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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Dave's Coming Home Today
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Member Since:
18 November 2019
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1
19 December 2019 - 3:39 am
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Dave had his rear left leg amputated at the hip on Tuesday. The vet has been in regular contact with updates but decided he wanted to keep him in a second night rather than send him home yesterday as he was concerned that Dave was a bit wobbly and being such a big dog he wanted him to be more sure and stable on his feet before we brought him home. Dave also has quite severe bruising around the incision site and the vet wanted to monitor that to ensure it's not an indication of anything worse.

The update this morning is that he's eating, drinking and toileting and he was given a short walk outside yesterday and had to be restrained from running round, so he's obviously feeling brighter. The vet said he's coping 'remarkably well', which feels really positive.

They're reducing his meds and as long as he's still comfortable he'll be coming home after lunchtime today.

I'll know more after we've picked him up and I'll be back with updates, and probably lots of questions too, soon.

The journey of recovery begins!

Member Since:
4 April 2019
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19 December 2019 - 8:54 am
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So happy to hear Dave is coming home! Brownie also stayed at the vet for two days because he is such a light weight when it comes to meds.

We are wishing Dave a speedy recovery!

My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019.  With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer.  I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud!  He will live forever in my Heart!

Brownie Bubba Bell

04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020

"March Saint"

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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19 December 2019 - 9:43 am
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Thanks for updating.....and it is, indeed, a good update!!   Eating, drinking, potty, mobile...great news!

Yeah, bigger pups need a few extra days to stand and walk sometimes, especially  while on pain meds.  Sounds  like your Vet is really on top of things.  Yay!

When you go  to pick him up, don't  even bother to look at his decision.   He just wants to see your smiling face telling him what a good boy he is and he's going home!!!

Sloooow snd easy.  He just had major surgery,  he's on pain meds and he's adjusting  to living life to the fullest of three.  Short leashed potty breaks and back to bed for resr. The hospital pajn meds will be out of his system in another day or two, so you may have to tweak his pain meds (with the Vet's direction of course).  

STAY CONNECTED and let us know how things are going.  And we would loooove to have some pictures!

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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19 December 2019 - 11:53 am
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Yaaaay! So glad to hear that things are going well. I'm glad the vet played it safe. A full amputation to the hip is a big deal, so that's good that they were cautious. I'm hoping by the time you read this you and Dave will be having a sweet reunion!

Let us know how things are going. We can't wait for his homecoming!

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

new hampshire
Member Since:
26 June 2019
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19 December 2019 - 3:18 pm
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Wonderful pupdate im so glad to hear that dave is doing well! Eating, drinking and potty are all terrific signs! Dave is lucky to have such an attentive vet and a loving family. Im sure you cant wait to get him home and give him some love!

Keep us updated and let us know if you have questions. 

Hugs,

Bev, Moe cat, autumn angel Roane & angel dog Gypsy 

         Hugs ❤ Bev, nurse Moe cat, Autumn's Angel Roane & Angel dog Gypsy 🐾

My sweet soulmate Roane was diagnosed with osteo in June of 2019. Had a rear leg amp on July 2nd & crossed the rainbow bridge to be with her sister Gypsy on the first day of Autumn Sept 23 2019.

Member Since:
18 November 2019
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20 December 2019 - 1:47 am
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So I've decided my dog is a rockstar! I wouldn't have dared hope he would be doing this well after a couple of weeks let alone a couple of days. I'm trying not to get too excited as I understand they can have a bit of a dip after a few days but it's hard to do that when he's almost his normal self.

He walked to the car unaided and got in and out of the car with minimal help. He also went straight out the garden to toilet unaided when we got home. He's eating and drinking completely normally and is showing no signs of pain. I slept downstairs with him last night but he didn't need me at all and apart from getting up to change sleeping position he was quiet and still.

This is all the more amazing as the vet took him off all the strong painkillers before he came home. He's taking paracetemol and an anti-inflammatory painkiller and that's it. The vet said they can introduce something stronger if he needs it but they try not to as it can affect their stability/mobility. I don't know whether this is my vet's way of doing things or how things are done generally in the UK but so far he's doing really well. They have 24/7 cover so we can ring at any time if we need to and the vet is coming to the house to check him over on Monday.

Dave's always had a really high pain threshold. It just makes me wonder if his leg was more painful than we realised before the operation. He's even sleeping on the side he lost his leg most of the time so it can't be that uncomfortable. All the stitches are underneath him so maybe that's why lying that way isn't an issue.  There's a long way to go, but we can see he's still his happy self and that's all that matters.

Thanks for all the kind messages. I'll update you if there's any changes the weekend or if not, after we've seen the vet on Monday.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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20 December 2019 - 11:21 am
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Yipeee!! smiley_clapDave IS a Rock Star and so are you for handling this like a champ! smiley10smiley16

I'm glad your vet is in close contact and will even make a house call. That's pawesome! I hope the weekend goes smoothly for you both. Try to keep Dave from overdoing it, which sounds like it will be a challenge, but the R&R will pay off in the long run.

Yes, dogs are very good at hiding their pain. It's incredible how much they can tolerate just to hide it from us. Now that he is free of that bad leg, he'll be like an all new doggie.

We are thinking of you guys and sending lots of pawsitivity for an easy recovery.

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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20 December 2019 - 9:39 pm
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GRINNI6 EAR TO EAR OVER HERE!!!😁😁😁   Dave is letting uou kmow how grateful  he is to you for  getting rid of that vum leg for him!😎

Really nice to know your Vet and clinic are basically  just a phone call away.  Do moni for any signs of pain as the hospital  meds get out of his system.  It sounds like he's on two fairly "light weight " pain/anti-inflammatory meds.  They may be all he needs, but if he needs more, don't  be surprised.   Gabapentin  and/or Tramadol  may be added if he shows signs of pain.

I know it's so exhilarating  to see Dave start to be his happy self again...and it only gets better and better!

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:
18 November 2019
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23 December 2019 - 11:16 am
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Just a quick update. The vet came to see Dave today and change his dressing (It's just like a very large plaster really, band-aid I think you'd call it). He's really pleased with how his wound his healing. The bruising has almost completely gone except for where it was worst. 

He's still eating and drinking as normal. We've started introducing his normal food and he seems more settled since - you need a lot of chicken and rice to fill him up after all.

So far so good, we've been really lucky I just hope this continues. Hes almost totally his normal self, he even tried to climb up on the sofa for a cuddle last night - to a chorus of Nos from us.

The vet wants the stitches out next Tuesday. We're also lucky that he's not one to show much interest in his stitches. We don't leave him alone so he only wears the cone of shame at night when we're sleeping, just to be safe.

Time to go, he just got up looking for his food. Will catch up with you all again in a few days. Thanks for listening

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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23 December 2019 - 1:16 pm
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Wow! Wow! And WOW! Dave, you are doing GREAT! smiley_clap

Honestly this is the kind of recovery that we all hope for when a new member goes through amputation surgery. We couldn't be happier for you guys! Thanks for sharing the process with us.

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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23 December 2019 - 8:45 pm
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Delighted to read this update!  I do believe  we can now call Dave a RECOVERY ROCKSTAR!!!😎😎

Thanks so much for giving us all a reason to grin ear to ear today. 😁  Such a great Christmas present 🎅

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:
18 November 2019
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12
1 January 2020 - 2:00 am
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So another quick update. Dave continues to astound as all. We took him to my family Christmas day. He jumped into and out of the car without any help. There are 4 steps up to my mum's house so I was all prepared with the sling to help him up and he ran up and into the house as he always has (8 days post surgery). We spent most of the day trying to persuade him he couldn't go up the garden (many, many steps) no matter how much he wanted to.

His stitches came out yesterday and the wound is looking really good. Today is 15 days post op and I went upstairs this morning to get something and turned around to see him following me. No hesitation, no difficulty at all. He just went straight to my daughter's bedroom door and head butted it asking to be let in as he always used to.

I'm so glad I found you guys. You were so confident he could do well even though the vet had concerns because he's a large dog. He's actually done better than we could have wished for.

When he was in having the operation, my daughter said all she wanted for Christmas was for me to promise he'd be able to sleep on her bed again by her birthday (April). I said I couldnt promise that but we'd do all we could to help him get back to 'normal'. I just never dreamed he could get there so quickly.

Happy New Year all, it's a very Happy New Year here for us.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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13
1 January 2020 - 8:59 am
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Quite frankly, I have a few happy tears of joy! This is the first post I read this morning and it started my New Year off with a huge smile and a great big YAAAAY  FOR. DAVE!!!😁

We are so glad you found this community  too!  It's unsettling to know there are so many out there who didn't  find rhis community  and were told there dog was too big, or too old, for  the chance that amputation  would have given them.  Dave is a shining  example of big dogs, or any dog for that matter,  rockin' on three like an Olympian Champion!!!😎   I have to say, regardless of size, Dave is waaay ahead of rhe curve in his recovery  process!!

I delighted in hearing how he handled all the Christmass festivities  with such abandon  and full out joy!!  Dave is, indeed, still Dave!!!   And to INSIST on being with your little girl...priceless!!!

Now, as great as this update is, we would love to see pictures!!!!

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:
18 November 2019
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14
1 January 2020 - 10:15 am
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I'm not sure if this works, let me know. Below is a link to the photos I've taken during Dave's recovery. They were mainly to monitor the bruising (which was really bad) and wound healing. 

Dave's Recovery

If this doesn't work I'll try posting them another way. 

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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1 January 2020 - 1:30 pm
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What a Happy New Year post!

Dave is a recovery rock star.  I bet you are right in your earlier post- I bet the leg was way more painful before surgery.  We see that here sometimes- as big an surgery as an amputation is the dog feels so much better without the painful leg.

I can see the pictures just fine- he sure is a handsome lad!

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

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