Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thank you all for the kind words even still. I was able to go home last night and describe the meeting with my husband and mother, and speak of the entire occasion with mainly positive moments to share (no tears!). A year or so ago Rox developed a hematoma in her ear, due to an ear infection & shaking her head too much. She had to have a very minor procedure to have it removed. The surgery was handled by a new vet at the time, since we had recently moved, so I was unfamiliar with them. (Her current treatment is being handled by her vet of 6+ years, we are just dealing with a 45 minute commute.) When she came home from that appointment, a single day event, she was still pretty heavily sedated. It was so difficult to see her stumbling and confused. I broke down pretty hard at the time, because I had never seen her that way. It made me so nervous for her, and then with the cancer, so worried about how she could handle it.
Seeing her yesterday, fairly alert and positive, and in general in good spirits was such a different experience than the one I had seen previously. She proved to me that she was strong enough to deal with this, and it was easy to step in, show her things were going to be ok, and just let her know I was happy to see her (tearing up as I write this, I'm such a sap!).
I brought along her traction
booties today, just in case I swing back by, or better yet - get to take her home! I don't want to intrude on my veterinarians work space though, so I may not visit this afternoon. Yesterday's visit was done in the middle of their procedural area of the clinic, and I stayed there petting and talking with her for over an hour. 
Anyways, I hope she can come home today. That would require her bleeding to have been completely controlled. If she requires another transfusion today, than it will probably be tomorrow. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed. I expect to hear from my vet pretty soon, so I'll update.
Thank you all again for such incredible support! We are both very grateful!
UPDATE:
I just heard back from Rox's vet. The bleeding has began again. He did say that it wasn't a huge amount, but definitely enough to be concerned. He has sent off a coagulation panel, which we should hear the results back sometime this afternoon. He will be opening a small amount of her incision to be more proactive about learning why the bleeding hasn't stopped.
He said best case scenario is that there is a single larger blood vessel that is having trouble clotting on its own. But if is having general clotting issues, noticing multiple unclotted areas and light clotting, he warned me that a few of the reasons would not be good. If that is the case, we'll need to address why she is not able to clot on her own. He mentioned a few reasons for why she may not be able to clot, a few being treatable, and at least one which is not treatable.
I really hope that whatever the reason, that there will be something we can do for her. She will be receiving some blood, and then he will investigate where the bleeding is still coming from. I am praying for no clotting issues come back from the panel later today, but I am a bit on the pessimistic side, so of course I'm thinking of the worst. I don't want to say what is really on my mind, but now I am feeling pretty terrible.
I want to apologize if I don't update / reply during this time. I will probably not be able to think about checking this forum. I did want to give an update anyways, just in case, because I am sure I'll read it a bit later.
Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this.......I am glad your vet sent a blood panel in to try to determine what the cause is. I mentioned my Polly had developed an auto-immune condition at an early age, it was called immune mediated thrombocytopenia, which caused her severe clotting problems. We fought back against it and won. There are a couple of other genetic disorders that involve clotting, but I am not as familiar with these. All of these condition are scary, but treatable I believe, but wait until blood tests come back when they can give you a better idea on what could be causing her bleeding problems. I know it is hard to be optimistic, I am the biggest pessimist I know....but keep as positive thoughts as you can and everyone here will do the same.....we will send a huge collective hug of healing energy to you both to help you get through this.
We are all here for you and I am keeping you and Rox in my prayers.....
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
UGH my update got deleted because I got to trigger clicker happy.
I do appreciate the well wishes, and have good news. I have heard back from the vet on the first portion of my updates. Her mini-surgery, where they attempted to locate the bleeding site, has been completed. They located several small bleeders all centered around a large artery which runs along that shoulder (I am unsure of what that would be though). The vet said he would have preferred to find one large blood vessel, but that it was a more positive outcome than if he had found massive unhealed / burst blood vessels throughout her amputation site. So that is very good news to me!
We still need to hear back on the coagulation panel. That will be the final say on if she does have a clotting issue that needs to be dealt with also, and if that is the case, I pray it is something fixable. We are hoping for no clotting problems though. It makes me wonder too, because she gets hot spots and licks her feet, her little brother pulls out her hair sometimes. I've never seen her have issues healing. I mean, about 9 months ago she was clotting too well! She had a decent sized hematoma in her ear flap 
So I hope this is not the case, and that it was just rough times in the incision site.
Anyways, still sitting on pins and needles, hoping for the best!
Hi. Rox looks great and happy. I'm glad it is all going well for you. I'm a nervous pawrent at the moment. My beautiful 3yo retriever is just 1 day post surgery. He had his back left leg amputated. He's home with me already though and moving about well although he is a small retriever and only 27kgs. Still nervous though and still feel sorry for him when I look. I'm just going to take each day as it comes as I feel that is best approach. They adapt so quickly.
Glad I found this site though as I live in the UK and there does not seem to be much here about tripawds.
Happy thoughts to you and Rox.
Sue & Charlie
Oh wow just catching up on Rox's status. It sounds like they're pinpointing the cause. Hopefully the panel results will come back with some good news. You must be so stressed.
Sue , thanks so much for joining us (sorry you are in this situation), you are in good company. Why did Charlie lose his leg?
Tripawds is a worldwide community of pawesome people and dogs and cats, stick around and we will support you through the recovery. Yeah, it's not easy for humans to cope, but just look into Charlie's eyes and know that he's not feeling sorry for himself, he just wants to feel better.
Do start a new topic so we can hear all about your story and offer more support OK? Welcome. Oh and your future posts won't need approval.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jerry! It has really be a trying time, full of stress, but at least she isn't here to experience it with me. I did just get a phone call from her doctor, and he let me know that the bleeding has not continued, up to 5 hours. So that is positive. There is slight drainage from the new tube, but he said that is normal. Also the coag panel has not come back yet, so as soon as that does I'll hear the results. gosh I am nervous, but trying to be hopeful.
Hi Rox's mom, hi Sue and Charlie. This community is going global !
Glad to know Rox is doing better. My 6-yr old Golden had the same surgery on May 20 (front leg and shoulder blade). We hope to have a happy 2-month ampuversary this Sunday. It is hard, especially the first few days, but when they start to recover it is amazing to see how resilient they are. My husband and I have managed to reschedule our working commitments to spend more time at home, and we are enjoying every day we have had with him. He is a much happier dog after the surgery, for sure.
Daniela & Johnnie
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
Still doing well. Just got an update about an hour ago that Rox's bleeding is still under control. This is excellent news to me, since she has had off and on bleeding since Sunday. Still no update on the coagulation panel, but I expect it first thing tomorrow. I hope my constant updates don't bother anyone. Talking things out really helps me.
R U kidding me? We LOVE updates....we NEED updates!! We are all gamily here and we all worry about each other! We celebrate together, we cry together.
And tonight we can celebrate that Rox.is doing better! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
Please update us tomorrow. We want Rox home with youso we can celebrate her first poop and first pee and every single birthday for the next fifteen years
Stay connected to us...especially during the recovery process...it's no picnic! We all understand and we are al'll family!
Love and hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
Ha, Benny, thanks for bringing a smile to my face! I needed that. I can't wait till she comes home, and I was just telling my boss, who has been keep close track on her progress (an my sanity) as well, that we're hoping for the best. I just realized I forgot to pack up her bedding in the car, just in case she is able to come home today. I can always swing past a target or something though.
And I just got her raised food dishes / feeder thing! So she has to come home soon, so she can try it out!
Excellent Tear Jerking News!
I just heard back from Rox's veterinarian. Her coagulation panel was normal, and her bleeding has been controlled throughout the night! They said that her eating, alertness and mobility are all very good this morning, and that she has been doing great. I got the news and started crying out of joy. Now she just needs to regain her strength so that she can come home! I'll get another update from her doctor this afternoon. I'll probably go in to see her, and drop off her traction booties.
I just breathed the biggest sigh of relief.
Thank you all for your continued words of encouragement. I hope to be able to share her recovery with everyone!
PAWESOME! Thank you for the update (yes, we love them!). Here's to PROGRESS and the perfect test results. Rox gets an "A"!
I hope today is even better and you have a nice visit. Take some pics and come back and share them, we'll be waiting.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I haven't posted for awhile, but I have been following. Great news! I'm so glad that Rox is on the road to recovery.
And don't ever feel bad for posting here- we all have had the need at one time or another and we get it.
Can't wait for the news that Rox is home!
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
AND WE'RE CRYING TEARS OF JOY RIGHT WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!
This is yet another reason this journey is called ROLLER COASTER RIDE!!
And we are all giving you a standing ovation over here for your courage and strong determination to help sweet Rox get through this crazy time
I would have been put in a straight jacket a long time ago!
You mentioned in your earlier post you were somewhat of an "anxious" pawrent! HA! HA! THAT WAS IN THE PAST! Welcome to your new identity...SUPER WOMAN VIKING WARRIOR, CAPTAINISTA. COURAGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking forward to next update AND the homecoming!!
Hugs and love!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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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