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Rosie's Recovery
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Member Since:
20 October 2016
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29 October 2016 - 8:55 am
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 Good morning everyone! So today is day three after surgery. Rosie seems to be doing amazingly well!  She is so much happier now that that leg it's gone. Even on all of the pain meds she is so much more alert and happy then she has been in months. I actually can't believe it!

Last night, her second night home,  we slept 7 1/2 hours straight without waking up. I felt kind of bad, because the vet said to make sure she gets up at least every four hours. But when she got up this morning to go potty, she jumped right up and hopped on out the door to her favorite spot, with very little support. I thought that I would be using the sling until her Staples came out, but basically it just needs to be there in case. I really think the soaker  catheter has made all the difference.

It's a numbing agent that goes into her world and surgery site to keep things quiet. It basically blocks the nerves. I can touch her wound gently and she doesn't even react. The catheter comes out tomorrow night and I'm wondering if she will continue to feel as good as she does now. Has anyone else had experience with this type of catheter?

 She's been wearing a T-shirt, so I've been checking her wound and incision morning and night. It seems a little more swollen this morning, and possibly a little bit redder at the bottom where the most bruising is. The actual  incision and staples look good, it's the surrounding skin. The vet said not to worry about seroma unless there is a lump as big as her fist. I don't see a seroma , so I think all is good. 

 I haven't downloaded the e-books yet, but will do so today. Hopefully they will have some information about wound care and surgery incision care . Anyway, I just want to say how happy I am today!

 Yesterday Rosie and my other golden Braden were up to their old antics and trying to wrestle over a squeaky dinosaur toy. It was really cute to see them interact like that, because it's been several months since they've played that way!  I must say that my heart was in my throat until I could get to them and separate them. I was worried that Braden was going to put his paw on her incision and wrestle her down. I got to them in time and no harm no foul, but it was good to see both Tails wagging away!

So glad it's the weekend!  2 days to rest and recover (all of us). I am going a little crazy being home bound for most of the last 2 months.   But trying to enjoy the time and opportunities to 'just be'. 

Thanks for the support and Hop on!

Kellye and Rosie! 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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29 October 2016 - 9:08 am
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This is a GREAT, GREAT, GREAT UPDATE!! 🙂 Way to go Rosie!!

Yes, it's early, very early, and you may, indeed, have some ups and downs...or not!

The soaker sounds like it's working really well. My Happy Hannah didn't have one, so I have no input. I guess the pain meds will take over where the soaker leaves off.

Some swelling and bruising are normal. Sounds like the incision is looking good so no worries.

Thanks for the update. Doing a happy dance over here!!

Hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too y

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!

London, UK


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29 October 2016 - 9:18 am
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Hi Kellye and Rosie!

I'm so pleased to hear how well things are going and that Rosie is clearly feeling so much better! One thing I've found helpful in monitoring Meg's incisions is to take a photo of it, at least once a day. I found it really hard to be sure if it had changed/was redder/more swollen etc., or whether I was imagining it, and having a visual record was really helpful. It also means you can email them to the vet if you do have concerns, and they likewise can see the progression, if there is one.

I haven't had experience of using a soaker catheter myself. I do know that many people find their dog/cat experiences a bit a dip around 3-5 days after surgery, as the hospital meds leave their system. Not everyone does (Meg didn't, as it happens), but it's certainly quite common, so don't panic if this happens with Rosie, but do keep a close eye for pain signals (panting, restlessness etc.), as pain meds may need adjusting (in consultation with your vet) around this time.

The most important thing right now is that Rosie gets lots of rest. It sounds like Rosie's quite lively, so I can see this may present a challenge, but do try to keep her as quiet as you can, just rest and short leashed potty breaks, then back to rest some more. Perhaps you could try food puzzles/stuffed kongs etc. to keep her occupied and use up some energy.

Sending hugs!

Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie) xxx

Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.

Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...

The Amazing Adventures of Ruby Tuesday 

My Life as a Megastar

Michigan
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29 October 2016 - 9:46 am
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The catheter sounds like something we tried with our C-section patients for a little while - it was called the On Q Pump.  I forget exactly why we stopped using it, if it was the price or that we still used the Morphine pump for them so it wasn't all that feasible...hard to remember...sometimes things like that come & go.  We didn't use it very much & only for a short time.  I believe it's a tube with a lot of holes along the tubing & there is lidocaine infusing from a bulb along just underneath the incision.  Maybe for the C-sections it didn't help as much because they had deeper pain - it helped the incision, but their uterus still hurt. 

You really shouldn't have to do much for incision care - if there's any drainage, you can just clean it with plain water.  Never use peroxide.  Keeping the t-shirt on helps to keep it clean and keeping Rosie from licking it or scratching it.  There might be some drainage once they pull the pump.  Definitely keep an eye on the bruising - the daily pictures is a good idea, or you can take a tape measure & measure it every day.  Another thing you can do is to take a marker & outline the outer edges, then you can see exactly how much it has spread.  For swelling, you can apply an ice pack a couple of times a day for 10-15 minutes at a time, right over her t-shirt.  Also, gently massage around the area to help reabsorb the extra fluids.

Wrestling, while cute, is a little too much activity right now.  You really just want her to rest & short potty breaks.

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

On The Road


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29 October 2016 - 10:36 am
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That's terrific she's home! Sounds like all is very well right now and a very normal recovery.

Donna's input about wound care is spot on.

As for the soaker catheter, more and more vets are using this method of delivering pain management . A handful of dogs here have had one as part of their recuperation. It's newish in vet medicine, which leads me to believe you have a very forward-thinking vet practicing the latest in pain management protocols. Yay!

Get loads of rest and let Rosie know there will be lots of wrasslin' time once she's healed up.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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29 October 2016 - 11:23 am
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Isn't it great having a Nurse in board? Tat be DONNAheart

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!

Member Since:
20 October 2016
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29 October 2016 - 8:37 pm
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Donna!  Thanks so very much. 

So, I am concerned.  I haven't handled her incision much but today when taking the daily photos and changing her t-shirt I did.  There seems to be a soft saggy bag of squishy fluid at the bottom.  It doesn't fill my entire hand- but is a lot.  Not sure if this is new, or has been there all along. Shame on me!  

I have been taking daily pictures-close up.  The redness and bruising there this morning is gone now, but there is a 3/4 handful of fluid.  It's not hard.  Squishy.  Could be skin?  

Or is this a seroma ?  

Going to send photo to hospital as they are a 24 hour clinic and will also call them. 

Rosie is only 8 weeks out from TPLO which may be complicating things. 

The first night and yesterday until about noon today she was a super fast hopper.  Now she's going much more slowly this afternoon and tonight.  

Yes-wrestling is off limits for the near future.  I turned around for 2 minutes to do dishes and off they went.  

Shes still smiling and wagging.  Pooping and peeing normally.  

Back to ROM on TPLO leg and some massage.  

So even though she started off swift, she overdid it yesterday and is much more sedate tonight. 

Trying not to worry.  

Im afraid to massage her "pouch" but will over come my fear.  

This is hard.  

Please let me know your thoughts about the pouch. 

Lots of love to my new paw family. 

Kellye and Rosie the Wonder Tripawd 🐕❤️

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
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29 October 2016 - 9:20 pm
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Hi Kellye,

It does sound like a seroma.  They are common and usually resolve on their own, but keep talking to your vet about how it looks.

You mentioned in your post that you thought you would need the sling until the staples come out.  Most pups are hopping on their own after a day or a couple days.  My pug Maggie never needed help at all, she was a rear amp.

Having to keep your girl quiet is a good problem to have!  Hopefully she is one who is going to sail though recovery.

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

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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29 October 2016 - 9:32 pm
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Yeah,my Happy Hannah a big ole' sagging fluid pocket for several days. It actually cleared up a bit and then came back for another day or so.

Check out the link Karen gave you on a seroma and see if it sounds like what Rosie has. The fluid that use to go to that vum keg has nowhere to go now. It eventually gets reabsorbed into the system.

Rosie the Tripawd Wonder Dog has to take it easy! Just the potty breaks and then back to rest! She needs to give her remaining three legs time to adjust. They can get sore muscw and strains so quickly during the first several weeks.

Woukd love to see pictures of Rosie and Braden! Such a delightful pack!!

The recovery doesn't last forever...it just seems like it!

Try and relax..Sounds like Rosie is doing just fine!

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!

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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30 October 2016 - 10:30 am
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You don't have to be really firm in the massage, just some gentle rubbing around the incision & where that pouch is will help the spread the fluids out & help her body reabsorb all that extra fluid.

Thanks everyone.  It's always helped (to a point!) with our dogs & cats, so I try to share here, too. 

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

Member Since:
20 October 2016
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30 October 2016 - 10:51 am
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Rosie had her first big yelp last night.  My friend came to stay the night so I could sleep in my bed.  Ten minutes later Rosie tried to get up to find me and something made hoe yelp/Joel louder than I've ever heard.  

So I slept spooned against her all night.  

Shes still hopping gingerly today so I think she's hurting (TPLO) and muscles never used   before.  

The upside is that she is much less active and will heal.  A good thing for her because she is so feisty and active normally.  

The fluid goes down with ice and gentle pressure.  It's hard to feel when she's laying and only really noticeable when she's sitting and standing.  

Today is the 4th day after her surgery.  The soaker cath comes out after Lee last dose tonight.  

Slow and steady.  Thanks for the support and encouragement. 

Kellye and Rosie the Wonder Tripawd ❤️🐕❤️

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30 October 2016 - 10:24 pm
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So my vet tech friend came by tonight to take out the soaker cath. It was long, almost a foot in length. 

The good news is that incision health-A+!

What I thought might be a seroma is extra skin and fat.  😊😊

shes been really mellow today and has only been out to potty.  She ate her first meal standing tonight.  Progress.  

Shes one tough cookie!

thanks for all!

kellye and Rosie the Wonder Tripawd ❤️🐕❤️

London, UK


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31 October 2016 - 12:02 am
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Hi Kellye,

Sounds like you're doing really well. Great that it's not a seroma , not that that would be so terrible but it's one less thing to have to worry about. Sounds as though Rosie is quietening down as the hospital meds leave her system, and also now without the catheter. Just keep a close eye for pain signals in case her meds need a little adjusting. What is she on now? She is a tough cookie, but it sure helps that she's got such a devoted Momma. 

Sending hugs

Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie) xxx

Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.

Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...

The Amazing Adventures of Ruby Tuesday 

My Life as a Megastar

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20 October 2016
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31 October 2016 - 8:55 am
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Hi.  Rosie slept in my room last night and I got 7 straight hours of sleeep in my own bed instead of the couch.  Feel more tired than rested.  What a week!  

Ive been giving Rosie 2 Tramadol every 8 hours, 100mg total.  Then every 12 hours I give her 75mg Caprofen and 300mg Gabapentin.  Seems adequate.  She just seems content to lay around.  Not much tail wagging.  Just mellow.  Not sure if it's pain or if healing. 

So surgery was last Wednesday.  Today is Monday.  I really think Friday she totally overdid it.  Hope by weeks end she is doing better, at least more perky. 

On The Road


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31 October 2016 - 11:30 am
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YAY for getting back to normal!

Wow that must have been crazy seeing her pull out the tube. Eeeek! I might have passed out.

Try your best to keep her quiet and mellow this week, I know it's hard. She should still only be going outside to potty and that's it. Sleep is medicinal for you both 🙂

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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