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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hello, I’m sorry if there is information out here, I couldn’t find anything.
my dog had front leg amputation for cancer removal on the 26th of january.
it’s a little more than 5 weeks out.
i just noticed an area near his incision is very purple. The skin almost looks red/purple.
this particular part was always hanging down a little. Like that’s where all the extra fluids and swelling was during the first 2 weeks. Now that he’s mostly healed it just hangs down a little and I thought it was just extra skin.
but today I noticed that the skin in that particular area is purple. It’s not anywhere else.
I’m wondering if it’s bruised or if blood is building up there.
has anyone experienced this?
I’m not sure what to do. Of course I notice on. Friday night when I can’t get in touch with the surgeon until Monday. Do you think I should take him to the emergency room? He doesn’t seem bothered by it. But I’m very concerned something internal is happening.
Just hang in 'til someone else comes on who can maybe give you a better answer to your specific issue.
If this happened within the first week or so around the incision (dark bruising, purple) etc it maybe something to send a picture of to the Vet. But five weeks out in just a small atea of hanging skin........hmmmm....not sure what's going on.
This far out and in the bit of hanging skin where the seroma was, it's probably nothing to worry about. Did it just happen?
Now. that said, it's not something I'm familiar with, but a member on here mah have insight into this particular situation.
Could you post a picture? Here's a link to help.....adding images
Not a Vet and not giving Vet advice. Sorry, not much help.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie!
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!
Hmmm, is it warm to the touch or leaking fluid? How is his appetite right now, and his energy level?
If you can post a photo that would be helpful. Sally’s link for adding images explains how, or pm me and I can help.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
If it is just a small portion of the incision and there is no leaking then it is probably necrotic tissue that may fall off. My dog had a small triangular piece in the very center where the surgeon tied everything together and I think the blood flow was just too poor to support the skin. 5 weeks out does seem kind of long for that to happen but a photo would help.
Pam
Thank you all for replying. So it's really hard to see in a photo, but I will attach what I can and try to explain it better.
I noticed it because in the light, his fur almost looked purple in that spot, as if he was bleeding.
However, there is no leakage, no actual bleeding.
His appetite has not changed at all. He seems to be happy and full of life still. Because his biopsy was not able to determine the actual cancer type, I am concerned it's Hemangiosarcoma rearing it's head.... They told me it was either Hemangiosarcoma, Histiocytic sarcoma, or Osteosarcoma
Upon further inspection, I got the flash light out and everything and only that section of his skin is really purple. Everywhere else is his normal skin tone of white. -- Thank you so much for any insight you can offer. I really appreciate this website and everyone's experience here.
The first photo below is 2 weeks post operation because it's SO much easier to see the area that I am referring to before his hair started to grow back in.
Here is what I mean on how it hangs down:
Here is a photo of the up close skin color:
And here is a photo of the site now, however it's very difficult to see in the photo because of the fur.
Your pup is sooo handsome! And you did a good job with the photos. His fur has grown back quite well.
The response se uou received from "Pam" is our beloved "volunteer Vet".♥️ so just wait and see what she says, (but I think you jave no worries)
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!
I agree, what a sweetie! Great images too.
Dr. Pam I had NO IDEA that could happen! Thanks for enlightening us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I agree, what a sweetie! Great images too.
Dr. Pam I had NO IDEA that could happen! Thanks for enlightening us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It is common for the skin to hang down because the muscle that was left behind has atrophied. I think that is not a bruise but a callous that is starting to form (kind of like a pressure sore) because I bet that is where he rests the weight of his body if he lays on that side. To be sure you can shave off the hair and take another photo. There is also the chance of a suture reaction but then you should see an open area with drainage. This is NOT consistent with hemangiosarcoma; that is typically a more reddish/purple color and is usually bleeding.
Pam
Hi Pam , thanks so much for the additional information and helping me to stay calm over the weekend.
I was able to zoom call with the surgeon today and show him the site better.
it’s definitely a blood clot and swelling. However he said it didn’t look typical of hemangiosarcoma either. Especially since Juno isn’t showing any signs of being lethargic or not eating.
he thinks maybe he injured himself potentially falling on the site which caused the swelling and blood build up. Which is possible because he did take a fall last week playing outside.
I was told to monitor it for up to two weeks. If it doesn’t go away or get better in that time frame he said to book an appointment.
thank you again!
I love this much needed community!!
We love you and Juno too! So glad you were able to talk with your vet and that it's a monitoring situation. Paws crossed that it gets better! Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Update on Juno.
yesterday he took a sudden downturn. I’m not sure what to think.
I’ve been working from home all of this time but I had to run out for 3 hours yesterday. it was the first time he’s been home alone since the beginning of the year.
he was fine and his normal self before I left.
when I got home he was clearly not feeling like himself. He greeted me at the door, but 1/1000th of the energy with the slightest wag of a tail. He then just stood there in the middle of the room like he was dazed.
after 10 minutes of just standing and not moving at all — I wasn’t sure what was happening— he started to cough and some flem came up.
since then he’s been significantly tired. I can barely get him outside to go potty without bribing with a treat or a brand new toy.
he still enjoys his food and has a full appetite. I’ve noticed that He’s coughing the flem about 3 times a day. Today he has done it 2 times. Nothing comes out of his mouth but he appears to be swallowing it once it hits his mouth.
im assuming this is lung mets.
he also has some lumps and bumps that are appearing under his skin. This started about a week ago.
as of right now he seems okay. Just tired and doesn’t want to do much.
I’m obviously thinking the worst and have canceled everything to be with him the next several days to make sure I’m here 24/7 if he needs me.
I want to add that he just barked at the mailman and that made him cough up more too.
Okay....deep breaths! B R E A T H E.....B R E A T H E..... Do NOT jump to worse case scenarios (we all do though). At this point, and with what you have noted here, there's no reson to "assume" it's mets.
This could be so many treatable things once he gets properly diagnosed. The fact that it came on soooo sid and instantly makes me, first of all, wonder of he coildnjave gotten into "anything" he shouldn't have....... any food, pills, plant, etc?.
Respiratory infection also comes to mind.
I would definitely get him into the Vet to check him over, maybe get some bloodwork, etc. amd get this sorted out
And a good bark at the mailman is always a good sign of a feisty attitude!
(((((((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!
Aww poor guy! I'm sorry, of course it started the first time you left him alone. But this could be sooo many things, like an allergic reaction of some sort.
I know it's sooo hard not to panic and think the worst, I do the same thing sometimes. But I'm with Sally, get him evaluated asap so you can stop making yourself sick with worry. Many times what we fear the most turns out to be something treatable. We are keeping our paws crossed that this is the case. So jot down the symptoms, their duration and frequency, and let your vet know what's going on.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
2 Guest(s)
