Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Matey girl and family
Titan has run into some similar issues. He had to stay overnight when the seroma gave way. The vet put him on an antiobiotic just in case even though his CBC bllod tests were normal. Titan has a drain as well. He was panting alot especially at night before it burst. Now he is not panting as much(not even close) so I am sure Matey willl be relieved somewhat. I try to get Titan to lay on his side opposite where the drain and seroma is. He is going back tomorrow to get the drain and seroma checked. He had to be restitched and stapled in that area. There is still an area they will need to fix tomorrow but it is not half as big as is was on Tuesday. I hear ya on the sleepless nights. I know it's tough but hang in there.
Heidi and Titan
Well,
We got Mate back on Thursday evening , with a new drain, 1 more antibiotic to take, and an E-collar. We had a poor nites sleep, very restless, and eager to lap up drainage(yuk). I have resorted to using a t-shirt during the day to cover the wound and drainage, as it is more comfortable than the e-collar, which she wears at nite. I also use the shirt for helping Mate balance when she gets up. It is handier than a towel, and is already on when you need it, plus it keeps her from licking the site.
We had a better sleep last nite, maybe 6- 8 hours, only interrupted by a 2 am pill feeding. She is also sleeping alot today, which can only be a good thing!
The lack of appetite is still a problem, however. The only thing she will always have is a piece of hot dog, and we save that for sneaking her meds in. She cant eat much though as it is really high in salt, and Mate has a heart murmur (Mitral Valve Regurgitation), and sodium exaserbates it (coughing).
Other times she rejects everything! I try for hours, and sometimes I think she is messing with me. Old standbys are not tempting any more, but I feel she is more picky than not hungry. She watches me very interested in what I'm cooking, only to turn her nose away when presented with the yummy meal. I know its the meds, and I cant wait to get off of them. I have resorted to syringe feeding to get meds down, and sometimes just a little food or water. Let's hope that we are nearly over the hump...
I wonder how long until we can safely roam around, not worrying about falling down and re-injuring our wound? I cant wait til that day is here. Until then, we are just taking it day by day.
It is pretty scary and frustrating, but thanks to everyones remarks and advice, we are hopefull!!
Special thanks to Genie, Radar, Sandy, Titan, and of course Jerry!
Mate and family...
Matey Girl
Matey girl and family
I understand your lack of sleep, worrying and anxiousness. Titan is going on 2 weeks Monday that we did the amputation. The site that had the fluid is still open a little. They stitched the under skin with stitches then stapled. He also had a drain for a couple of days. They are going to have clean and restaple that area again. The vet took him off the 2nd med he was on for a precaution of infection. I noticed Titan was not eating(even his favorite treats). I also noticed he was breathing heavily on it. He has been eating, drinking and not breathing heavy now that he is off of it? He seems much more alert now. Did you talk to your vet about any of the side effects Mate is having? Is there anything else they can put her on? I can't wait for the day Titan is up and around again. It is so hard seeing them like that. They thought Titan's fluid build up when was he took a 25yd dash 3 days after surgery. That spot since he has been home has been oozy and iffy. I have been taking pics everyday because sometimes it is hard to see the progress but then when I compare the pics I can tell it has been a little at a time. Where is the spot on Mate? Where around the shoulder? I think Titan's could have been from surgery. I told the vet that I felt this spot was going to do this but Titan's 25 yard dash sped it up. Titan had swelling on his whole muscle in the should where his front leg was amputated. The area he has trouble with is closest to his stomach (almost where the leg ended). I try to keep Titan to not lay curled in a ball on that side. I figure with gravity the fluid is going to want to go there. I know it's hard. I have had many sleepless nights. Today Titan ate scrambled eggs with his food. He ate it no problem. Did you also try Jerry's trick putting a little gatorade in Mate's water. Were rooting for ya!!!!!
Heidi and Titan
Sounds like the meds might be keeping her from eating. I know with Radar, his appetite didn't fully come back until he was completely off everything. The problem is that many of the meds, antibiotics especially are upsetting to the stomach. So it becomes a catch 22. Need food to keep the meds from hurting her stomach but the meds make her not want to eat. Check at your grocery store for low sodium products like soups. Chicken and Rice soup (low sodium) may really catch her interest and put something in her stomach before giving her meds. The beauty of soups is that they also provide fluids.
Part of this is a waiting game and given some time and rest she will improve.
Keep us posted. Hugs and scruffles.
Connie & Radar
Mate said:
Other times she rejects everything! I try for hours, and sometimes I think she is messing with me. Old standbys are not tempting any more, but I feel she is more picky than not hungry. She watches me very interested in what I’m cooking, only to turn her nose away when presented with the yummy meal.
Oh that's funny, I do that to my pawrents a lot these days! I think that for us dogs, food has to be really really good to get us to eat. And if we're on medication, almost everything just tastes blah.
Hang in there my friend, things will get better. Now, have you tried mixing cooked scrambled eggs into her food to get her to eat? What about some cooked salmon? Both things are really really good for her. And Connie and Radar's suggestion too, about low sodium soup, is also great.
You are definitely in the right mindset though; as slowgoing as the recovery is right now, just take things day by day, appreciating all the little achievements, and pretty soon everything will add up to one big RECOVERY!
xoxo
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Matey, check out RocknMom's story about her Myrtle, who is doing great after amputation recovery. Myrtle also had some big appetite issues. I'll bet your pawrents could talk to eachother and come up with some scrumptious recipes to help you get your appetite back!
Here's Myrtle's story, at the bottom of the page.
xoxo
Jerrgy
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Titan said:
Matey girl and family
Where is the spot on Mate? Where around the shoulder? I think Titan’s could have been from surgery.....Today Titan ate scrambled eggs with his food. He ate it no problem. Did you also try Jerry’s trick putting a little gatorade in Mate’s water?
Heidi and Titan
Hey Guys,
Mate had swelling around the majority of the area, within 3-4 inches of the stitch.(which runs from where the leg came out of the trunk up to about 4 inches down from her spine) The largest portion ended up by where Titans is, it sounds, and that seems to be where the last part is as well. I read that that area seems to be most prone for the seroma . Mates was part seroma and part infection, where puss was building up.
I think its hard to determine where and how she and Titan got the infection/seroma , could be a number of factors. All I know is, it is a pretty traumatic (to the body) operation, where the chance for infection is reasonably high. IMO
I am suprised to hear of operations where antibiotics are not prescribed, I think it would alleviate some problems from developing. Mate had been on Cipro for her tumor site we were working on (it was open), and switched to Cephalex before the op. She was on it when she developed her swelling, so go figure. There are so many different infection types, I guess it is hard to prescribe one antibiotic that covers all possible infections, but I would think as a precautionary measure, the vet would just do it. After all, what is a couple of extra days of poor appetite being safe on an antibiotic, compared with getting an infection and being on 2 antibiotics trying to catch up for a couple extra weeks! (like Matey girl is now 🙁 )
The fact that Titan may have aided in the swelling episode may make you feel bad about letting him do that, but there are a number of possibilities that you will never know the answer to. I hope that other pawrents will read these posts and be extra cautious the first 7-10 days post op. to try to cut down on possible complications with recovery, as it is such a gnarly thing for the body to undergo. Mate flopped down a couple of times on the hard wood floor when I wasnt looking, did that create the swelling? Probably didnt help!
Anyway, on to diet: salmon, chicken, tuna, beef, can food, RAW meat, eggs, all a no go. She ate salmon 1 day, then wouldnt touch it again. Same with all the other meats, so I have to reintroduce them every now and again to see if she eats. I am giving up on perfectly healthy foods (that she wont eat) and just trying to get something down with the meds. We had waffles this morning, and falaffel for lunch. Her pm pills will be assisted by hot dogs, and she may have a tortilla chip or two! As long as it only lasts for a week or two while on meds.! Then its back to the diet...
Sorry for the long winded post, coffee is kickin!
Mateys dad (shes sleeping right now)
Matey Girl
borzoid said:
Check at your grocery store for low sodium products like soups. Chicken and Rice soup (low sodium) may really catch her interest and put something in her stomach before giving her meds. The beauty of soups is that they also provide fluids.
Part of this is a waiting game and given some time and rest she will improve.
Connie & Radar
Radar,
Thanks for the soup tip, we will try it when we go to the store later.
Good news is that Mate has finally been sleeping alot of the day and nite! She has only been doing this for 3 days now. On the mend...
Mates dad
PS Jerry- eggs and salmon dont work anymore, so you know it is bad!
Matey Girl
Myrtle did the same thing with food. One day she would eat chicken, the next day she would turn away. We tried new things everyday. Don't worry about trying to stay on a completely healthy diet right now. Getting a little food in Mate's stomach is what's important...even if it's tortilla chips - Myrtle loved Cheez-its. 🙂
Some of the foods we had luck with were: baby food chicken sticks, regular chicken, beef & turkey baby food, pedigree canned food, chicken w/rice soup, boiled chicken, cheez-its, Natural Choice training bits...you get the idea. We pretty much fed her anything we thought she might take a few bites of. She lost some weight, but now she's finally catching up.
Good luck with Mate!
Matey and Family
You are right we will really never know. Titan is acting more himself today. I have been cleaning that seroma area with hydriogen peroxide wipes. He goes to the vet again Tuesday. I am going to ask about another antibiotic. Not to be gross I have been smelling that area. The smell has never changed but I am going to have the vet look for infection just in case. I think the surgeons and vets should talk about the swelling when you pick your dogs up to come home. I know for Titan it was hard to tell with his hair being shaved and because he is such a big breed. They didn't tell us to do anything with that area to help reduce the swelling. I also didn't realize the seroma would look like that. I thought it would have been more prononounced like a golf ball or some kind of shape. When it did let go I could tell Titan was relieved. I talked to the vet a couple of times about Titan being up at night panting and panting.....They should try to do something so it doesn't add more stress to these guys after such a major surgery. Hang in there Matey girl! What about lean ground beef and draining all the fat off?
Heidi and Titan
Titan said:
Not to be gross I have been smelling that area. The smell has never changed but I am going to have the vet look for infection just in case.
Oh don't apologize for that, if the vets aren't telling us then someone needs to. Thanks!
Matey: have your parents tried the canned Evo meats? Rabbit, duck, really stinky stuff like that is SO good!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Mate had her tube removed, and a look over by her vet. She is doing better, hardle any drainage, sensitivity still, but far less than before. Just a little pocket of seroma /cellulitus left by where leg exited her body (lowest spot). She is sleeping alot, eating not alot, but enough. She will be on meds for another week- tramadol, carpofen, batril, & cephalexin
She can start dosing less tramadol (from 2 tabs to 1 1/2 per 6 hrs), so we will see if she is OK with that. Stitches out in a week.
The best part is that when we help her up to poop and pee, she is doing pretty well walking and standing. Once off the drugs, I think she will be good!
Still, we remain cautiously optimistic...
Titan, we are going to try ground beef again, even though we got over it a week ago. Maybe re-introducing things is the ticket...
Jerry, We havent had a canned food work for us since the op. We were even snooty of most can foods b4! We are talking p i c k y! Shes working me, I think...
Mateys dad...
Matey Girl
Matey girl
Sounds like you are taking small steps in the right direction. How about low sodium tuna (I think starkist makes it)? Just trying to think of some good low salt protein. Is she over peanut butter? Titan has been taking slow steps too. I thought he was working me(he has done that before) but he ate his food tonight without anything in it. To get him interested I have to hand feed him a little then leave a bowl near him. When I leave him alone he becomes interested. Hang in there you strong girl.
Heidi and Titan
On the road to recovery...
We are doing well, acting more normal, eating some food (baby food, can salmon, kibble) acting more like herself. She had a couple of adventuresome days, walking all over the house, trying to go down stairs to yard, etc. We backed off the tramadol yesterday, and I think she felt that she overdid it a little. She has had 2 slower, mellow days since, but I think she's fine. I guess they get ahead of themselves from memory, and when pain meds mask the aches, there can be setbacks.
Oh well, to be expected. Especially after our 14th birthday on the 22nd!
Well, hopefully we will be off meds by next week, so wish us luck, and as always, thank you for your awesome support!!!!(everyone)
Matey Girl and family...
Matey Girl
Hey Matey, happy birthday! OMG! What a milestone! Hope your pawrents spoiled you rotten. You deserve it.
Baby food? Now that's a new one! What flavors?
Maybe I should try that. I'm geting real bored with my food routine lately.
So glad to hear you're making progress. Yes, we dogs definitely forget how sore we'll be if we play too long. I got that way this week when I played basketball for the first time in a year or so. Mom and Dad gave me some Tramadol over the last two days and it's really helped.
Take it easy, and try not to overdo it too much.
We send our birthday wishes and lots of love your way. You are truly an inspiring girl!
xoxo
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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