Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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It's been a while since I've been on here. Charlie is just over 4 mos. since his amputation for a soft tissue sarcoma(10/31/11) and 2 months since a second local surgery to remove another small soft tissue sarcoma on another leg (which we were told is very uncommon and that the second was unrelated).
Anway, a few weeks ago my husband noticed some bruising the length of his scar and all around that area. We attributed it to one night when he was getting excited over some pizza and fell on that area. We noticed some more bruising in his pelvis area last night.
I've been online reading about liver failure, leukemia, and bleeding disorders and feel so scared. I have an appt. on Monday to have a full panel drawn to check platelets, liver function, etc. I just feel sick about it.
He seems to be a little on the tired side too. It was obviously a quiet winter for us as far as his activity went given we live in Maine with the ice and snow. We have just been thinking he is out of shape. He will be 9 years old this July.
Does ANYONE have any thoughts or ideas?
His eating well, spunky when outside, stool looks great, drinking OK....all good things. The bruising is just freaking us out!!!
Could it just be skin pigment changes as he is getting older? Just trying to be positive?!? Thyroid issues?
My dog has pink skin and, after his amputation, a significant portion of the skin on his belly and sheath on the side of his amputation (but not at the scar) turned black. I thought it was bruising at first, but did not seem to go away. Our vet said that sometimes pigmentation changes will occur after an area of skin has been shaved and said that he thought that was what was happening. He couldn't explain why though. Since then, parts of the region have become pink again when it was irritated and then turned dark again. I worry about it a little, but none of our vets (regular and oncology) seem concerned.
Thanks...that is helpful. Maybe it is not bruising...hasn't changed like a bruise does. Just darker and purplish all over his shoulder area down the right side under his ribs and the same tint in his pelvis area.
Yes, that is what ours looks like too -- darker and purplish, an even solid tint. I kept waiting for it to lighten as a bruise would but it did not do that.
I'd get it checked out at the vet just in case though!
A lot of times, the skin pigment will change color from pink to dark, especially if you have a bit of sun in your area. It's kind of like a tan....
The other thing it could be is that Charlie took a spill. Rio had a huge bruise on her tummy around Christmas. Crazy Monkey-girl Zephyr knocked her down in the slippy doorway at Gramma's house. The bruise took nearly two weeks to fully clear up.
Hopefully it's one or the other of these scenarios, rather than something scarier... Good luck at the vet!!
Rio's momma
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~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
No words of advice/wisdom, but just wanted to say I hope it's nothing serious! Sending good thoughts your way.
Oh, Charlie - it's so easy to get overly excited about pizza. I know I do!
Get better and stop making your pawrents worry!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Oh gosh, I hope you find out the answer and it's nothing serious!
I do know that dogs get, like liver spots on their belly as their age because I was worried about the discoloration on Comet's tummy and that's basically what the vet said.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Kayla has a similar large marking towards the bottom of her scar, at first I thought it was bruising too but nearly 4 months later its still there. The vet wasn't concerned about it last time I was there it just seems to be a pigment/scar marking.
Get it checked out if your worried though, Its always better to be safe
Good luck
Sarah
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