Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Tazzie 2 here
Susan got a call from the vet hospital early this morning to say that I was ready to come home, if she was ready. I have been energetic and impressing everyone at the clinic (was standing and walking 4 hrs post-surgery). I suspect they mistake my 'sheer panic to get out of the hospital' with a happy eager puppy. Regardless, I am motoring along (humans cannot keep up), eating and peeing (I almost took a tumble when trying to lift a hind leg to do that). Now that I have been home for a few hours, I am starting to settle down. Susan says I was never this hyper before my surgery.
Susan here: Tazzie often sits and gives you a paw, usually the right, to hold so you can comfort him (he NEEDS attention in the best of times). This afternoon, he sits next to me, leans to his left and you can see the collarbone on the right lifting as he gzes upward, as though he is lifting his right paw for it to be held as usual. He did this four times in a row, probably wondering why I was not holding it (perhaps touching the shoulder will help). Ahh, it will be an adjustment even though he is adjusting better than I could have hoped.
No bones about it. It is definitely hard to see your dog as a tripawd, even after viewing and reading all the pics and good information.
It sounds as though we won't get any results for 7-10 days (possibly earlier), at which point we'll discuss chemo. Gosh - that's a long wait to find out more
Susan & Tazzie
Welcome home Tazzie! Glad to hear all is going as well as can be expected. Keep up the good work. Thanks for the update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome home Tazzie! Isn't it great to be back in your own house, so you can play and watch over your humans! You're going to have to take it easy during recovery and not over do it - you're going to give Susan heart failure, and then who would take care of you?
Glad you guys are doing well.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Three days post-surgery:
Yes, you guessed it, Tazzie seems to have overdone it yesterday. It certainly surprised me when he got his play toy to give to someone and then leapt onto the couch (a leather couch at a friend's house, where he is not allowed on the furniture unless his own home). He is also doing the two-legged pee with reasonable success - funny, he used to squat most of the time before surgery!
He woke and was restless around 3-4 am, and has been trouble getting into a comfortable position (right now, we have a few moments of rest). There is more fluid and bruising today, and he is sore at that location (there was no indication he was sore yesterday but he snarled - which is EXTREMELY unlike him - when someone tried to carry him down steep stairs today - he was fine about that yesterday).
I suppose I just need to encourage him to rest and let a few days go by, but would appreciate any suggestions you may have. I'll start with a cold compress, although not sure that will do much.
We only have Tramadol for two more days, so I think he may need more.
I have been staying in Calgary in case he needs vet attention, but will need to take him on a 3 hr car ride to get home within a day or two. He never liked car rides in the best of time. Should be fun. But I don't want to make the trip until we are confident that things are under control, but that might take a week or two.
I am also interested in boarding suggestions (have been reading those that are posted). I am supposed to be working in California for a month, and this cancer was diagnosed the day I was due to leave. I kind of need to get down there for at least 4-5 days. There does not seem to be a good alternative for boarding at this stage - I just can't see carting him back to a vet after this week's experience. Would love to get a person to stay in the house, but that would cost a fortune (probably as much as the vet fees!)
Susan
Like Tazzie, Jack was a little ball of fire right after surgery. I thought he was OK to be as active as he was since he seemed fine, so I just let him be. It was too much and he ended up with abdominal bruising from broken capillaries. After 3 days is also when he started experiencing phantom pain , so I don't think you would need to worry about him getting restless and having more bruising...it seems to get worse before it gets better. What we had to do was take Jack back to the vet so they could keep him on mandatory supervised bed rest so he didn't move for most of the day. He was in for 2 days and we got him back, made sure he only went out 3 times a day and when he was outside we did not move around at all - he got his leash area and that was it. Also no stairs or jumping on the bed or in the car for 2 weeks. It's hard when they're doing so well, but we forget they just had surgery and can overdo it in a flash which can cause more bruising or make them cranky if they are in more pain than they are used to. Hope he continues doing so well!!!
eek - that is scary but useful info. phantom pain and more bruising from being so active (perhaps he already has broken capilaries, because there is a lot of bruising). I was going to take him home to the ranch, but then it would be next to impossible to get him back to a vet. But he should be quieter there - I can bore him by working while also keeping an eye on him.
Tazzie seems to have a 'phantom paw' which I think he keeps trying to hold out to me the way he used to. Hopefully it will remain that way and not turn into a phantom pain .
Susan
This is typical for a few days post-op. These amazing pups will think they can do anything and easily overdo it while trying to hide their weakness. What Tazzie needs most right now is rest and time to rebuild his strength.
Five days after surgery does seem a bit early to ween him off the pain meds. (We started cutting Jerry's dosage after a week and he was off all meds within 10 days after syurgery.) You may be surprised how much dogs can often handle the pain better than the side effects from the medicine, though. Please consult with your vet and express your concerns.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Susan,
I read your questions on Storm and Koda's post, so thought I would give you my novice opinion here. 🙂 Is Tazzie taking pain meds at all? Toffee didn't really seem to have a lot of pain a few days after surgery. I would ask the vet about having something on hand, or maybe something stronger? My vet did say removing the scapula was a more complicated surgery, and Toffee's was left, so maybe that's the difference. As far as the drive is concerned, I'm sure the vet could give Tazzie a sedative to make the drive easier on the both of you. Everyone here will tell you the first few weeks are really tough, and even after, there are ups and downs.
Everything was clear with Toffee as well, and we are doing the chemo, but not everyone does. There are other alternatives, many you can read about on this great site. Talk to your vet and trust your heart and you will make the right decision...whatever that may be.
Laura and Toffee
Hi Laura and Toffee
Thanks for the tips. Tazzie rested a lot today and seems in much better form tonight. He spent some quality time lying in the grass, on the deck and barking at myself or someone else when we arrived at the house. We will tackle the drive tomorrow. He does have tramadol, taking one pill twice per day. I think the supply was supposed to be done today or tomorrow, but I still have more from before the surgery, and will use it. There is also metacam. I think he needs the tramadol now, seems to sooth the edge of the pain or restlessness he is feeling.
He has been carrying his tail under his belly yesterday and today - that is a sure sign of pain (or a sign of walking into the vets!). But there is a lot of bruising, so I would think this level of pain is to be expected.
His main issue today, which drove me nuts, was that he refused to pee. He is poo'ing much more than he pees, but this might reflect the fore limb rather than hind limb amputation (I think the vet indicated he might find it harder to pee than poo). He did not really want me to take him down the stairs and around the yard or in the alley today, and he refused to pee even when I did take him for a walk. He FINALLY pee'd at 7 pm today, and that was reluctant (but yes, there was a good flow, although unfortunately his "tripod" stance meant that his legs got wet, we have a few things to learn). Is it okay for a dog to only pee once per day for a few days? He has always had a great bladder, although this is taking it to new limits!
Night,
Susan and Tazzie
Before Jack was sick he used to only pee once per day. We would take him outside but he is a day dreamer and would just stand in the grass and smell the air or sniff the same spot for 5 minutes then want to go inside. It used to take him about 15 minutes to get around to peeing. Now however, he goes as soon as we get outside about 3 times a day. I'm not sure how healthy it is for them to only go once per day, but Tazzie is certainly not alone in his reluctance to want to go potty!
thanks jack - sounds like we have lots in common. I don't know whether to consider the failure to pee a serious issue or not. He is still reluctant this morning so I left him sitting in the yard. I am "force-drinking" him by mixing a bit of canned dog food with water. At least he has a good appetite.
That's funny, I used to do the same thing too!
Just curious, but how are you taking him down the stairs? Perhaps the method is just a little too stressful or clausterphobic for Tazzie, and he's getting cranky?
I ask because when my Dad was trying to carry me downstairs to my backyard, I kept trying to tell him that I didn't need the help, but he insisted. When he finally realized that I could go down the stairs with just a little support (he walked alongside me), I became a much happier dog. Seemed like once my pawrents backed off and just gave me some breathing room to be a dog, things started looking up.
Just a thought. I wouldn't put too much into his unwillingness to go right away though. As long as he is peeing, and eating, he should be fine. Sounds like you are definitely doing the right thing by adding water to his food. Take mental notes and if you feel any more uncomfortable about the situation, ask your vet about it. Good luck, and keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Jerry
You might be right about Susan bugging me when I am contemplating the pros and cons of going down the stairs. I head outside with moderate gusto, and then - just stop. The stairs in Calgary were a bit scary - those kind with no backing that scared me when I had four legs. Now we are back at the ranch, and I just went down the stairs alone - Susan did try to help me first, but I would have none of it.
Still, he is very reluctant to hop around on the ground once he is down the stairs (unless Susan walks away or someone shows up and then I hop quickly). Two or three times a day, I say 'that's enough' and I use the sling and leash to firmly influence him to move. I really don't think he would get around to going (#1 or 2) if I did not do this. As I said, the amount of pee coming out is minimal (colour is good though) - that is what he is most reluctant to do - is that normal after fore limb amputation?
His back seems a bit arched (perhaps that is the hopping position) and the tail is definitely curled under in the 'I am not feeling good or in pain' position. I wonder if something else is hurting (back?) although there has been no wincing. And he does not look seriously depressed, the way he did a few years ago when he hurt his back and completely refused to move for a day. In fact, he was outright bouncy during the three hour car ride to home today - just like his old crazy nervous self, so got lots of exercise (too much) there. When he sits outside, he is alert and looks around when something is going on.
The vet who did the surgery is at a specialist place (board certified surgeon so probably charges 3 times the going rate). I really liked him, but it seems we are supposed to do follow-up with the regular vet. Anyway, I feel my hands are tied a bit in terms of calling the vet who actually did the surgery. And if he says to bring Tazzie in, I'd be a bit ticked off since I live 3 hrs away (which is why we hung out in the city for a few days) and cannot bring Tazzie in. But I guess we'll just sit on it today. Tazzie and I were both so tired when we got home - I suspect things will look much better tomorrow. Sorry to go on so long.
Incentive to pee post amputation:
Ah, some success. The neighbour dog who likes to pee everywhere came over to visit. That provided the stimulation that Tazzie needed. He should sleep a bit better tonight.
It's still very early in Tazzie's recuperation. Some dogs don't go potty for days. Like our vet told us about Jerry ... he'll go when he needs to go. He still needs lots of rest too, so give hime time and he'll get to hoppin' around. Thanks for the update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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