Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone.. So Cody has his amputation last Friday... We have noticed the past few days that he seems to be shivering ... we are wondering if he could just be cold because as we all know, they get a lot of fur shaved away. We live in Ohio and have had a really cold winter (as a lot of people have!) and our apartment is a little drafty... Any suggesting on how to keep him warm? He has a sweater but I am reluctant to put it on him because he still has the sutchers in and anything near them freaks me out. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!
Cody and Family
Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.
Hi Angela, thanks for posting here, your future posts won't require approval.
I'm sure your instinct is right and Cody is just cold. Does he have any other odd behaviors like not eating, anxiousness or stuff like that? If not it's probably just a matter of being chilly. I think a sweater would be fine, we used during recovery in our drafty house and it was fine, nothing got stuck to the stitches. I think he'll be OK.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Cody could just be cold. Does he like to cuddle? If he does, maybe he can cuddle up next to you (and/or under a blanket) to stay warm :-).
His amputation wasn't that long ago. I wonder if maybe he's shivering either from pain, or maybe pain meds? Or could he be running a fever? If you know how to take his temperature you can easily check to see if his temperature is elevated.
Carol
Yeah, I was thinking maybe pain related too.
Love his avatar picture! Cody is a very photogenic boy!
Sonds likehe's doing very well for tis earlyon and thatis great news! You may have a few moreups and downs, but once his sparkle comes back full time.....sooooooo great!!
Sending you lots of hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Thanks everyone... I don't think he being "odd" otherwise. His eating has been a little off the past few days, like he only eats half then has the other half later on in the day.. So he is still getting the same total amount of food, he's been drinking like a champ and pooped ALOT last night! He hasn't been anxious I don't think, maybe a little but I could be paranoid. He does shy away when you try to look at his wound, but my hands are always freezing and I would assume it's still a little tender being only 7 days out? He also doesn't seem to want to get up sometimes, but he does even if its reluctantly. I hope he's not in pain! The wound looks good (no redness, swelling, heat, or discharge). And he doesn't shiver constantly... just for periods of time. He also got much better sleep last night than before.
Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.
I was worried about Shelby getting cold post-amp (she's a rear amp and that part of her body felt really cold to the touch) but she would lay in front of the heater or on blankets. Maybe warm some blankets out of the dryer? We live in LA so full disclosure, it doesn't get that cold here BUT it does get damp/chilly by the beach where we live! 🙂
The shaking might also be due to the drugs ... it's still really early in the recovery. I would keep an eye on it but it's probably part of the recovery! Good luck!
Alison and Shelby
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Sounds like things are on track for a good recovery, all his other behaviors sound great!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I would try the sweater but put a cotton tee shirt on under the sweater so it doesn't catch on the stitches. Often a standard adult tee will fit a medium to large dog. Put the neck over Cody's head and his forelegs into the sleeves. It'll be horribly baggy in some places but it would do the job.
Or try this one, which is made especially for post op use in dogs:
Sweet Cody seems to be doing everything rightminnthe "range of normal" for this earlymin recovery! And YAY for good poops!! Rest is the best thing formhim now. So as long as he gets up...even reluctantly..and does his "bidness", eating, drinking...all sounds good.!
My Happy Hannah's site looked horrible the first week or two! The fact that Cody's isn't all bruised or realky swollen is good! And sleeping pretty good already too? Yeah, that's a biggie!
And the crowd roars...We want more pictures of Cody!! His avatar picture is just a tease! He looks so happy and so sweet!
Keep these good reports coming! You are doing a great job!! This time roght now "ain't no picnic", but his sparkle will be backin full force soon! Bigger and brighter than ever!!
Sending hugs snd love!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
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