Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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ginab189 said
Jaco's vet just called back and she said that she would like blood work on her to check her kidney/liver functions from the anesthesia and medicine given during surgery before she gives her medicine for pain. She said that if they are elevated then Jaco will need IV fluid to flush them out. I am bringing her at 8:15 tomorrow morning fingers crossed!! I do believe that pain is her issue, today she is still not moving around and still peeing in her bed on the pad. The leakage she has is very minor between a couple of staples here and there and it is more pink not deep red. I have gotten her up several times today and walked her outside supporting her with her harness, she is very reluctant to go and we only stay out for a few minutes.riotfromma - thank you for your reply regarding Entyce, and I am glad that it worked for your boy! I will keep this medicine in my notes if her eating does not improve.
Zigsdad - same surgery, same day what are the chances! What medicine did your vet send Zig home with and is Zig moving around?
Zig came home on 600mg gabapentin and 250 mg tramadol every 8 hours, still on it for the foreseeable future. Carprofen 100mg was given for the first 4 days twice a day. Also given antibiotics of course. On day 5 Ziggy started going downhill; can't stand well, appetite went down, yelps in pain trying to stand. I just got back from picking up more carprofen, if he is having pinched nerves or a pulled muscle it should help.
Our vet and the surgeon both said that the gaba/tramadol/carprofen combo works as a beautiful cocktail together.
I can't imagine any scenario where the surgeon wouldn't have sent your pup home on pain meds. That is insane.
How are YOU doing? Getting sleep? Anxiety levels? I know the first few days I was a bit of a mess. I am not normally a stressed or anxious individual, but seeing my buddy in recovery and in pain took a toll on me. Take care of yourself too!
Thank you for the kind words gina❤.
I'm so sorry that you and jaco are dealing with this when it sounds like it could have been avoided. Thank goodness you had a bit of gabapentin on hand to help take the edge off. You will be amazed how much better things will be with the right pain managment.
Ill be thinking of you both and hoping you get the right answers tomorrow. If not, i agree it might be time to look for a new vet.
Im sure its rough going right now but dont forget to take care of yourself too.
Big hugs to you both ❤
Bev & Moe cat
Hugs ❤ Bev, nurse Moe cat, Autumn's Angel Roane & Angel dog Gypsy 🐾
My sweet soulmate Roane was diagnosed with osteo in June of 2019. Had a rear leg amp on July 2nd & crossed the rainbow bridge to be with her sister Gypsy on the first day of Autumn Sept 23 2019.
Just wanted to chime in. Brownie came home with tramadol, gabapentin, and a fetinol patch all for pain. Also Rimadyl and antibiotics.
Hope your boy gets to feeling better soon. Personally I would demand pain medication, but that's just me. Hope everything works out well. By the way, ENTYCE works line magic!
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
So sorry, i meant girl!
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
I can't thank everyone enough for all of the information and for sharing your stories, to think I was so LOST just a few days ago and since finding this new family I am learning so much. Everything happened so fast between diagnosis and surgery that I think I was more in shock dealing with my own self pitty then doing the much needed research. There was so many questions that I should have asked and did not and knowing that Jaco did not have to be in this pain for the past week kills me. I know I can not go back and I can only move forward. Tomorrow morning can not come quick enough and I will update once we get home.
Jaco says thank you too!!!
We are not the professionals. We are thrown into this journey with no knowledge, often no time to do research, so we rely on the Vets to have the expertise to guide us through this journey.
As so many of us find out once we join this community, while completing a successful surgery is what Surgeons do, they do not go home with us and see what recovery looks like 24/7.
I didn't join this community until day six after amputation. I thought I had made a HORRIBLE decision. Didn't know squat about recovery, tweaking pain meds, etc. Fortunately, my Happy Hannah's did prescribe pain meds, but I knew nothing about how they worked, side effects, signs of pain, signs of not enough meds, etc. Like you this site educated me far more than the Surgeon did.
So yes, you go in tomorrow and advocate loidly and clearly for your Jack!. You are stronger than you know. And you have certainly gained knowledge from the first hand experiences of your tripawd family.
Sending pawsitive energy with you tomorrow from the Fans of Jaco!! You've got this hurdle handled!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS another pain mee sone dogs have in their toolbox, amantadine (sp?)
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!
Update on Jaco. She would not get up at all this morning and cried when I tried to help her up so we carried her in her pet bed to the car and set her up comfortably in the backseat (in her bed). She did not move for the entire 45 minute ride she just rested with her head on the pillow. Once at the vet she did get up in the car with help from the nurse and her harness and she hobbled into the office where she just laid back down against me on the floor. The Dr drew her blood then came back in with the bad news that Jaco's kidney ratio is really elevated and she said that is why she is not moving or eating and her peeing in her bed while laying down. She explained that this only happens in 1 percent of animals after surgery and we are in that 1%. They admitted her for the next few nights for IV fluid to try to flush out the kidneys and will give her pain medicine. I asked if Jaco could die and she said its 50/50. She said all of her values were perfect before surgery. I can't believe that in less then 7 days her kidneys could turn like this. She is only 8 years young, athletic before surgery and otherwise healthy. Does anyone know if this can be reversed once the toxins are flushed out, could she be normal again or is the damage done? I know that none of you are vets I just thought I would ask if anyone has had a similar experience? I am sick in my stomach and feel like I felt a week ago leaving her for the surgery, lost and confused!
Dang I'm sorry for that news! But the important thing is that she is in the care of a vet who knows what to do in this situation. And you're right, we aren't vets but we can totally feel your pain and worry. I'm sorry you are going through this.
Do your best to stay strong: sometimes things like this happen and as long as you catch it quickly and treat it, she has every chance in the world to make a comeback.
Make a list of questions to ask the vet and whatever you do stay off Dr. Google, or it will make you crazy.
Let us know how today goes OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you for the encouragement, I will make a list of questions now to ask the vet when she calls this afternoon with an update.
I did start to search Dr. Google after I wrote the post and within minutes I shut it down... what a coincidence that you wrote that.
Oh man... what a ride, I am so sorry. I hope this helps.. kidneys are tricky, but hopefully you are catching this soon enough for them to heal. You are right on your game, ok? Kidneys can show signs of stress, can be in repairable state. So yes, there is a chance that this can work itself out. The flushing of the kidneys is the best thing they can do for her right now. When dogs and cats go into kidney failure, this is the 'animal way' of doing dialysis. It flushes the toxins and gives those kidneys every chance they can possibly have to heal.
I cannot tell you they can fix them because I am not a doctor, and I don't know what her values were when they ran the labs, and I don't want to bring up false hope. What I can tell you is that if they caught it quick enough she might be ok, ok? Please breathe... and take some time to get some rest. This road you are travelling is a nightmare and you need to take care of you also.
We have seen animals have adverse reactions to medications that can throw the kidney values off the charts but once meds are gone and proper measures are taken there is a chance for healing if they have not totally stopped functioning, make sense?
Right now, take care of you. They will manage her pain. It is kinda weird how sometimes they do not manage pain well when the animal is at home, but seeing her up close and personal, they will do their best to keep her comfortable. I am so sorry you are going through this. They did pre-op bloodwork on her before surgery, yes? And everything looked normal? Sorry.. I know.. more questions.
Do not beat yourself up, do not lay blame on yourself. Just like people, animals all are individuals too. You have done everything a person can do to help your girl, know this and please find a small amount of comfort. What is happening was unforeseen. And hopefully you will make it over this and be able to get back on to normal, boring recovery (((hug, it's never normal and boring, lol)))
Sending you pawsitive vibes and hopes for a successful recovery once you are over this hurdle.
Jackie and Huckleberry
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Geez, so sorry you and Jaco are having such a hard time. And apparently, based on what your Vet said, it's very rare to have this happen.
We really appreciate you taking the time to update us during this stressful time. Your information can help us be better prepared if a dog is having some of the same issues. Everything you described is basically what we've seen, to some degree or another, this early in recovery. So now we can be aware of this very rare reaction to anesthesia. It's a learning curve for all of us.
Jackie said:
They will manage her pain. It is kinda weird how sometimes they do not manage pain well when the animal is at home, but seeing her up close and personal, they will do their best to keep her comfortable. I am so sorry you are going through this. They did pre-op bloodwork on her before surgery, yes? And everything looked normal?
So yeah, if you are up for it, would you ask your Vet to give you the pre surgery bloodwork results, as well as the current ones? I think we would all like to be better informed in our efforts to help support others. IF I recall correctly, your Vet didn't want to send her home with pain meds other than NASID because of concern about kidney/liver to begin with??? Somno paun meds, just NAISD? I' m probavly completely wrong because NASID woild mot jave veen prescribed ig the Vet had kidney concerns. I know Greyhounds (and Jaco is "part" Grey) are sensitive to all aorts of things....and I think going under for surgery is one of them.
And yes, stay off negative, pessimistic Dr Google!!!!! Now, here's a real optimistic story for ua'about my tripawd Frankie. My 70 lb boy got up I to the Rimadyl bottle and ate 1600 mg all at once!!! Four nights and five days in the hospital with non stop IV for dangerously high kodney/liver values.fluids and his values returned to normal!!!
Again, thank you for keeping us in the loop. We are all sending pawsitive healing energy to Jaco. And btw, good for you for staying in top of things and getting Jaco in there this morning. Cheering non stop for a speedy recovery!
((((((((((((((((((((((((((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!
So sorry about Jaco. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way!
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
I really loved Frankie's story of encouragement, that gives me hope! I hope Jaco's story helps someone else some day that might have similar symptoms as her after surgery. She is part greyhound, she has the body, shape and mannerism. She is the sweetest girl!!
Her vet did not mention any concerns pre-op regarding her kidneys or liver, her blood work was all normal. see below for pre-op blood work. I did not get todays blood work but I will ask for a copy to compare. I thought the trazadone and previcox that was given at discharge was for pain management , I did not know that it was just a NSAID and a sedative and I did not ask either. I do not think there was any medical reason why she was not prescribed something stronger.
Chem Panel 25
ANION GAP 16.0 0.0-25.0
GLUCOSE 84 70-125
BUN 11 7-31
CREATININE 1.4 0.7-1.7
BUN/CREATININE RATIO 7.9 L 9-33
Thanks for posting the blood panel. Of course, I'm not trained to read it, but I bet others on here can decipher it based on their personal experiences. Guessing the numbers on the right are the low- high range??? Looks like some numbers are right in the middle, some below, some higher. Now what that means, I have no idea! Would be interested in the feedback.. Again, we aren't Vets, but we do have a Volunteer Vet as a member and we have a member who was Vet Tech in the past. Maybe they can pinpoint any red flags.
I still would be interested to know why the Vet didn't prescribe any pain med in the beginning.
Glad IVs are underway and Jaco's in good hands. If I recall, it took several days before Frankie's values started beginning to balance out. So don't be discouraged if there are no changes at first. Frankie didn't want to eat anything at all. I went to visit him everyday. It took several days, but he finally ate some chicken I brought him. I was soooo happy....until he threw it back up!
Hang in there. Jaco is going to get through this!!!!
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!
I hope you were able to concentrate on getting some rest! Yes, the right side is the low-high ranges and that is really a good thing! Keeping fingers, toes, paws, and tails crossed that this resolves and your Jaco is back to her normal self soon.
I am so glad Sally shared her experience with Frankie and the rimadyl. That was a great example of what I was tripping over trying to ease your worry last night.
I know the Grey's are a special breed when it comes to sensitivity to certain things, I personally don't know a lot about it so I cannot help there. I know that a lot of dogs are sent home with what you mentioned above along with gabapentin. With that said, maybe you could inquire about the gabapentin and see if there was a worry that your doctor had to not prescribe it? If he/she feels it is safe, it is a real go to drug for post amp patients as it blocks nerve receptors and helps prevent phantom limb pain. It surely cannot hurt to ask, right?
I hope you get a good report today, will check back periodically for updates. Hang in there!
Hugs,
Jackie and Huckleberry
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
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