Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello again,
Our Charlotte had a feeding tube put in on 9/5, because she wouldn't eat after her amputation. She is a week and a half out from her amputation. We are 800 miles away on a trip while she stays at the vet, so the vet is calling me daily. He tells me she is stable, so I feel she is not progressing. Shouldn't she be getting at least somewhat better day by day? I am so upset, as she was healthy and happy in every way, other than the tumor recurring, and it was still tiny. Now I wonder if she will make it. Does anyone else have experience with this? Is this normal for no obvious progress?
Well, for now, will take stable as a good thing. I know from other scenarios on here sometimes it takes several days with the feeding tube to to start to turn things around.
I'm sure they've done complete blood work up, However it wouldn't hurt to ask again if just to ensure that there were no signs of any other issues, like kidney, liver etc.
I would also ask again about her fever just to confirm that that infection has cleared up.
I can only imagine you're frustration. I wish I had some answers for you as this does seem completely and totally unexpected after the surgery.
I'm glad the vet is checking in Daily with you. At least you know they are definitely keeping an eye on things. I would ask the questions on that noted above though.
Hopefully with all the treatments they are giving her she will start to perk up. She didn't get this way overnight and it may not be an immediate instant fix. Sending prayers and positive thoughts for improved healing!
((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))
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!
Marlene, I know how worried you are right now, I would be too. It does sound like Charlotte is getting excellent care and the staff is being good about checking in with you. Stable is a good thing! And also keep in mind that recovery is not a linear process. There will be ups and downs and it's not the same for everyone. Some pets do experience a situation like this, some don't. All you can do is your best right now to stay strong and know that you are giving her the vet care she needs to get well.
We are sending tons of love and pawsitivity your way!
I am at the end of my rope. This abscess below her suture line that they have been treated now is looking necrotic, and the vet is going to have to go back in and clean it up - which means Charlotte has to be sedated again. She has been on antibiotics, and they cleaned it and drained it when she came in. They did a culture, but the results still aren't back. Seriously. What the heck? A board certified surgeon came in to do her surgery. It should have went smoothly. The only good news today was that she finally had a bowel movement.
Okay, I'm glad they did a culture. That is very important in identifying the correct antibiotic needed for specific infections (ie MTSA, etc).
Well this is no comfort whatsoever, we do see infections and the necessity to go back in and clean out the necrotic areas. Again, I know that doesn't ease your stress other than to know it does indeed happen.Hopefully the culture will come back quickly and things can finally get resolved!!!
While you don't feel like celebrating, at least we can say YAY for 
Does she still have the feeding tube? How 'bout fever??
I m sure your Vet is frustrated too and is doing everything possible to get your sweet kotty back to health!
Were sending you group hugs, prayers and pawsitive healing energy
((((((((Hugs)))))))
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!
Yes, she still has the feeding tube. She has not started eating on her own, yet. She does not have a fever. I don't know if the infection is related to her not feeling well yet, or not, considering she is still on pain meds, the antibiotics, etc.
I'm so sorry for this situation. If it's any comfort it is not all that uncommon and if treated, as it has been, it's only a matter of time until things get better. It does sound like your vet is doing all the right things to get it under control. Infections do make a pet or person feel like crap so it makes sense that she is not feeling like eating. It's the body's way of reserving energy for healing, so her body is doing its job.
I hope tomorrow is better, please keep us posted!
I did get to see her today, and the vet taught me how to feed through the tube. He gave me some time with her in a room. She purred, and let me give her a belly rub, which made me feel better. Tomorrow she will come home. The vet will change her bandage before she goes home, and again on Friday. One culture has come back, and it is sensitive to Baytril, which she is on. The others hadn't returned yet.
I'm sooooooo glad you got to see her and that she's coming home tomorrow👍 I know when you heard her purr that had to make you happy..
Having her home where you can rub her belly and losten to her purr will make you voth feel better. I know you couldn't relax while you were away and she was at the hospital, so now maybe you can actually exhale.
I do know Baytril is "strong" and covers a lot of "issues". I do think that could interfere with her appetite.so the feeding tube is a good thing.
So she did have the surgery to remove the narcotic skin amd now that is behind you, right?
Thank you for the update. We've all fallen in love with sweet Charlotte and will continue to send pawsitive energy.
Hugs
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!
Just checking back, how is Charlotte doing? How are you holding up? Drop us a line when you can.
Sorry - things have been crazy busy. Charlotte came home 6 days ago. She is making slow, but fairly steady progress now. Her personality is back, and most of her habits are the same as they used to be. She still has the feeding tube, and we have slowly reduced the tube feedings. She has been eating thin-sliced turkey, some of her regular canned food, and a few treats. Tonight was the first time I saw her pick at her dry food. She only ate 3-4 pieces, but it was something. She bolted out the door and ran to the woods (evidently not slowed by the amputation) on Friday - all I could think is she would rip her feeding tube out on a branch. She acts like she reverts to the wild (she was a stray) when she gets outdoors (we are 1/4 from any neighbors, so not a lot of worries, otherwise) I sent out our dog, Maggie, and she immediately came to her - go figure! The wound below her suture site is slowly granulating in. She has been back 3 times to get the sugar bandage dressing changed. The vet says the tissue looks healthy and pink - even though it still looks awful (about 2" in diameter). Thursday, he is going to partially close it, so that it heals faster. I am hoping the feeding tube will come out soon, but I think she has to be eating dry food - something not so enticing - better before our vet does that. Still hoping this week.
Thanks for all of your support and help. It has been a rough road for sure! All of the vet techs fell in love with her - she is so sweet. I have tried to insert a photo here, but it won't work for me.
Oh my gosh no apologies necessary. This is really good news! Step by step she is improving, that has got to be so beautiful to see when she takes a bite of solid food! I'm really happy for her, and you. I'll bet Maggie is too. They were clearly speaking a secret language when they conversed out in the woods together. Maybe Maggie told her to stay strong, there's lots of real food treats coming soon!
Amputation recovery doesn't always go how we hope. But stories like Charlotte's show folks going through hard times that there is definitely hope for better days ahead. I'm so glad you updated.
Here's how adding images works. We'd love to see her! Holler with any questions.
When I saw you made a post..well....I was almost afraid to read it. A little time had past since your last checki-in and things were still pretty rough for Charlotte.
YAAAAAAAY FOR CHARLOTTE!!!! YAAAAAY FOR YOU!!! YAAAAAY FOR MAGGIE!!!
This is such a good update and such a relief to know things are finally getting better!!! Obvioisly Charlotte feels good or she wouldn't have gone off on her escape adventure! I know it scared you but it really was a good sign that she's on the road to a full recovery!!! Magfie did an excellent job of "herding" her back home.
She has been eating thin-sliced turkey, some of her regular canned food, and a few treats.
she has to be eating dry food - something not so enticing -
Had to chuckle a bit. Charlotte's thought bubble...." Why would I eat dry food when I can have turkey and lots of treats!?"
Hugs
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!
Well, I cannot get a photo to post for anything...just shows a broken link when I paste a link in, or if I try to copy /paste. At any rate, Charlotte is doing well so far. Her feeding tube came out yesterday, and she is eating well. The vet stitched closed the would from her abscess about 75%, leaving an area to drain. That still looks a bit ugly, but hopefully it continues to heal. She is acting herself - playing, rolling, and wanting more attention than ever. (She has been a cuddler ever since adapting to being in the house from being a barn stray.) She goes back in two weeks to have the stitches removed from the wound, and hopefully not for anything sooner. She gave us a bit of a rodeo yesterday in trying to catch her for going to the vet...She has become too wise, and I didn't even have the carrier in her sight. How hopefully we can settle into our normal routine, though still the worry of the cancer coming back. The amputation should have taken care of that, and her lungs were clear, but cancer is so sneaky.
The feeding tube is out and Charlotte is eatng and fiesty....best news evvverrr!!👏👏👏
My goodness, you two have certainly been through some "challenges" to say the least!! You both stayed strong and never gave up and now you can finally start to celebrate returning to normal!!!
I love that she's become a cuddle bug and enjoys being in the house with her hooman.
Thanks so much for this delightful update!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. We have to jave some pictures pf Charlotre to celebrate no more feeding tube!
I'll PM (private message) you with my emails. You can send me some pictures that way and I'll get them posted for you. I'll be watching for them👍
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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