Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello! Ella is 3 days post surgery and everything is going really well, a lot better than I expected! Before today she hadn't been sleeping and was whining a lot but other than that I am very impressed with her recovery and today Ella has been napping so even that is getting better.
Question- Today I had a little 'nervous' moment and took her back to the vet. She was sitting up in her favorite chair next to the window and I noticed her abdomen seemed to be bloating and was all puffy. She has bandages on her whole torso so I couldn't see her whole stomach but through the bandages is felt swollen. So off to the vet we went and they said she was fine? They explained that it was just fluid and it was probably being pushed down because of the bandages. But it seems strange to me? Has anyone else come across anything like this??
I did peak under her bandages and from what I can see her incision looks fantastic, no blood, not swollen or red and no leaking. The bandages right on her staples even look clean so I'm pretty sure the fluid isn't leaking. Is this a good sign or bad??
Thank you!!
Angie (Ella's mom)
You did great and by taking her to the vet you know there is nothing serious going on. Yeay for you!
Yes, this situation is called a Seroma and it happens to a lot of us. No biggie. See, now that the leg is gone, all that fluid that used to be there is trying to go somewhere else in the body. It will take the path of least resistance though, which is where the incision is (my totally unscientific explanation!). You may need to get it drained in the office if the fluid doesn't reabsorb into the body, but that's about it.
Now, don't forget to B R E A T H E . . .
You done good!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Chloe didn't have swelling, but lots of bruising under the incision site which went away about the time her staples came out. Every amputation is different but I am glad Ella is doing well!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Are all soroma's bad or is that only if they come out through the incision? What is the chance that it will just go away on it's own? The vets didn't meniton anything that this was actually a seroma , should they have taken it more seriously?? I guess I will just keep my eye on it and keep peeking at her stiches! She will be getting her bandages removed Monday so at least the vet will see her again then.
It can be sooo hard not to worry. Ella has been doing so good and I just want to keep it that way!
Angie (Ella's mom)
I don't have any experience with seromas, but what I have read here on other posts is that they usually look worse than they are. The main issue is infection, so keep an eye on how things look (and I know this is kinda gross), but how things smell. If it doesn't reabsorb, and interferes with mobility, than draining may be required. Sadie had a drain tube, I don't know if that played a role in her not getting a seroma . I say trust your vet, and continue to inspect the incision area. Hang in there, sounds like she's doing great!
Hugs and sloppy Sadie kisses,
Lisa & Sadie
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
serenityisadog said:
..should they have taken it more seriously??
The fact they didn't should tell you something. In most cases, fluid gets reabsorbed by the body and the swelling goes away on it's own. We had jerry's drained once. Others have mentioned leakage, and some vets leave a drain in the incision. Did you se the pitures Jerry linked to about seromas gone bad?
Instead of peeking at the stitches frequently, consider helping Ella heal on her own by focussing on her being comfortable Unless she exhibits pain or persistenly licks and scratches at the bandages let them be.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes, I did look at the pictures of the seromas gone bad, Heidi the person who posted those is actually a friend of mine! Her fluid has become worse tonight, she has a BIG pouch in her tummy and she has been panting bad for the last couple of hours which is new. We have to bring her to the vet in the morning to get her bandages off so we will see what they say?? Hopefully they will say that Ella is fine 🙂
Thanks
Angie
Paws crossed for Ella.
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.
Good News! Just came home from the vet hospital to have Ella's bandages removed and the swelling looked at and everything is good! The swelling in her tummy is actually a good sign they said, the bandages kept the fluid down in her stomach and away from her incision which could have caused a seroma . They said that is the point of the bandages and the fluid should disappear soon, we can put ice on it and massage the area. The fluid did cause some skin edema which is nothing to worry about.
Ella's incision sight looks really, really good there is barely any bruising and absolutely no redness etc. I am very happy and relieved and Ella seems to be relieved to have the bandages off- I think they were getting very uncomfortable.
thank you everyone for the help and support! 
Angie (Ella's mom)
Congrats Ella!
Like I said with Chloe, she didn't have fluid swelling, she just had bruising/redness under her incision site. That went away by the time she had her staples removed. Hopefully Ella's body will reabsorb the fluid soon and look less icky. I know Chloe's bruising worried me at first, but the vet assured me it would go away and it did.
Keep resting and recovering Ella!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
serenityisadog said:
...we can put ice on it and massage the area.
FYI: Many members have found Bella's Hot/Cold Pain Relief Pack for dogs to be quite helpful for this.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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