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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Evie is looking depressed and I am feeling helpless.
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Member Since:
11 January 2022
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18 January 2022 - 9:42 am
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Worried

Thank you so much for responding... I am trying to learn how to use the forum.  Accidently tagged on and apologize.  Evie went to emergency vet on Saturday on 1/15/22 because she had not urinated in five days.  When she was placed on the gurney to go into hospital, she urninated. The emergency doctor was concerned about her nerves to bladder. They did xrays and ultrasound, could not find anything wrong near bladder. They also xrayed her chest. They sent her back to ortho surgeon who had done amputation to suture incision that had broken for over an inch in length. It was a deep opening.  Doctor had to anthetize, open her completely back up, clean out infection and then suture her back. These sutures looked so much better then the original sutures from amputation. Honestly those looked like sewing I did when I was a teenager. There is much less weeping of fluid from the new suturing. The cost was another 750.00 over the 2400.00 for the amputation. The test done at the emergency vet was 525.00.  I have four other senior dogs and really stretching dollars. Evie has been able to stand for a little while today,, able to take a few steps. She will or cannot squat to pee or poop.  She has a huge bowel movement while on her side last night.  I am trying to learn how to help express urine through palpatation viewed on YouTube but so far no luck. We had a huge snow strom over the weekend and I am snowed in. Evie is looking depressed and I am feeling helpless. Any suggestions greatly appreciated 

Pamela 

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18 January 2022 - 2:10 pm
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FYI folks, here is the link to where Pamela posted before in Buster's topic. I started a new topic all her own here after she asked for help in messaging.

Evie has been able to stand for a little while today,, able to take a few steps. She will or cannot squat to pee or poop.  She has a huge bowel movement while on her side last night.  I am trying to learn how to help express urine through palpatation viewed on YouTube but so far no luck. We had a huge snow strom over the weekend and I am snowed in. Evie is looking depressed and I am feeling helpless. Any suggestions greatly appreciated 

Pamela, I'm glad you took her back to the vet. Sorry for the extra stress and expense, I know it can't be easy. You are handling this though, and so is Evie, and soon it will be behind you. For now, focus on taking things one day at a time. 

It does sound like she is making progress. She couldn't even stand or walk the other day right? If she is now, celebrate! Those tiny steps add up!

What pain medication is she on? How much and how often? Could she be so zonked out that she is not able to balance or move around? 

 When trying to express her bladder, are you doing it when she is laying down or standing? Here is a helpful video:

Be careful when trying and don't try too hard. You don't want to rupture her bladder, which can happen when too much force is used.

Remember, Evie may appear that she is depressed, but part of that is coming from the added exhaustion of what she has been through. She needs to rest and stay calm right now. If that's what she is doing, that's a great way to help her heal.

You might be snowed in but you are not alone. Feel free to call the Tripawds Helpline anytime 844-TRIPAWD. One of us will call you back as soon as possible. 

And you are doing a great job in the Forums, keep it up!

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

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18 January 2022 - 2:13 pm
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And this is what Sally had to say in the other topic. She was typing it as I was responding to you. But don't worry, you can reply to her over here. 

benny55 said
First of all, soooo reliefed you checked back in!!!  I saw Jerry's response and then, when didn't  hear back, was quite worried.

Don't  worry about where you ppst for now, Jerry can help you woth that later.  The important  thing right now is thst you ATAY CONNECTED!!!  

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!  We can hopefully help you navigate through this rough recovery and onto better days ahead!!!

I'm so sorry you have had to deal with all these hurdles.  It does sound  like the original incision  and the follow up you got (before the ER visit), could have been better and more thorough and I'll leave it at that.  Although the surgery was done  by an Orthopedic Surgeon, more attention needed to be paid to the drainage,  the opening and the infection!  Geez!  No wonder you were worried and exhausted and overwhelmed.   And to do it by yourself while caring for other seniors....you clearly  are stronger than you realize!!!   

So your Surgeon  needs to follow up with you.  He needs to give you an explanation  why he has taken so long to urinate.  Were all the preliminary  work ups clear showing no issues?  

Did the Surgeon send you home with antibiotics??  And pain meds???

Usually dogs come home with Gabapentin,  an a antibiotic and an a inflammatory  like Rimadyl.  What you are seeing as "depression" quite often is a pain sog al.  So when you can, please update us on her pain management ,  okay??

Di you pup spend at least one night at the Vet?  Most don't  send them home at least until they urinate  and stand assisted.

Not now, but maybe you can discuss  with the Surgeon  you would like a possible refund of at least a big discount,  on the second suturing.

Is Evie drinking and eating on her own?  Pooping may be I freq for now, but, as you know, the urination  is important.   

What did the Surgeon say reason for not urinating  and did he say bring her back after "X" number of hours if she didn't  urinate?  It's not easy trying to express a bladder and van actually  cause harm if not done right.  

Important ...did the Surgeon  do a culture of the infection and send it off?  That can best determine  the antibiotic  needed, as well as eliminate  MRSA .  So have them give you an answer on that, okay??

Don't  mean to  ask so many questions,  but your answers can help us help ypu!

You DO have some things to cele that ARE victories  and ARE improvements!!!

You DO have poopiconpoopicon  Even if it was on her side, it counts as a victory!!!!  YAY FOR poopiconpoopicon

And Evie IS standing and IS taking a few steps!  HUGE VICTORY!!   

I know to be dealing with snow on top of everything  else is making everything  so difficult!

Do you have a friend who could bring some puppy pads and who could maybe help you take her outaide??  She may piop and pee in her bed for now, but that's  okay.

If you are having to use a sling to try and take her outside she may just freeze and refuse to try and potty.  Many dogs will do that with a sling?  

Do not hesitate to email the Surgeon  or call!  You would like an answer on the urination  situation.  

Evie, and you, have both been through a lot!!  This is MAJOR surgery....then infection... then another surgery..and probably  not proper pain management .....so recovery  will take longer.

You are doing an exce job!  Stay the course and, again, STAY CONNECTED !!!  You can never give is too many updates at this point, okay???

You need to take care of you too, okay???  You have to be exhausted  emotionally  and physically, as well as sleep deprived and full 0f so much worry.

You ARE on the right path now, okay?     Fet some sleep!!  Eat and you need to stay hydrated too, okay???  This kind of stress can take a toll×

We'll look for more updates and answers to the questions

((((((((Hugs)))))))

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

And you do jave scatter rugs for traction ???

  

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

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18 January 2022 - 4:39 pm
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Hi Sally, 

Thank you greatly for your suggestions.  I don't thing she did a culture on the bacteria. MRSA , yes, major concern.  She is no longer showing any infection symptoms on these new sutures. 

She is on Gabapentin 300 mg Bid and Piroxicam 10 mid one time a day. She is also on Enrofloxicin 136 mg chewable as antibiotic.  Also a powder added to her food (Stasis Breaker). There is a lot to say about Stasis Breaker https://frankli.....-tumors/ 

I've been encouraging her to pee by lifting her up with a padded sling and trying to palpetate her bladder but not getting anywhere with this. She seems to enjoy it though. Once she saw the snow outside she didn't want to step out onto the back porch where I was hoping she would squat in the soft snow and pee. 

I have been so lucky to have the past three days off from work because of the weather but have to go back tomorrow.  I'm calling the clinic where she had surgeries in the morning to see if I need to take her in again to catheterize.  The emergency doctor who was also an  oncologist was worried that it was nerve damage to her bladder. 

I'm hoping she will will pee tonight. On top of everything, new hot water heater went off, according to hot water repair, seems to be a short in the breaker or in the line. So have to call electrician in the morning. And I have two other senior dogs who need to be seen. I think this is why I feel discouraged and lost. 

The doctor who saw her at the emergency clinic is not working now and the clinic she had surgery is closed due to weather. 

I will be back as soon as I can. Hoping Jerry will see this too.  

Thank you, thank you!!! 

Hugs 

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Virginia



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18 January 2022 - 5:09 pm
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Okay....no more Murphy's Law going on over there!  Time for Murphy to move on!!  And now the hot water heater too???  Ugh!!

It'll probably dom you a little bit of good to get out of  the house tomorrow and let work distract you a bit from everything.   And hopefully you jave some jot water at work to at least warm your hands!

Justt try and keep things chunked down.  Your other seniors, while needing to be seen at the Vet, sound like that could be put on the back burner for a few days?? 

So probavly the only thing you need to focus on right now is getting the pee thing figured out.  Did the ER Vet say why he thought it was nerve damage and why not would come on so suddenly?? I can cert understand why she has no desire to go the snow and cold and pee!

So how often is the 300 mg Gabapentin given ?  Three times a day?And yeah, the Statis Breaker is good!

Okay Evie!  We're all waiting to do the HOPPY pee dance!!!

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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19 January 2022 - 10:57 am
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Hey Pamela, how's it going today? Any better with Evie? Your other dogs? Oh gosh and that water heater! I also hope Murphy has moved along! Geez when the universe throws everything at us all at once it can feel so overwhelming. Just do your best like you are doing, you can get through these hurdles and put them behind you.

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

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