Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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I'm going to tell you that your experience is by far not normal, so try to tell yourself this is not your fault. Yes, you had the surgery done, but please understand this is not normal, by now most dogs have gotten past the worst part of recovery. Unfortunately there must be something going on to cause this much drainage, and I am wondering if your vet may be over his head with this and may not know the reason or what to do. And to be quite honest, I think the guy should be starting to cut you some serious breaks with cost since he can't seem to figure this problem out. I'm really sorry it is causing a hardship financially and with your husband, and I'm not one to cause trouble, but what if you took her to another vet and didn't tell him. Don't throw me off of here admin for making the suggestion, but it sure seems like there needs to be some further diagnosing or something to find out why there is this much drainage, and this guy doesn't seem to be able to figure it out. I've been around animals my whole life, and have seen quite a lot, and when one thing doesn't work, you dig deeper to come up with a solution, process of elimination, you don't just keep doing the same thing over and over if it isn't getting results. I'm really not trying to make things more difficult for you, I'm just trying to give some things to consider. Is there a university within reasonable distance you could possibly contact to take her to, or at least ask for help in diagnosing a possible cause? Believe me, I know how traumatic this is for you, I'm not trying to add to that, its just I get really frustrated when I hear how some vets don't take some situations more serious. I think the guy should be laying awake nights trying to figure out whats going on here, and hopefully he is. As hard as it may be, try to keep your spirits up, Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
My heart is breaking for you, I can hear the your pleading in all of this....what an awful experience you are having!
I am so sorry!!!! We had a longer recovery but nothing like this!
I will pray that things get better for you and your girl!!! I hope you both find peace and healing.
Hang in there and assert yourself for you and your girl's well being!
I found out that going to the vet surgery center, leaning on the counter and staring at the receptionist...becomming a "nuisance" helped me get the answers and service I seeked! It also helps to bring a couple of impatient kids with you that whine alot 
I'm struggling with what to say here that will lighten the load, so to speak.
I think it is safe to say many of us old timers are stressing right along with you. We know how frustrated we would be to be going through the same thing. You know my position on getting another opinion, and I'm not going to take this post there. I do understand the many obstacles in your path, and I so wish I could do something to remove some of them for you.
Please know you are doing the very best you can, and while it may not sound like we understand, we do. This is, by far, the most caring group of folks you will ever encounter. We feel your pain. We know how we would feel in your situation.
Dan has actually offered some viable solutions, and I'm with him completely on the vet cutting you a break on the cost- if he doesn't offer, I would ask. And Dan is right, you did the right thing, it simply hasn't turned out well. Unfortunately, it is a risk we take, when we make the decision to amputate, they do not all turn out picture perfect. I wish they did.
We are all sending our best doggie prayers that a miracle will happen and this will resolve and the true healing will begin - for both of you.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
djbockman said:
Don't throw me off of here admin for making the suggestion...
Not at all Dan, this is what Tripawds is all about. Thank you for your support and words of advice.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Have you asked your vet about a price break? At our clinic post-op rechecks are free so the only charge would be for bandage materials. Every clinic does things differently but if a second surgery is needed many vets will do the surgery at no cost and only charge for anesthesia. Of course this is up to your vet and they may have different policies. Have they checked a red cell count (also called hematocrit) to see if she is anemic from the blood loss?
Pam
sorry you have had it so bad i am hoping it gets resolved soon and you did it because you love her so please don't regret the decision.
Dizzy diagnosed with osteosarcoma 24 may 2011 amputated same day doing fine hopping around on three legs giving the neighbourhood cats what for
I keep thinking about you and Valentina...I hope that things get better soon for both of you.
I barely have the mental or physical energy to write this because I am completely drained from what yesterday entailed. Valentina is stable. They got the bleeding under control. But all they did was put a very tight compression bandage on her. The vet did end up going to check on her in the middle of the night. He said that she is doing well and her blood count is fine. They didn't flush the pocket yet because they wanted to get the bleeding under control first. They think that the suture that was holding the drain in may have slipped down inside of the incision. The string holding it in place was there when she came home. I saw it because her bandage had slipped off of part of the incision and I looked closely at it and noticed the string. At that time I didn't know what it was there for and after that I didn't pay much attention to it. When the vet came over to take the drain out he said that the string that held the drain in was missing. I told him I had seen it when she first came home. I asked him if he thought it had slipped down inside and he said "I hope not". After that is when the real bleeding started. After he took out the drain. Before that it was draining heavily but no where near as much blood. It took me several days to convince them that it was BLEEDING NOT DRAINAGE!!! They both even came to my house and said it was ok but it got progressively worse. They are keeping her overnight again tonite and I will call tomorrow to see what is going on. They are still planning on doing the irrigation they just wanted to make sure the bleeding was under control first. They are going to see of that string can be found. He told me that they will figure out a way to fix this. They really don't want to do a second surgery but they will if they have to. They will be deciding this on Monday I think. She is still eating and is feeling ok they said. I am still not happy at all about how things are going but I don't think there is much I can do at this point except to wait. I still have not discussed the money part of this with the vet. Keep praying please that this will get resolved.
They also said some crazy thing about the bandage causing the bleeding because it may have been pressing on an artery that goes up the chest or something. That sounds ridiculous to me but so does everything else they have said. They are the ones that have kept the bandage on her this whole time. Why would they keep it on if that could happen. They just keep confusing me. I don't think they have a clue. This whole thing is so ridiculous!!! I am jut hoping and praying that it will resolve and that I can still have a chance to have some happy times with Valentina before the cancer kills her. After all of these extra unforseen expenses I Know that my husband will not let me do chemo. All I want is some quality happy times with her before it's her time. And I really don't think it's her time yet. And btw my husband was being nicer about things today.
Oh Angel, this is just too tortuous. There's no way I'd let that vet do surgery on my dog a second time. Where are you located? Find a referral, get all of Valentina's records and let someone else fix her up. Especially if he won't give you a price break like Pam suggested. Then you have no incentive at all to stay with him.
Let us know what the decision is, okay?
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
If there is something bleeding it is either from muscle tissue, which may respond to a compression bandage or more likely it is a blood vessel that needs to be ligated. A suture or string from a drain may cause a little discharge but not bleeding. A bandage would not cause bleeding.
It is possible for some dogs to need a second surgery because sometimes vessels or muscles on the giant dogs will bleed more. Usually if the bleeding has persisted for more than just a few days then a second surgery is indicated. I'm glad that they checked her red cell count and that it was okay!
Pam
just to say i logged on today just to see how Valentina was. Thinking of you and hoping for the best outcome for you
Dizzy diagnosed with osteosarcoma 24 may 2011 amputated same day doing fine hopping around on three legs giving the neighbourhood cats what for
Angel, this sounds like progress. You're both in our thoughts constantly this weekend, please let us know what happens tomorrow OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bo and I are sending positive thoughts your way. Hang in there Angel and Valentina!!
Thanks for your support everyone. Valentina is doing well today. She is still in the hospital. They did do the irrigation and the vet said that they did get some debris out. Some of which he said were ligatures and some dead tissue. He also said there was some infection going on so they have her on two different strong antibiotics. She is still eating great and and seems strong. They told me there is no bleeding just drainage but it has slowed down some. He also said that it will still drain for a while and he doesn't know how long. Thank goodness I have area rugs and not wall to wall carpet. I spent the time while she has been gone cleaning up the house and scrubbing up the blood stains all over my living room area rug. When she was here I had no chance to do any cleaning so after I found out she was out of danger and I recovered with a couple days sleep I cleaned the house. I went to see Valentina today. She was very strong. She ran down the hallway and had great balance. My daughter and I visited with her for an hour. She was acting kind of weird though. She seemed really nervous and was shivering and was doing this weird growling that I have never heard her do before. Her pupils were huge. So I asked them if they had given her some kind of pain medicine that would make her act this way and they said that the only thing she was on were the same meds she was on at home and the 2 antibiotics. They said that she was just excited to see me and was anxious. One thing that I noticed that was great was that all of the swelling in her leg opposite the amputation was completely gone and the swelling in her chest was too. I was worried about that swelling in her foot. It looked like it hurt and was hard to walk on it. I have read that the other leg can swell because of fluid but I didn't think it was supposed to be for that long. But now it's gone so that's good. Also it was really cold in there so maybe she was shivering because she was cold. IDK but I was so happy to see her and thankful that she is doing better. It was so hard to leave her. I think she may come home tomorrow but I am not sure. I want to make sure she is doing really good before she comes home. I know this is silly but I was wondering if I did anything to make all of this happen. I can't think of a single thing. I didn't let her jump around or anything , not that she wanted too,but I tried to do everything perfect. The vet said these things just sometimes happen. I don't really care whose fault it is if it's anyone's as long as she gets better. That's all I care ab out.I can't wait until she is home and all healed. Today I even cooked a really good meal like I used to everyday before this all happened. Having this happen to Valentina has affected me so much. Much more than I ever thought possible. I always knew that I loved her very much but this has shown me that my love for her is so great that it could never be measured. I have never had a bond with a dog like this before. She is my one and only Valentina.I really don't know how I will survive when she is not here anymore. There will be a giant void that can never be filled. I am trying hard not to focus on that or to be negative but I know that the time will come. I am not ready for that heartbreak and I never will be. However I am so grateful that I have had the privilege to share part of my life with her. She is my dream dog!!! I wanted her every since I was 5 years old and never dreamed I would actually own a Great Dane. She is a dream come true and I will never forget every special moment I have had with her.
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