Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Divot's really been doing great. His balance and stamina seem to get better everyday. We have had a little bit of a set back though. He's developed an infection on part of the incision site. It's very red and it is leaking fluid/blood. It's obviously bothering him because he can't get rest for more than 10 min at a time. I took him into the vet and he is concerned, but said for an infection it has things going for it. It's at the lowest point, it's just a skin infection, and there are no pockets of fluid build up. Right now he says we just have to wait it out. Keep giving him his pain and antibiotic meds. Wash the area with ivory bar soap a couple times a day along with a hot pack a couple times a day. We should also keep putting neosporen on it as well. Does anyone have any other ideas? I am very worried about this. I don't want to make it all this way just to have an infection beat us.
Thank you for any and all responses.
Paul and Divot
Hopefully this will be a minor set back in the long run. I've never heard of using ivory soap, I'd rather using an antiseptic like diluted betadine or chlorhexadine, so maybe check with your vet about that? The antibiotics and warm compresses are great.
I would just watch the area closely (as I'm sure you are) to make sure that it seems to be getting better and not worse. If a deeper infection is setting in, you want to address that sooner rather than later. So if it's getting better day by day on the antibiotics... perfect! But if not, don't hesitate to pay another visit to your vet so they can keep on top of it.
Keep us posted!
Right hind limb amputated 7/3/12 for OSA, started on alternating cycles of Carboplatin and Doxorubicin and oral Palladia. Single lung met 9/1. Met in the neck muscle removed 9/30. Large mass in sublumbar lymph node 10/2. Rescue chemo with ifosfamide 10/6. Mets to the rib and axillary lymph node 10/21. Started Leukeran and Pred 10/25. Wookie left this Earth for a far better place on 12/4/12. I miss you, Boo, you were my heart.
We never had to deal with that, so I don't have any advice, but like Wookie's mom says - don't hesitate to have the vet take a look if it starts to seem like it's getting worse.
Sending pawsitive thoughts for Divot!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Try not to worry, many dogs have minor infections like this and all it took was an antibiotic to clear it up. As long as you keep a close eye on it, and contact your vet at the slightest indication of it getting worse, it'll be OK. How's it looking today?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey everyone, finally able to get back for an update. I took Divot to the vet since my last visit and he actually had the Orthopedic surgeon there as a second opinion. He agreed that the infection is superficial and just in the skin. He advised to keep cleaning it regularly with Ivory soap and keep the antibiotic ointment on the incision and gave us a cream for the redness that has a steriod in it. He also had us discontinue the Rimadal (sp?) as that lowers the platelette count and could be causing all the fluid leakage. That was Wednesday. Today, Saturday, it is looking a lot better. The cream has really helped with the majority of the redness. It appears the infection is no long spreading, but staying contained to just the incision area causing it to be extremely swollen. So much so that the back portion of the incision area is effecting his ability to have a bowl movement. We took him into the vet again yesterday think maybe there might be some fluid build up, but the vet couldn't find any pockets of fluid. We just need to keep after it. His appetite is still good so things are looking up. We are keeping him contained because of all the drainage from the incision, and I think that has him a little down. He wants to start moving around on his own more. Hopefully everything keeps healing and we can turn him loose a little in the next day or so.
Thanks again,
Paul and Divot
I can't be of much help about the infection as Sassy didn't get one. But when they removed the stitches she did have a little crusty scab that came off with the stitches and was a little open so the vet gave us a zinc gel to put on it to help promote the healing. Not sure that it would help here. Also if he is having some drainage you can get some of those puppy pads that they use for puppy training and lay under him so it absorbs it and it won't get on the floor or wherever he is laying.
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Well heck that's a pretty excellent update! Sorry he has to be confined though, that's a bummer. Interesting about Rimadyl and platelet count / fluid leakage, I never put those two together.
I hope by this time next week the infection is just a memory. Sounds like that's the way it'll go!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hooray for a good update. Hope he continues to improve!
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
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