Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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JD had his right front leg amputated yesterday for histiocytic sarcoma. I was told surgery went great mild blood loss, received Dilaudid through the night once and this morning once. Since I was told the major concern would be pain control post op I was able to have injectable Dilaudid brought home ( I think because I'm a nurse), and I drove the two hours home even though the surgeon suggested I stay in the city in case of complications.
We got home he was doing great I already had a harness for him so put that on him went outside to pee. He got up to eat and was doing good was feeling week so I held him up he slipped and fell on his wound. There was blood every where and it was bleeding if there was no pressure applied. After getting a hold of the vet on call she just said pressure and ice. A friend came over after applying a lot of pressure and ice we managed to change the dressing, luckily I had all the same supplies at home from a foster dog's injury. Its stopped bleeding but there is a ton of fluid around his belly, and I"m a little worried about this, the surgeon never mentioned this. Anyone else have this problem?
I feel like this is way harder than I expected and I'm way over my head.
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Jodi, welcome. We are sorry we had to meet you under these circumstances, we know how ruff it is.
I'm thinking that maybe this is a seroma ? We have a lot of info here about seromas and fluid leakage. But I would definitely keep your vet in the loop about what's going on.
You CAN do this, you are not over your head, it just feels like it. We are here to help however we can. I'm glad you are in the chat right now talking to everyone!
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Oh wow, I feel your pain! Tonight is Kermit's second night home (he was hospitalized for 2 nights though) and he's sitting here in the bedroom whining. After yesterday & last night I was feeling exactly the same way but today he was SOOO much better that I'm incredibly relieved... though I wish I had ordered the harness ahead of time!!
Kermit is also a right front amp and he has quite a bit of fluid from his chest down behind the incision and it's quite red underneath his chest as well. I figure with as many times as he plops to the ground & lands on it it's going to be fluid-filled and bruised.
The bleeding would concern me but as a nurse I'm sure you can recognize what's problematic & what's not... I assume the incision is holding?
Believe me, the difference over the next couple days is HUGE. Kerm is so heavy that yesterday when I kept having to carry him in & out of the house I almost fell down several times with both of us and was so afraid I'd hurt him! But I just keep cheering him along & telling him what a big, brave badass he is and being as pawsitive as I can and he's improving by leaps & bounds.
TRY to be optimistic that everything will improve soon, despite how bleak it seems now. 
dharma, did you try splitting a canvas shopping bag up the sides and using it as a sling? It helped us for the first couple of days. I'm glad Kermit is improving!
I'm sorry JD had to stumble like that. I know that's hard to watch. It sounds like you've got it under control now. It WILL get better. So many people here thought they made the biggest mistake ever right after surgery. It's an adjustment period for both of you. JD will figure it out, I promise.
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
And btw, can you call your vet clinic during the night? Sometimes it helps to just hear someone who deals with this sort of thing all the time tell you that your experience is normal. I've gotten a lot of reassurance from the "nurses".
I tried a bag but it wasn't stiff enough... I use a pillowcase split open now & it's much better. Mostly I'm there just in case. He hates when I have any pressure on it if he doesn't need it.
edit: that sounded pretty stupid, my pillowcases aren't stiffer than canvas! But the pillowcase is more "adjustable". 
Jodi,
You might want to wait on using the harness until you have the staples/sutures removed. The harness can rub and cause problems until this area is healed.
With Jake, I just let him figure out by himself how to correctively balance himself. I basically followed him when he moved about, but let him figure it out. He did fumble, but not much.
I would suggest you make things a bit easier for him. Pick a "recuperation" area not far from where he goes to the bathroom. Bring food and water into the space for feedings. Place the bowls on the floor.
You are not in over your head and you are not alone.
So last night went ok, not great not bad. He woke up at 1:30 uncomfortable so instead of just leaving it I gave him an injection of Hydromorphone and he slept until 630-7 when I gave him Toradol. He's not a morning dog so I figured he was in pain.
I have the harness (its actually from his back pack he already had so very convenient) on him but don't really use it is just there in case I don't have a towel handy which I've been using. He went up the stairs last night with my help with the towel and then down this morning with my help its seven stairs. This morning I was brushing my teeth he got off his couch (yes he has his own couch he's spoiled) and came up the stairs by himself to see me!
I fed him raw elk this morning with tripe and another med hidden in that. He was recluctent to eat for whatever reason but ended up finishing it. He hasn't drank much water I have even added chicken broth, so that's concerning me.
Going to the bathroom is the tricky part I helped him outside we were standing there when I car drove my and he ran and chased it along the fence (bad habit he's always done) then wouldn't let me help him he went and peed on his own, I know he wants to lift his leg but hasn't figured out if he is able to do that yet, hasn't had a poop yet.
He went on the couch to look out the window and do his security job of barking at snow flakes and what not. His wound started to bleed so now I have some pressure and ice (thanks to the harness) on it.
I feel that he is upset at what I did to him, I haven't seen his tail wag and he just gives me a look like what did you do. And he wants to be independent he wants to act like he did before and I think he's getting frustrated that he's having some troubles. Anyone else have those issues with their dogs?
Your dog is doing STAIRS?? Chasing cars? Peeing by himself? Getting on the couch??!! I was ecstatic to see Kermit maneuver his ramp by himself & pee on his own about every third try without doing a faceplant into a bush! (4 days post-amp!) Your dog sounds like he's doing GREAT!
The fact that he's not tail-wagging is minimal compared to the fact that he's still willing to do things like chasing a car (admittedly not good for him but still, part of his routine) and bark out the window. That's part of his personality and he's showing it; that's wonderful!
Don't project human emotions onto him. A dog doesn't care how many legs he has as long as he can get where he wants to go without pain. So he might be frustrated, but he's not blaming you. Heck, he doesn't even know you had anything to do with it!
As awful as it is for me to watch Kermit fall on his face or not be able to get on the furniture (yet), when I look at him I can tell he's in SO much less pain than before the surgery that it's worth a temporary struggle for long-term comfort. When he falls down I cheer him back on, "Oh, come on you silly dawg, no resting on your face, it's time to go inside & get a cookie", and I haul him back up to his feet & cheer him back into the house. And he hops back in and gobbles them down with a wag.
He also isn't really eating his meals but with all the treats & the meds hidden in chicken I figure he's getting enough food.
Your dog is doing wonderfully & you're doing everything you need to... you should be very proud of both of you!
(still not sure about the bleeding; Kerm's shoulder looks like the stitching would hold a saddle together- is the blood very serous & just weeping through or has it popped open a bit somewhere?)
I hope you won't be offended, but I think you are taking things way too fast. This dog just had major surgery. It is rare (if ever) that they are up to running, jumping, and stair climbing in the first 2 days and you've already had a major complication, if you don't dial it back a couple of notches there will be more.
Yes, you have to allow them to adapt and continue their lives, but they don't have to do it in the first week.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
I totally agree with hugapitbull. Please take it slow and help JD slow down. I would recommend making a space in one room, near the yard with comfortable blankets on the floor. JD will do anything to please you including overexerting himself. Give it 7 - 10 before expecting regular behavior.
My Happy Hannah is eleven days out of rear leg amp. and believe me, your guy is way ahead in the recovery game. I agree with the others, he really needs to slow down a bit. This is major surgery and even though they are figuring out the three legged routine, the recovery. An be rougher on some than others. The tail wagging has just now started to become the sign of happiness and joy that I've been waiting for....it's happening more often now.. She still won't drink just plain water. Has to have it mixed with ice cream! I'm committed to good nutrition - just not at this moment! As soooooooooo many others have coached me stay calm, be patient, recovery will happen at different paces for every dog.
You are doing a great job.. Stay connected to this site when you need a shot. of courage. Nothing like the tripawd team!
You are not alone and you will adjust to the "new normal" and so will he.
Sallly 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, and I am attempting to keep him calm and not running around. I had let go of him in the yard that's why he chased a car, and he's always one to be on the couch barking at things going by I even moved the couch away from the window and closed the drapes so he couldn't see out and he still jumped up. I haven't pushed him to do anything, I prefer him to be laying and sleeping and if it continues where he is doing too much he will be hanging out in his crate. I helped him up the stairs last night and would have stopped if I felt he couldn't have done it but he made it no issues.
The incision is stapled so I'm not worried about it opening and the fluid is sero-sang. I spoke with the vet on call today and she said its not often that it happens with the fluid but it does happen. I realize the fluid now has to go somewhere and what won't be absorbed is going to drain. The only thing I have pushed him to do his eat and pee. He's got a high pain tolerance and I guess the meds are effective that's why he feels he can move around ok.
don't know if seroma
(sp?) fluid build up is same thing JD has but Hannah had fluid pocket size of tennis ball for days (seemed like years)__finally going away with just little "bulge" now--never did seep though. Mr. j
JD may still be high on hospital drugs and may slow his own little fiesty self down when it all gets out of system. Also forgot to mention in earlier post Happy Hannah didn't like sling at all even though it would have been better for her. Sounds like your boy is having an exceptional recovery and I know he feels your love and support.
Best to you, Sally and Happy Hannah---------One more thing--JD won't associate you doing anything at all to him but I bet he won't like the vet anymore!! I questioned my decision a million times before and a million times after but I always know I'm doing what I think is best for Hannah with the few tough choices we are given are given as options
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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