Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Just thought I would update you on Kassee's progress. I was hoping to bring her home today, but unfortunately she is still at vet's office. She had some bleeding after the op and the vet says she has a pocket of blood (hematoma sp?) under the incision site which is a bit oozy. He prefers for her to stay at least another night. He's frightened it might rupture if she comes home and is too active. He says she is acting fine, goes outside to use the bathroom and is eating. I am to call in the morning, but to be honest I have made the decision to bring her home then. I cant see the point of her sitting in a crate over the weekend at the vets office. What do you guys think? Anybody else dealt with this. she had the surgery wednesday afternoon, so it is only 48 hrs. The vets is the one used by our rescue group and unfortunately a 50 mile trip for me so I wouldnt want to bring her home only to rush her back. If there was an emergency over the weekend, I would have to use an emergency vet which of course I dont want to do as rescue funds are limited. Should I leave her there all weekend?
I have set up a playpen for her in the kitchen area, with a foam bed and lots of quilts. Its right by the back door so I can take her outside easily. There are a couple of steps down to the grass but they are shallow. I have chicken and rice and eggs all ready though it sounds like shes eating the vet kibble.
Gosh, now I dont know what to do. Im so disappointed she couldnt come home today.
lesley said:
I cant see the point of her sitting in a crate over the weekend at the vets office.
Definitely not. If they do not have 24 hour care, with someone on site to watch her you (and she) would be much better off having her home. I'd rather risk a trip to the emergency vet than have no one there to check on her. Best wishes bringing her home. Thnaks for the update!
PS: Post-op swelling and fluid buildup is perfectly normal. Even if it seeps out, there is no need for immediate concern unless it is obviously bloody.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Although I would normally recommend leaving her at the vet longer, I would definitely not leave her in a place where no-one is around at night. I recall one person asking or paying a vet tech to spend the night
If it has been 48 hours and she is okay except for a seroma (sp), it is probably fine to bring her home. They can handle stairs better than you would think, sigh, sometimes far too easily when they shouldn't. A couple of steps should not be an issue and I assume you have a sling or can use a towel (if you can keep up with her)
Ooo. I just saw your comment about distance. Is there any way they can provide a staff person at night. That is a tough call. But I hate leaving a dog at an unattended vet overnight. I still would bring her home IF that is the only option.
I feel like Kassee belongs to all of us!
You sound like an awesome foster mom, and little Kassee is so fortunate you found her. Tripawds steal your heart like no other animal can, you will be amazed at how quickly she attaches herself to those heartstrings. Recovery isn't a lot of fun, but it only lasts a couple of weeks and then sweet Kassee will be on her way to a great new life. Stay close, us old timers will keep you headed in the right direction 😉
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 agree that if there is no overnight care I would bring her home. However, if they have overnight care, 24 hours, not just someone checks on her every few hours, I would probably let her stay because of the distance. Sounds like you have everything in hand. Good luck Keep us posted.
Debra & Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
There is nothing like being at home with your Mommy when you don't feel good. It is the best medicine!!
Gineej & Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
Lesley & Kassee,
We can see that this one realy is a hard call. Luckily, Cherry did not have any complications with the surgery. Our oncology, surgery, and an emergency center all share the same facility. (Actually, they are the same organization.) This meant that after surgery, Cherry was kept at the same place as for the emergency care facility. Thus, there was someone round the clock checking on her. The worst that I have ever had was when my two Standard Poodles suffered torsion, and had to be shuttled between an emergency facility for overnight care, and the diagnostic vet in charge of their recovery. Twice daily, I made the twenty five mile trip (one-way) to personally shuttle them between the two facilities to help keep all spirits up.
I fully understand your wanting to abide by the desires of the vet and letting Kassee stay another night. As I said, it is realy a hard call. Be sure to push so that Kassee is seen by someone during the night. If not, then you may just want to bring Kassee to the foster home where there will be a set of eyes if necessary.
Bob & Cherry
I agree with the others. If they do not have 24-hour care, I would take her home. Someone on this site (I forget who...sorry!) paid a tech to stay at the clinic overnight...would this be an option? When things go wrong at home, it can be pretty scary. 3 days after surgery, Jack woke up screaming in the middle of the night and we ended up taking him back to the vet for supervised bed rest for a couple days. I wish we would have left him at the vet longer the first time. I can't wait to hear more about Kassee!!!
<3 Laura and Jackers
Kassee did not get to come home today — unfortunately she has a bad infection with swelling and pus around the incision site. The vet thinks she may be having a reaction to some internal stitches? Anyone know anything about that? So he went back into the site today and flushed it all out and now she has a drainage tube and is on antibiotics. Yesterday he said he didnt want to put a drainage tube in as he thought the swelling would go down by itself. Poor Kassee. He said she needs to stay at the office so they can monitor her temperature and output of the drainage. He said it will be wednesday til the tube can be removed. I have no experience with this. Is a drainage tube something I could cope with? I so want to bring her home on monday if shes not got any worse. She has been at the vets since last monday as he was observing her to see if she was a candidate to go the orthotic route. He thought not so was to amputate tuesday but then they had an emergency so it was put off until wednesday. I didnt know she would have to be there so long. I have been fostering her for 4 weeks, while we tried physical therapy and steroids and I fed her good food as she was so skinny. She must think she has been abandoned again. Hes a great vet and he has looked after all our rescue dogs, I just hope he has enough experience with this kind of thing. Guess its too late now!
Lots of members have mentioned drainage tubes being used. If you're not to squeamish, it should be no problem. Jerry didn't have a tube, but we did have the vet drain his seroma once which was pretty yucky! Best wishes to you and Kassee
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh bummer. Poor baby. At least this is probably better in the long run than if you got her home and then found out about a bad infection. That would have been pretty scary, especially considering the commute to the vet.
I certainly know what it's like to worry that your pup might think she's been abandoned again. I avoided ever boarding Yoda anywhere because I hated the thought that he might think he was back in a shelter again. But then, I even got anxious about leaving him with my folks - so I was a bit ridiculous. But hey, the vet reported to you that Kassee was eating and her tail was waggy after the surgery, right? She must know she's only there to be taken care of! Either way, when she sees you coming to take her home, all will be well again (for both of you).
Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide
Just thought I would let you know that Kassee came home this afternoon. The vet called this morning and said she was doing much better, no temperature and swelling had gone down a bit, and as long as I could deal with the drainage tubes, I could bring her home. After living on this great site all weekend, reading all the blogs/posts, I felt like I was as prepared as I could possibly be.
Heard Kassee's tail wagging in the crate before I even got back to where she was... sweet Kassee, so happy to see me and that tail just wagging non stop. The vet showed me what I should do with the tubes, and one promptly fell out. Thank goodness that happened at the office and not at home! He left it out so of course have to deal with a 'hole' that is leaking more than I had expected. Have already been through several tee shirts. I was surprised how good the incision looked - again the pictures I had seen had prepared me and of course we are 5 days post amp. There is a lot of swelling and fluid. I wish she didnt have the tubes, thats hard to look at. Shes on pain meds, anti inflamatory and antibiotics. But she's eating great -- and going to bathroom just fine. I had cooked chicken and liver but she gobbled down her kibble so I will keep that for tomorrow.
One bad thing is the e-collar. That is driving her nuts and shes banging it against the puppy playpen which I put around her bed area. Shes shaking her head and trying to bite it. I think its bothering her more than the amputation! I tried taking it off while I was just lying down with her but she immediately started licking at the wound/tubes so I put it back on. I am scared to take it off in case she takes out the tubes. Shes been wearing it the last 5 days at the vets office so I would sort of thought she would be used to it by now. She goes back to vets on wednesday to take out the tubes and then saturday to remove the staples. Shes very restless tonight, panting and moaning and shes drinking so much water. Im assuming I dont need to restrict her water, I will just take her out for more pee breaks I guess. Im hoping she will settle tonight, but Im prepared if she doesnt. Tomorrow I will let her see my 3 dogs, but it was late getting home and I know shes going to want to try and play with them. Shes been on total bed rest at the vets office so i want to make sure she doesnt over exert herself too soon. Another thing Ive learned from posts here.
Thank you all again for the information and support and for everyone taking the time to pass on their experiences - it really does help.
Too bad she needs the collar. A t-shirt works with some dogs (just having something contact the skin seems to be enough), but with the tubes it may not be sufficient. There are some nice soft versions of e collars on the web, and Jerry posted links to these a while ago so you could search the forums . But it might not come soon enough.
It is great to hear that Kassee is thumping her tail in your home once again.
Susan & Tazzie 2
One bad thing is the e-collar. That is driving her nuts and shes banging it against the puppy playpen which I put around her bed area. Shes shaking her head and trying to bite it. I think its bothering her more than the amputation!
Great! Perfect for taking her mind off her major surgery.
Don't look at it as you lost a leg, Kassee, but that you gained friendly, magic head shield! 
Easy for me to say. Yoda was pretty much "whatever" about his cone. It bugged me more than it bugged him, I think. Though eventually it did feel like he was purposely scraping it against the wall rather than accidentally. Just to share the annoyance, perhaps. So giving.
Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide
Actually, it sounds like you are making great progress after a large number of set backs. The e-collar is much better than the alterternative of having stitches removed too quickly like my Sandy used to do. I feel pretty lucky with Cherry. Once she started to lick a sore area so I placed the e-collar on with the statement to her that it would remain on if she would not leave this clearly itching area alone. An hour later I removed the e-collar and she never touched the area again. Think that she understood what I was saying? After eleven years, its about time I talked Poodle!
Keep on moving forward Kassee and great job of hanging in there Lesley.
Bob & Cherry
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