Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all!
My first forum post, thought I'd get it out of the way today and have it approved rather than wait until tomorrow when I'll be a wreck. Meg, my lovely ~8 year old chi x jack russell is having her rear left leg amputated tomorrow due to a low grade mast cell tumour.
I'm scared
. All the somewhat irrational/unlikely fears, what if theres complications, what if she hates life afterwards, is this the right thing to do! I know realistically there is a low chance of complications, she'll recover when she is ready and get on with life. But when the nerves are high, there ain't much chance of thinking realistically for me!
I do have a more rational concern, the top of her snout/where her back top teeth are seems to be bothering her, it is a little swollen, and when she yawns or takes a big mouthful of food she snarls/lifts up the back left side of her mouth/snout and moves her head to the right like she is in pain and trying to get away from it. I'm worried she has some sort of infection or abscess going on, especially since last week her left eyelid swelled up and she was squinting all day (fixed with some eye drops within a day). ANYWAY she won't let me have a look in her mouth without locking her jaw or getting snappy at me. I'll be sure to have the vet examine it when we drop her off, if theres any concerns whatsoever and we need to reschedule, so be it!
Any tips, advice, kind thoughts would be very appreciated leading up to tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be on tripawds most of tomorrow while I wait for news!
Will keep you all updated!
Hi Katie, welcome to the forums, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I know you've been blogging so are somewhat familiar with the site.
I think we all have those fears...I worried about Elly earlier this year when she had some dental work done! It's just what we do for our fur babies.
I hope the mouth thing is nothing that delays the surgery, but if there is an infection or abscess better to know now.
I'm pretty sure I gave you links to Maggie's story in your blog, Mag lost her left rear leg to a MCT and did fine once she got used to things. She hopped happily though life for almost 4 years. If I didn't give you the links they are in my signature below.
Best thing to do tomorrow is to find something to keep you busy- it's almost impossible to not to spend the day worrying, but try to distract yourself.
Good luck tomorrow and keep us posted.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thanks Karen!
I've read over Maggie's story a few times, it is one that always reassures me when I'm having a freak out. She seemed to be a very strong fighter!
I'm planning on staying home from university tomorrow, but I'll keep busy catching up on things and cleaning up the house. At least at home I can have some inevitble break downs without judgement. I've already over-though everything at uni today and had to hold back some tears
. Having our other dog, Dotti, to keep me company will help. Chocolate will help as well!
Thanks for the kind wishes again, knowing everyone here gets it is so hopeful. Bless this website!
Keeping busy tomorrow will help. If feeling overwhelmed you might want to take a moment to relax and distract your mind. One technique is called 7-1-7 Breathing or Mother's Breath and goes like this:
Breath in to the count of 7 (choose the speed that suits you, fast or slow)
Pause for 1 count
Breath out for the count of seven
Repeat if desired
There is a lot of support here and we've all been in a similar situation. Please check in and let us know how you and Meg are doing.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Already feeling a little better with your breathing tips Kerren
. I'm doing research at uni, two hour periods of sitting around watching participants do tests gives you a lot of time to stress and overthink! Feeling a lot better now that I'm finished testing and have things to distract myself with.
Hopefully Meg, Dotti, Tim (my partner) and I have a lovely afternoon, fingers crossed it includes a dog park visit.
Will check back in this evening or tomorrow with updates.
Just catching up here and in your blog. What a sweetheart of a dog!
Youvew already gotten great advice from everyone. Itsw really hard not to worry...we're human. But now is the time to "Be More Meg" and not worry about a thing! Whatever comes up, Meg handles it and moves in. And that's exactly what she'll do as she adjusts to three legs without that pai ful fourth one!
Your vet will check her mouth thoroughly and all of her vitals, etc before the surgery. If he feels she is having issues in her mouth, he'll delay the surgerynif need be to get that cleared up. And again, Meg isn't worried about any of this!! Ahhh...the bliss of being dog!!
We're all here with you and will be looking forward ro your updates and cheering for Meg!
Now grabyour bag kf CHOCOLATE. Eat it sort of like that "mother's breath" thing Kerren mentioned.....Eat seven pieces...pause for one second...Eat seven more pieces! 🙂
@ots of 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!
Thanks again Sally!
Working hard at being more Meg this afternoon, between feeling awfully worried. The vet clinic hasn't called confirming the surgery, as they did for her biopsy which is a tad concerning. It would be our luck that they never booked it in! In the mean time, 7 chocolates, one 7 second breath, 7 more chocolates and so on, a much better adaption of the breathing relaxation haha.
Anyway, Meggymoo went to the dog park and ran around with some dogs and her sister Dotti! Great to see her happy and enjoying life. Hopefully tonight will be nice and relaxing, with lots of cuddles and love!
Hi Katie, good luck with surgery today.
It was a week today that Mistltoe went through her amputation. You will be amazed how quickly Meg will be on her 3 feet. By Wednesday night, Mistletoe was able to get to hers and try the great escape from the vets kennel.
Thinking of you and Meg.
Lots of love coming your way.
Fiona and Jim xx
Ok further update! I caved and called the clinic (can expect that a lot tomorrow!) and confirmed the surgery is tomorrow - the vet nurse/receptionist mentioned we would organise what time we'd pick her up tomorrow night when we drop her off in the morning. The vet made the impression that she would stay there for at least 48 hours, although she may need to spend the first night at a 24/7 hospital given they don't staff overnight at this clinic.
Hoping this is just a miscommunication and she gets transferred to and from the 24hr hospital either by the clinic or us, having her home so soon is a tad daunting when it comes to pain management ! Thoughts? A part of me is beaming with relief that we'd have her home sooner but for the most part, doesn't sound like an ideal plan!
fiona224 said
Hi Katie, good luck with surgery today.It was a week today that Mistltoe went through her amputation. You will be amazed how quickly Meg will be on her 3 feet. By Wednesday night, Mistletoe was able to get to hers and try the great escape from the vets kennel.
Thinking of you and Meg.
Lots of love coming your way.
Fiona and Jim xx
Thanks Fiona and Jim! Glad to hear Mistltoe is doing so well! Hopefully Meg manages just as well xx
Mistltoe came home on the Friday, 3 sleeps at the vets. I was relieved, my feeling were similiar to yours, how to cope with meds, or even her. ?? With the vet keeping her, we got her home stable on meds and it gave her day care by professionals, that knew the best ways to man - handle her.
Surely the vet will organize transport, if required. !!
Hang in there
Fiona and Jim xx
fiona224 said
Mistltoe came home on the Friday, 3 sleeps at the vets. I was relieved, my feeling were similiar to yours, how to cope with meds, or even her. ?? With the vet keeping her, we got her home stable on meds and it gave her day care by professionals, that knew the best ways to man - handle her.Surely the vet will organize transport, if required. !!
Hang in there
Fiona and Jim xx
I was feeling the same, relieved that we'd only have quick visits at best while she is in pain or at risk of complications. We planned it on a Wednesday so both Tim and I would be home Friday afternoon or Saturday when she came home.
Hopefully the receptionist just meant we had to take her to the 24hr hospital, which is fine as it's close by and would be we get to see her for a little while. I suppose even if we took her home tomorrow, the hospital is open and ready with pain relief. I was never comfortable with her spending the first night at the clinic alone, that's for sure!
Hi Katie!
I'm so sorry to hear about Meg - my Izzy has Mast Cell disease as well but we don't have the option to amputate since she lost her left front leg to Osteosarcoma on Friday, 9/18/15. I wanted to "weigh in" to reassure you a bit. My Izzy is a much bigger girl than Meg - she weighs about 60 pounds (partially because I'm a bad dog mom and give her too many treats). She's always been 50 to 55 pounds, so smallish for her breed but big compared to your Meg. I bring this up because Izzy had her amputation, which included removal of the scapula, on an out-patient basis, arriving at the surgery center at 9 am and sent home around 430 pm. I then drove her 2.5 hours home and because her round-the-clock nurse.
Sounds insane, right?
As luck would have it, Izzy had knee surgery on her leg hind leg - the same leg with the Mast Cell tumor in her paw, sme side as her amputation - on Friday, 9/16/16. I elected to have her operation done locally this time, though the clinic I used for the amp was definitely on the list of options, simply because I didn't want to drive so far. To help keep the cost down, I took her home day of surgery.
The amputation was wayyyy easier than the knee surgery. Sure, Izzy is a year older now (13!!!!) but for whatever the reason, taking off a leg is less traumatic than fixing one!
My point is, if you find a 24 hr hospital to care for Meg, that is wonderful and hopefully not crazy expensive. However, if it's "better" to let her stay at the same place that she has the operation, she'll be fine. There is a LOT of sleeping going on that first couple of days and - although Izzy decided it was time to motor around the house on night 2 - at about 3 am, no less - Meg will be confined so there's no chance of her heading for the stairs while you sleep!
Every dog is different for sure, but I just wanted to let you know that I have ZERO regrets about Izzy's amputation and my decision to have it done out-patient. A front amp is tougher on the bod in some ways as dogs support 60% of their weight in the front, so Meg thankfully has that going for her.
You've been armed with great suggestions - and Sally always recommends the chocolate lol - so come lean on us all you need. We're happy to help!!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Hi Izzy's Mum! Thanks for the kind words, I hope Izzy is doing great on her three legs! Your story has made me feel a lot better about things, I think most of the scary first night stories I've read have been from big doggos with front leg amputations, a much tougher scenario than the one Meg's facing. Thank you for the support, it means the world honestly!
We dropped Meg off about half an hour ago, to a vet surgeon we've never met before, despite being told we'd have the vet we've seen numerous times during this process. So this new vet said Meg would stay overnight, the receptionist/vet nurse at reception still thought we'd be picking her up tonight. I'm still not comfortable about her staying there by herself, even if she is stable. They said if she isn't, she can go to the 24hr vets. I want her at the 24hr vet even if she is stable. But receptionist lady said we'd discuss it this afternoon once we find out how Meg goes.
I tossed and turned a lot last night, hoping Meg would jump up on the bed earlier than normal to go under the covers, but she didn't. We still had a nice half hour cuddle this morning, and she slept next to me for about an hour last night before I went to sleep.
And now, I'm feeling ok. Thought I'd be a lot more worried, but I'm feeling mostly flat and numb, but calm. Tim (my partner) put his phone down as the contact number, I was fearing a bad news phone call more than the bad news, I'd much rather hear bad news from him rather than a vet! Meg's sister Dotti is looking for her, even though she came to the vets with us and saw she didn't come home. Poor girl.
Will keep everyone posted and be back when I inevitably start freaking out again!
Hi Katie. If I'm understanding this correctly if she's stable they will leave her there alone overnight but if not stable have her transferred to a 24 hour hospital? If that's the case I would either insist I bring her home with me or insist she does go to the 24 hour hospital. I know bringing them home the first night is not easy but I would rather have my watchful eye on them than no eyes on them. Just to be on the side of caution. I don't mean to muddy up the waters here just giving my 2 cents. If you know you want her at the 24 hour care place then insist on it. Hugs!
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
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