Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi
As per my previous post Max is home with us (he had his right back leg amputated on Friday). He had a good day yesterday but last night he was whining and crying, not in pain but because he was on his own downstairs which is understandable seeing as what he has just been through.
Ok so today's concerns - he will not urinate. Whilst at the vets he did pee but in his crate which is not like him. We brought him home 24 hours ago and he still hasn't emptied his bladder. He must need to go as he is dribbling where he is lay. I take him outside every hour saying the usual command but he cant go. He is trying but it just isn't coming. He is drinking and eating (less than usual obviously). We called the vets, they weren't overly concerned and said that he needs to learn how to start peeing again?? We have a check up tomorrow at the vets. Anyone else had this issue? Are we just expecting too much from him? He is pooping and able to balance just fine.
Thanks for your help
Claire
This happened with my WonderPyr Heffalump after his amputation and the vets gave him medicine to help with that. It was a one pill "this will help start the process" and it did! I can't remember the name as it was many years ago but I do remember them saying if you get towards 24 hours let us know...so we had to drive in just to pick up one pill but it was quite a relief to all of us:) Best wishes and, hopefully, he will have had an Austin Powers moment by now!
You definitely need to keep in touch with the vet - not peeing could be serious. Of course, the dribbling suggests that it is not a blockage. Male dogs sometimes have a hard time figuring out how to do it, especially if they lifted their leg in the past. The first couple of times, I took my Otis right next to the house so he could lean on (ok, and pee on) it. At times thereafter, I would let him lean against my leg (and yes, I got peed on a bit). Eventually, he figured out how to do it, and how to pee without lifting the leg. You might also want to consider how Max peed before - did he like privacy, go behind particular bushes, on a special tree (tree mail), etc. Try to take him back to a favorite place if you can do so easily. Once we figured out the balance (kind of) I ended up taking Otis out on the lead, but having to unclip the lead and turn my back so that he could do his business. Once he was done, I put the lead back on and we went inside. One member even took his male dog back to the vet office - the smells stimulated his desire to go and he went. I think that member made two or three nighttime runs to the vet for potty purposes only. There have also been some members who have had to go to the vet to have a catheter inserted, just to relieve the pressure.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Hi Max and family 🐶💖
You've got very good advice already!
My girl didn't have any problems peeing after surgery, poop took several days.
They did tell me at the hospital I shouldn't worry if pooping would take a while but I should let them know if she wouldn't pee.
Sorry I can't be of great help here ...
Hoping Max will pee soon ans wishing him a swift recovery 🐾🐾
Big hug to you and cuddles to your cutie 💞🐾🐶
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Thank you all so much for your advice - i don't feel so alone with your support.
We rang the nurse and she said they weren't willing to catherterize him just yet as they're hoping he can go by himself. We have an appointment tomorrow.
His appetite has returned and he is drinking normally again - this is making me so happy. I must be honest this morning i was wondering if we had done the right thing :(.
As i typing this update my husband has just texted me to see he has pee'd - he took him on a very small walk. I could not be happier at this moment.
Thank you all!
YEEEEESSS 👍🏼
YAY for pee 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦
SO happy to hear 🎉🎉
Now go back to cuddling and kissing him and tell him auntie Teresa sends her love 💖and Eurydice sends lots of licks 👅👅👅👅
Well done 👍🏼
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Yaaaay! So glad he let loose.
I'm not a vet but I was told by a vet that if a dog doesn't urinate in 12 hours then it's time to either express it manually or bring the dog into the vets. Glad you didn't have to!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes, yes, please do, we LOVE ❤️pictures 📷and videos 📽
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Happy pee dance! 💦💧💧💦. So glad Max did his thing!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Good job Max!
You are going about this a little backwards though...most pups can pee but don't poop for several days. However you get there though is cause for celebration
I must be honest this morning i was wondering if we had done the right thing :(.
You are not alone- I think almost all of us went through this at least once during recovery. This journey is not for the feint of heart! Keep track of each little victory as recovery continues- soon the old Max will be back and amazing you!
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
OOOOOOMMMDDDDD!!! SOOOOOOO. CUTE! C U T E!!!! CUTE!!!! Max is adorable!!
Just catching up in the saga of the PEE!! HAPPY PEE DANCE!!!! 🙂 Yeah, only peeing once in four days would be a very scary thing!! You are a great advocate for Max! Sorry, but I think the Vet or Nurse should have been a little more proactive! It doesn't always involve a catheter, but simply a technique for expressing the bladder. Anyway, MAX PEED and that's all that matters!!
Yeah, it took me about three weeks before I could say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!! Sounds like you can start saying that NOW! 🙂
CUTE, SO CUTE!!
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!
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