates and I all noticed that she was more herself even two days post-surgery! Obviously she's a cat and your's is a dog, but Raz has been healing really well so far! I've only been feeding her canned food, and have been adding a good amount of water to the food with each meal. Good luck!

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27 April 2019 - 9:51 am
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Y'all are the best! Thank you for your responses. Very helpful! She is our adorable warm and fuzzy. She ate her supper readily last night and again this morning. On abx 1 per day, 50 mg Tramadol for pain/2-3 every 6-8 hrs, Derramax NSAID 1 per day with food and Trazodone as needed for anxiety.

She was able to stand up on her own late last night. Gave Traz at bedtime and another round of pain med at 3AM. When we went to potty (#1) this AM she did not require a towel/sling. I am encouraged! But realize we are early into her recovery. She is now resting at my feet with E-collar removed (only when we are with her, watching); hope she will fall asleep soon. I'm sure I will have more questions so thanks again.

P.S. She has a beloved playmate at home; a gentle yet sometimes aloof Husky named Penny. Penny has been very respectful of her buddy. Curious but respectful.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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27 April 2019 - 10:19 am
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Eating already?  Standing on her own?  YAAAAAAY FOR SUGAR!!!!   And YAAAAY FOR YOU!!!  Great job!!!!

Sounds like her pajn meds are adequate and with a good dosing schedule.  Maintain  them consistently so the pain never gets a head start.  

Sounds like Penny is giving  Sugar her "space".  It does seem that other dog pals in the pack recognize  when a more subdued  behavior is required for healing.

A bit of a "crash" may occur in another day or so as the hospital heavy duty meds get out of her system.   But soon her sparkle  will start to return and all this recovery  stuff will be in the past!

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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27 April 2019 - 10:41 am
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Wow she's doing pretty great! All those things you mentioned about her appetite and pottying are such good signs. We will keep our fingers & paws crossed for continued success.

On thing I wanted to mention: be soooooo careful about allowing her to be without the e-collar. We have seen so many members take the e-collar off when they think they are watching their dog like a hawk, only to have the dog rip out the stitches in a fraction of a second when the humans turn away for some reason. For her safety and your wallet, I would leave it on 24/7 until the stitches come out. I know it's brutal, but it's the only way to ensure that you won't have to pay for an incision re-do and risk infection. Just my two cents.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
17 April 2019
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28 April 2019 - 9:01 pm
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Thanks for the reminder re e-collar! Much noted. Sugar is much better today! Instincts coming back (but curtailed). on leash to potty wanted to go chase chipmunks. nope. hope this momentum continues but think will be a hard 10 days for her in that way. but that’s ok. We pooped tonight! Fingers crossed and cautiously optimistic. ❤️

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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28 April 2019 - 9:50 pm
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YAAAAY FOR poopiconpoopicon

Sugar is definitely  making progress!  Every 'little" improvement is a HIGE VICTORY  during recoveru!!

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!

Livermore, CA




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28 April 2019 - 11:51 pm
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Sounds like she is doing very well so far!

Maggie made me wait for 6 or 7 days for the first poop.  Eating and interested in chipmunks- excellent.

It's great too that Penny is doing well with Sugar. The more normal you can make her life the better for her recovery in my opinion.  You are doing great restricting her activity by the way!  I never had an issue there- it was all I could do to get Maggie out of her bed.

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

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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29 April 2019 - 9:53 am
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Yay for poopicon!!

So happy to check in and see things are going well. Here's to a healing week ahead of you and Candy!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
17 April 2019
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30 April 2019 - 7:46 am
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Thanks again (!!!!) for this forum and your continued advice. We had a little hiccup yesterday when Sugar got turned around getting up and tripped up, falling on her incision. She yelled like bloody murder. Scared me so much. It freaked her out so gave her a dose of the trazodone and a 3rd 50 mg tramadol (2 had been given ~6hrs prior). She was standing and panting. She finally laid down and rested. have noticed a little tremble/shiver when I first comfort her (saw in another post that this may be due to the tramadol?). I think the trazodone may make her a little wobbly? Gave her 2 more tramadols at bedtime.

She slept peacefully last night. This morning she seems a lot better. Much brighter.

When both of us have been gone from the house in this process (2 times now over 4 days) we have crated her in a x-large crate. She now will not enter the crate because, even though it's roomy, the cone makes it hard for her to turn around/get comfy. If I throw in a treat she will now go to the entrance but short stop of entering, sniff for the treat, look up and say "nope". Other than upping my treat game, any suggestions? I don't feel like I can push her in, even gently (1) b/c of her wound and (2) b/c she is a strong dog/won't budge).

Many thanks,

Sugarbean momma

On The Road


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30 April 2019 - 10:28 am
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malkat said
Thanks again (!!!!) for this forum..

And thank you for your support! Be sure to submit a photo and tribute to Sugar for the Tripawds Honor Roll. smiley4

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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