Hi and welcome. I would also recommend the 3 Legs & A Spare ebook.

The first 10-14 days can be tough. You might not sleep much. That's normal. Your pup might seem very depressed - that's also normal. They will likely send you home w/ Tramadol or something like it for pain and something for inflammation (maybe Metacam). The meds can mess with their heads and their poop schedule, but best to keep them on the meds while recovering.

Hang in there and come here if you have some specific questions!

Jackie, Angel Abby's mom

Hi Michal,

Zeus also lost his right front leg due to osteosarcoma.  At 11 yrs old and due to a back strain a week after amp, he took a bit longer with his recovery than the two weeks that most pups need.  However since then he has done amazingly well.

Zeus took six rounds of Carboplatin.  From what I have seen on this site, almost every dog deals with the IV chemo differently.  Some have no side effects at all.  Some get more lethargic as the treatments progress (it is cumulative).  Zeus was apparently very sensitive to the Carbo because it would knock his WBC count way down (which is normal) but it took him longer for his counts to recover to the point that he could have the next treatment.  He was initially scheduled for a treatment every three weeks but we had to switch to an every-four-week schedule to let his counts bounce back.  We also lowered the dose of the treatments.  After the sixth/final treatment he got pneumonia due to the WBC counts dropping so low that he got an infection.  Throughout the IV chemo stage, he threw up only once, had diarrhea once, and he would be pretty lethargic on days two through four after the treatment.  After the conclusion of IV chemo, we tried the Metronomic chemo (at home-low does chemo pills) and unfortunately he did not tolerate that well at all, which is very very unusual - he just has an extremely sensitive stomach.

If you do chemo, just remember that you know your dog.  You know what is 'normal' for her.  Although some side effects are expected, if anything seems too out of place talk to your vet and address it before it becomes a problem.  As long as you advocate for her, she will do great.

Good luck with recovery!

Have you tried just putting the meds down his throat, then giving him a treat after? Sometimes they are good at fishing the meds out when they are hidden in something, but if you just poke it down the throat with your finger, and then give a really great treat as a reward, you can hopefully get the meds in him. The meds will help him get his rest.

Jackie, Angel Abby's mom

Daniella,

It is not too uncommon for a degree of restlessness following the surgury. All they really want to do is to return to "normalcy" and there is so very much hindering that process. Cherry had extreme reactions to one of her pain medications - I believe it was the Tramadol. She could not rest and actually went into minor convulsions just hours after taking the medication. Things improved after I took her off that medications, but there were many ups and downs still confronting us. This journey is going to be filled with many ups and downs, but over time you will be able to see a definate improvement. The community often refers to this as the two weeks from HELL.

Keep your positive attitude for Guinnus, give him a reason for fighting buy finding that special something that he can still do during recovery, and rely on this wonderful community to help you with issues as they develop.

Sending all our positive thoughts.

Spirit Cherry & Dad