Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Geez, you certainly don't need the added stress of all this...er..."miscommunication" (and I'm being kind)! To be told it woukd be the Surgeon you've met with....not.....to be told she woukd go to the 24 hr clinic...not! YOU are Meg's advocate and if YOU want her at the 24'hr clinic then that shoukd be your call! Maybe this "different" Surgeon would be willing to ask a Vet Tech to stay with her tonight at their clinic since they have given you so much misinformation. Just throwing it out there!
As Izzy's courageous mom did, and as scary as it may seem at first, you can bring her home. Seeing a dog come out of anesthesia can be a bit unsettling to say the least, but most likely though she woukd be pretty zonked out for several hours. The surgeon could give you REALLY good detailed instructions of after care procedures and how to monitor for any lofe threatening concerns.
STAY CONNECTED!! We'll be looking for your updates.
Cheering forr Meg!!
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!
Oh good...I just read Linda's response too! I didn't want to sound alarmist and I didn't want to be "overreacting" or frighten you. It's just that we know sometimes....even though it's rare....but sometimes u expected complications can come up that need to be handled immediately in a medical setting.
We say these things NOT to scare you, but to provide as much certainty as possible that Meg will have a smooth recovery.
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!
linda8115 said
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
Yep, the vets plan is stable she'll be left alone for 10-12 hours at the clinic with a drip and the pain patch (forgot what drug), unstable she goes to the 24hr vets.
I completely agree with you, Linda, I'd rather her be home and I miss out of sleeping, or she goes to the 24hr vets if she still needs a drip and that patch thing. Even if there is a slight chance that she goes from stable to unstable when they're not there seems too much of a risk for me, not to mention having no one to sooth her if she is awake or worse in pain.
Thanks Sally! Don't worry I'd rather upfront concerns than people softening these issues. I'm starting to see why a vet nurse student I know instinctively laughed when I said what clinic I was going to (she said it was about the staff/organisation there, nothing to do with pet care).
As I said in the post above, I'm super uncomfortable about her being there alone on the first night, the second night maybe, but not tonight. Will speak to my partner about it and see what the post surgery news is, and probably insist she comes home or goes to the 24hr place, even if it is just for a top up of drugs or a check up, rather than staying the night
.MEG!! YOU HAVE ONE STRONG POWERFUL ADVOCATE!! And that kind of energy is going to empower you through this whole journey as we celebrate victory after victory with your cute little self!!
HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGS!
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 Sally Tim & I have briefly discussed, and we both don't really see the point of her staying alone for "better pain management
", even if she has a drip, if we're going to pay for boarding I'd rather pay a little more and have someone there to actually manage her pain as needed. Even being at home, potentially without the drip but maybe a stronger hit of other drugs would be safer than being alone I think. Will see what the vet says this afternoon and put forward our thoughts.
Now back to worrying about the surgery itself and inhaling family sized bags of chocolate!
Hi Katie!
Hope you and Tim are hanging tough. It's probably a Fentanyl patch. Izzy did not have one after her amputation but did come home with one for the knee surgery. I can tell you, I was sooooooo scared to have it this time - I'd read too many scary stories - but I will say that the patch takes 12 to 24 hours to become effective and for Izzy, it was closer to 24. She managed her amputation pain well with oral meds - tramadol, rimadyl and gabapentin. I honestly think that was easier on her than the patch but my vet refused to send her home same day without it.
I agree that, if Megan will be alone with an IV and patch, just take her home lol ... you can definitely manage with oral meds. Is warn you away from using tramadol with a fentanyl patch. If you're in a position to pay for the overnight at the 24 hour facility, do that. You'll surely sleep better!
Keep us posted!
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.
I'm with you and others Katie, I'd not leave Meg alone. This is major surgery. My vet doesn't have 24 hour care and he took my cat to his house for the first night. I was a bit jealous that she wasn't home with me but I know she got better care and attention from two vets in a home setting.
I'm sure you can get this clarified in the morning. By the way, I like how you've incorporated breathing and chocolate to relax!
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Thanks guys! Yep I'm pretty sure it would be a fentanyl patch, they said they'd have that on until she goes home tomorrow or Friday.
Kerren - we tried to sort it out this morning, vet said she'd stay alone tonight if she is stable, or go to the 24hr place if she is unstable. I'm 99% she isn't staying there alone and we are either taking her home or she is going to the 24hr vets, no point in her being alone with an IV/patch when she could still have so many complications.
Vet said they'd give us an update "early afternoon" its ~12:50PM now, hopefully we get the good news call soon!
UPDATE!
My partner Tim called, I said to call if there was bad news so I was worried, he sounded serious and sad and I was sure something had gone wrong!! But nope, surgery went "smoothly" and she is doing well in recovery. If she stays stable, we get to take her home this evening. If she is unstable, she'll have to stay there (vets words not mine) (my words is we'll take her to the 24hr vets!). I don't see why she should stay at a closed clinic, alone, if she is unstable or in pain.
Anyway, one big hurdle down! Will keep you guys posted!
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR COMPLETING SURGERY!!!! HUGE RELIEF!!!!
Yeah....if she's "unstable" stay at a clinic while no ine's there??? Sounds like there's a little brain freeze going on over at that clinic!
Meg is high as a kite right now and seeing pink elephants! Try and grab a nap if you can! You may not get much sleep the first few nights home!
Big hugs to you and Tim! Good job!
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!
Glad things went well, yay!
Here is one reason why all of us are so hot on the topic of not leaving animals alone overnight under any condition, even if they're "stable."
http://tripawds.....pervision/
SUPER great news she's out of surgery though, yay!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Sally and Jerry! Huge relief. I've been really unimpressed with the clinic today, not the expected vet, not knowing what was happening with Meg tonight 
Might go to another vets if our other dog ever needs a surgery. Now she has got through surgery there is no point risking her life by being alone overnight, she ain't staying there alone! Foot is down!
Will certainly have a nap this arvo (is arvo australian slang?? means afternoon!), I'm already super tired after a rough sleep last night.
Once again, thanks for the love and support
So it looks like arvo is Australian slang - https://www.buz...../i-am-arvo
(Hi everyone! I'm Katie's partner/Meg's dad, the evil one who put on a serious phone voice when telling her the good news an hour ago!)
Thank you all so much for the amazing support, this is going to be quite a journey but seeing the well-wishes and advice we have here is heartwarming! 
Katie, I don't blame you for thinking you'll find another vet should you need additional surgery down the road. It's SO important to have info, and to be perfectly honest - this community is what kept me sane after Izzy's amputation! The clinic I used was a surgery center and (in my experience), was a bit "rough around the edges" in terms of bedside manner and aftercare. With the knee operation at Izzy's specialty vet practice, they know and love her as she is one of their cancer patients and are SO patient and tolerant with my endless questions. They "get it" ... she is my child.
SO HAPPY the surgery went well! If nobody told you, Meg will AMAZE you. I am forever in awe of how resilient my OLD puppy is after surgery and so many hurdles. Meg is younger, smaller and so clearly well-loved, I am just certain she'll do great!
Looks like Tim is joining us too? YaY!
Sorry for the typos and auto-correct mistake, calling MeggieMoo "Megan" in my last post ... it's what happens when I try to post from my phone!
You'll have to school me on Aussie slang - I am the account manager for Australia and NZ for my company! The 14 hour time difference means I almost exclusively email my clients ... being able to toss in some local lingo would be fun 🙂
The good news is that lots of us will be up for day in the dead of night for you ... when most freak outs happen! We'll be happy to "talk you down" if needed 
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.
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