Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well I opted to go to work today to stay busy. Not sure how great of an idea this will really be considering I've already cried twice & I haven't left for the office yet! 🙁 Its hard seeing all her things here & she's not having coffee with me as usual.
She is 9 and very healthy (despite the cancer) so I wish I wasn't so scared that she will not make it through this surgery!! But I am. I am so scared to lose her! How common is it that pets die during this surgery? She has had anesthetic at least twice before in her life & never had a problem. Should I be genuinely concerned or am I over-worrying?
Side note, my husband called the clinic before bed last night and she did end up eating her dinner, most of it actually! and she was just about to go outside again. They said she had settled more & seems less anxious. The girl said she is staring at her right now actually and turning her head to the side lol She was certainly listening! We think she may have even heard Kevin's voice through the phone. 🙂 Anyway that update helped us sleep a little easier, I worry when she doesn't eat. I need her to stay strong for this journey ahead, starting today!
How many hours can I expect until they call with an update that she's done & awake from the anesthetic? Her appt is at 9am they will begin prepping her at 8am. Thanks in advance!
Chris (& Kevin)
Chris, when our Sketchie had his amp surgery we got a call as soon as the surgery was done to let us know that it had gone well with no immediate complications. Then the vet called again once Sketch was awake late in the day. His surgery was early afternoon and by 8pm he was responding to people around him, still a bit spacy, but doing OK. We picked him up at 4pm the following day, hopping out to the car by himself and SO happy to be on his way home. The couple of weeks post surgery were up and down, some days really good and some days he was obviously confused by his new body and in some discomfort. He was on lead outside at all times for the first month but after that life has pretty much returned to normal with only a few limitations. Sketchie will be one year post amp at the end of this month and is a happy boy. loving games of fetch, eating like a piggie and soaking up the love of family and friends. His cancer was fibrosarcoma of the femur bone...a form of bone cancer that is rare (5%) and not as aggressive as osteosarcoma...if no spread amputation is curative.
Your Kylie should do just fine today...she is blissfully under and not worried at all. It is we humans who carry the worry. Many hugs and good wishes.
Trini and my Sketch
Thank You so much Trini!! I am starting to feel a bit better & realizing this is out of our control at this point. So just waiting anxiously for that call. Thanks for sharing your story. I'm wondering if that cancer is what Kylie has?
seems to fit with her scenario, and with it being a slower one. I'd be blissfully happy if this amp surgery cures her. We want nothing more than to have her for several more happy years! Xo
Oh bless you! I just want to give you a hug. You sound so stressed and worried and of course it's entirely understandable. Your baby's in surgery and you're scared. Your love for her shines through.
I don't know all the facts and figures but I do know that while all surgery carries a small element of risk because of the anaesthetic, the point is that this is SMALL. I don't think this information, which I'm sure you know already, will make a great deal of difference. Until you know she has come through okay, you are bound to worry. I think you should call the hospital and ask them when you can expect to hear. No one wants to be pushy, but I'm sure they will understand that you are naturally concerned about your girl. I've spent so much time waiting to hear about Meg after one operation after another. I never wanted to ring in case they thought I was pestering. In the end I did on at least one occasion I remember. It had been hours and I was certain she'd died or something had gone terribly wrong. Turned out they'd had an emergency come in and they hadn't even started her surgery yet. I felt much, much better for knowing.
Please let us know when you do hear. We are here for you and your beautiful girl.
Hugs,
Meg and Clare xx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
I think it was early afternoon when they called me about Murphy. Thankfully work was really busy that day so I didn't have time to worry too much. I don't think it's very common for dogs to not make it through surgery, although it has happened - only once that I can think of off that top of my head since I've been here (over 3 years). It's ok to worry, that's normal ... try to breathe...try not to stare at your phone...try to keep busy...I know, easier said than done!
Tonight, make sure you have rugs, yoga mats, something down on the floors for Kylie. Wash up some t-shirts for her to wear to cover her incision. Get the house ready for her to come home.
You got this!
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
oops! I forgot that Kylie is a rear amputee - usually they put boxer shorts on instead of a t-shirt to help cover the incision! So go pick up some boxers from the thrift store & wash them up 
You put them on with her tale through the fly 
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Sorry, Chris. I got a bit confused re time zones. It's 4.30pm where I am and I was thinking you'd been waiting all day (it probably feels as though you have). Not sure what time it is where you are, but I still don't think it would hurt to call and just get the lie of the land. I LOVE the description of her turning her head, listening to Kevin's voice one the phone.
M&C xx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Thanks ladies! No word yet.. Sigh.
Trini- I looked up Kylie's X Ray report and found the possible diagnoses they gave us.
"Conclusion
1. Aggressive bone of the one femur (85% chance of osteosarcoma, 15% chance of one of chondrosarcoma, fibrosarcoma of bone or hemangiosarcoma of bone"
So there is a chance my girl does have the same fibrosarcoma as your sketch. Here's hoping the amp helps her prognosis immensely.
Clare -I may just have to call soon to check on her! Thanks for the encouragement to do so 🙂
Donna - I wish we could take her home today!! They keep them 48hrs there, so we won't get her home til Sunday. Or MAYBE late Sat. if she is doing great with recovery & medically cleared to go.
p.s. I'm in Ontario, Canada but don't know how to change the timezone!? It says I'm in Denver! Lol It's noon here right now.
Oh and boxers??! I love it! They charged us for a cone already on our bill so I'm assuming they want her to wear that. I don't. 🙁
Hi Chris, Kevin and Kylie!
Just went back a d caught up on your previous posts. You've been given great advice and support
As you can certainly tell, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! We understand the intensity of this journey ike nomothers can! We also understand the depth of love you have for your sweet Kylie and your willingness to do anything ppssible to give her a QUALITY life!
As far as when tne surgeon will call, there are so many varibles to that answer!! Often, the surgery may be put off for a few hrs for an emergency. And you may not even get a call saying the surgery was going to be later! Sooo, a call may be delayed.
So, what can you do in the meantime? Rather than visualize everything "bad", visualize everything good! If you are going to make up scenarios, make up good ones!
There's one other thing you can do! EAT CHOCOATE!!! Lots and lots of CHOCOLATE!
When you go pick Kylie up, don't even bother looking at her incision site! Just look sstraight into her happy eyes and smooch her mug and tell her what a good girl she is!!
,Much love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
Ih, just saw your post while I was tying mine.
My Happy Hannah never bothered her incision so she never had to wear the cone. Some don't, some do, some just off and on.
She also didn't have any "covering"...some do, some dont.
Also, for now, just keep things chunked down I to small bites. Focus on the homecoming and getting through the ups and downs of recovery. The type, the treatment, etc, can all be dealt with later, not now.
Rememw, all Kylie wants is to be pain free and home and soaking up loving and spoiling non-stop!
Hugs!!
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!
Chris - I think if you go to your profile you can change it - your profile box is inside the yellow box where Kylie's picture is.
I'm in SE Michigan, so not too far from you.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
If I remember correctly it took longer than I figured for a call back. Don't think I got a call back till like 4:00 on a 9:00 surgery. I think a lot determines how many surgeries they've got to do and when your surgeon takes time off to call. I do remember stressing more and more as time went by thinking to myself don't they know I'm worried here? Try not to stress and if you can't take it any longer just call for an update. I'm sure tons of people do that you certainly won't be the first 😀
I just called & found out she is just going into surgery now. Supposed to be 9am but they must have had an emergency come in. They did warn that this happens often. So they have just prepped Kylie & put her under anesthetic now and she's tolerating it well. The surgeon will call us when Kylie is all done & recovering. So probably not til later this evening. So the wait continues!! But we do feel a sense of relief now knowing that the reason they hadn't called wasn't because of bad news. And yes we figured out the time zone change thanks everyone!
I'm so pleased you called them, Chris. Well done. No point fretting needlessly. Now you know where you are, and soon you will have your Kylie back where she belongs xx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
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