Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Happy news: The vet didn't have to use anesthesia today. He used a local and Raven was a good boy while they opened his incision while he was fully awake and put in a penrose drain in. Then he got a new compression body wrap. And is on Lasix diuretic. Hoping this will get the seroma under control. He was like pillsburn doughboy, even his feeties were pudgey.
My questions tonight:
Has anyone been prescribed Lasix for this use? I have used it on a cat with Congestive Heart Failure. I gave him his first dose at 7pm, but he's yet to pee and his legs are swelling again... Does it take a while?
The drain is underneath all the bandaging. It was done at 3pm and at 9pm he already needed it changed. I put a fresh soft towel under where it comes out. I assume it is able to drain with the pressure of the towel/bandage over it. Did anyone have a setup like this? Or was your drain always outside bandaging to flow better?
And I wasn't instructed to flush the drain. I've had many animals with drains and always flush them regularly. I would think it keeps bacteria from settling in there and any clotting from plugging it. But they didn't say to. The vet wasn't available and I had to get Raven home to go to work, so my Go Home info was only from the girl up front. Anyone that had a drain, were you instructed to flush it?
Thank you!
Dawn
Rottie Raven, osteosarcoma at 8-1/2 years old, amputation in October '09 and in February '10 due to liver mets he went back to heaven where he came from. raven.tripawds.com
Now I have Miles, rottie mix amputee from a shelter and traveled 1500 miles to find his way here through the Rescue Railroad thanks to tripawds.com. miles.tripawds.com
Dawn, give your vet's office a call first thing this morning and get more detailed information about the Lasix and drain from them. My Jake didn't have a drain, but did have a pressure bandage, with absorbant padding underneath which was able to pick up all the drainage... He had it changed every 3 days... But he definitely didn't have the amount of draining as your baby does. So definitely get that call in to the vet ASAP.
Good luck and keep us posted on Raven!!
Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Hi Dawn
Cemil–left-front amputee– didn't even have a bandage. He drained quite a lot so I kept a t-shirt on him with paper towels inside to catch the drips (lots of really big drips). I was to use a warm compress twice a day to keep the incision soft. I think he drained for about 3 weeks–I remember wondering if it would ever stop. But it did. I don't know if this helps any–since your situation is different, I think I'd go with the advice to check with the vet.
For me, it was a little scary to see all that blood-tinged fluid leaking out, but I've learned that it's pretty normal. However, we didn't have the puffiness. Hope everything turns out okay.
Mary
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Usually you do not want to flush the drain but keep the exit site clean and free of blood clots, etc. The fluid is not supposed to run through the tube as much as wick out next to it.
I would be very careful with the Lasix. Your dog is probably swollen due to pressure on the lymph drainage system so once the pressure is relieved the swelling should resolve. It is very easy to dehydrate a debilitated animal with Lasix so make sure he has access to plenty of water.
Pam
Sorry, no info om what you asked. I just wanted to let you know I am glad Raven has her drain. I wish you luck. Prayers from me and crossed paws from Emily.
Debra & Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Dawn,
Would definitely consider Pam the expert on this one. My limited experience was on a "drain" that was placed into the stomach on each of my Standard Poodles. They suffered torsion approximately three weeks apart. Each had the stomach tacked to their rib cage to minimize this from ever happening again. I actually watched the surgery for each, which is another story. Their drain was located around the attachment point, into the stomach and extended out through their rib cage. I really never say much come out of the drain, and it was removed about a week after surgery if my memory is correct. (That was over 19 years ago.) Cherry never had a drain or oozing from her incision.
Paws Crossed and Sending Pawsitive Thoughts,
Bob & Cherry
McGwire had a drain with no bandages so it's a little different than yours. It was basically some plastic tubing and it drained around the tube, not through it. It was the worst part of the surgery BY FAR! It drained for about 2 weeks. Does he have a bulb at the end that you have to empty? If so, ask the vet if you should be milking the drain, which involves squeezing the tube in a continuous way (think emptying the last of the toothpaste) starting at the skin and moving toward the bulb. This helps prevent clots from forming in the tube and keeps it moving. Also ask your vet about bromelain which helps with inflammation. Here's a site about it: http://www.ehow.....-dogs.html. It does say that it may not be recommended with antibiotics or cancer/chemo drugs because it increases their efficacy perhaps too much. ((HUGS))
Thanks for the Bromelain link! We hadn't heard of that one, and the article has some great information. I searched and found that Only Natural Pet has these two natural anti-inflamatory supplements:
- Integrative Therapeutics Inflamzyme by Integrative Therapeutics for Dogs and Cats
A combination of quercetin, bromelain, and other synergistic ingredients helpful in alleviating inhalant allergies. Acts as a natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory as well as having beneficial antioxidant effects. - Quercenase by Thorne Research for Cats and Dogs
Thorne's patented, water-soluble form of quercetin has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Dawn (&Raven) -
Boo was never on Lasix, so I can't give any advice about that. Boo did have drainage tubes though! She never had a bandage, so her tubes were on the outside. (I'll try to post a pic so you can see what our experience was like). We were not given any instructions to flush the tubes, but we were told that if they got dirty or clogged that were were to clean the tubes with peroxide only. (we soaked a cotton ball with peroxide and lightly dabbed it/spot clean it).
Boo became a Tripawd Warrior Princess on Sept 8, 2009. She crossed over the Rainbow Bridge 2.7 years later on April 29, 2012. Run free Angel Boo!
I am having trouble with the photo....I'm not seeing the editing icons...? (I should be seeing a button with a tree on it... 
) I tried in Firefox and IE. No luck. I'll try to send it via a PM...
Boo became a Tripawd Warrior Princess on Sept 8, 2009. She crossed over the Rainbow Bridge 2.7 years later on April 29, 2012. Run free Angel Boo!
amandaboo said:
I'm not seeing the editing icons...? (I should be seeing a button with a tree on it...
Have you changed your editor preferences in your forum profile? If not, there should be a row of buttons directly above the text area where you type your reply. The first few buttons are B | I | U ... Do you not see these!?!?
If not, click the Profile button above and then the Personal Options tab. Select Rich Text (TinyMCE) option and save. (This is the default editor.) You will then have the editing tools described in the insert/edit image instructions. If you need further assistance, feel free to start a new topic in the Tech Support forum. I hope this helps.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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