Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Bella is an eight year old golden retriever on day 17 of recovery. She needed front left leg amputation due to joint cancer - awaiting stains to determine care plan. We were not prepared for amputation - as expected biopsy only that day. So grateful for tripawds information. Bella has been incredible - walking, eating and usually tail wages in abundance. I do have a few concerns. There is a swelling at bottom of incision. Tech said to use warm compress and keep clean and surgeon said to leave it alone. Any recommendations and/or experiences to deal with swelling. She also has had a few episodes of phantom limb pain - has not occurred in a week. She wore e-collar until yesterday - had to put back on as frequently licked swollen area. Did not know if most dogs lick incision area for a while. Any advise for a new tripawd parent would be greatly appreciated.
Hello to you and Bella.
She sounds like she is doing well!
So, she hasn't had any phantom limb pain episodes is a week? She may be past them then, but if they return talk to your vet about prescribing gabapentin. This is commonly given to help with nerve pain.
The swelling is probably a seroma - as long as it is not hot and there is no smelly discharge it will reabsorb on its own. Keep your vet posted if you are concerned about it.
You might try a tee shirt on Bella to keep her from licking- many front amps here have used them with success.
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
Karen & the Spirit Pug Girls,
Thank you for the response - it helps knowing there are people with shared experience willing to take the time to help newbies. So much to learn to help our little buddies heal. In reading other posts I realize how fortunate as Bella's recovery has been great overall even though each day may bring highs and lows. She started on Gabapentin, Carprofen, Dasuquin and Omega EFA two months prior to surgery - hoping to reduce some meds soon. Noticed that many were on antibiotics after surgery - Bella was not perscribed anything beyond what she was already on - other than a pain medicine for first few days. Do you know how long it typically takes for seromas to drain/absorb and heal? Reading conflicting information on hydrogren peroxide use - a number of vet sites recommend using a hydrogen peroxide wipe to clean seroma site of drainage.
BELLA!!! YOU ARE ROCKIN' THIS RECOVERY STUFF!!!! Of course you are! You're a Golden and that means you are smiling your way through the whole process! 🙂 🙂
As far as the seroma , I can only tell you my experience with Happy Hannah. She had a pretty big fluid sack that seemed like it took forever to reabsorb! And actually it started shrinking at some point and then kinda filled back up a second time, not as much though, If I recall, it seemed like the xeroma ordeal lasted about ten days or so. Can't remeber for sure. May have even been longer.
My Vet's directions were basically to leave it alone. I actually had two different trios back to my regular Vet just to make sure everything was okay.....and each time it was!
My 2¢ on the hydrogen peroxide, Ive also read not to use it in an incision like this. I know seromas look scary, vut they're a pretty normal.process of the healing.
I woud request an antibiotic unless the Vet has some reason for not doing so. I know no one wants to overuse antibiotics, but this may be the one time when they need to beused as a precaution. Just a suggestion.
You're doi g an EXCELLENT job!! STAY CONNECTED!
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!
My pup Sasha has a seroma in the exact same area and she managed to knick her stitches a bit so the fluid then drained out for 2ish days slowly... we just used a warm damp face cloth to wipe the area every so often and also used it as a warm compress also. Our vet instructed us that as long as it wasn't pouring out we were fine and it would drain slowly on its own. After the two days it basically stopped. There was a little discharge and then it slowly went down. If you are concerned about it contact your vet, they can give you some advice. I know if they are big seromas vet's may drain them. As for hydrogen peroxide I have heard not to use it.... but again that may be something you want to call and ask you vet! But for the most part try warm compresses, that helped for us!
Glad to hear your pup is doing well besides that though! Way to go bella 🙂
Bella and family, welcome. I hope things are going well today.
seroma swelling can last days to a couple of weeks. It really depends on the dog. Be sure to click on the link and then hop over to Jerry's Required Reading List for more tips about life on 3 legs.
As for hydrogen peroxide, please don't use it. Here's why:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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