Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I am real behind on this but I just read each and every post. Everyone on this site is full of compassion and support! It sounds like Rox is finally coming around from her surgery and bleeding. I'm so happy to read that. She has been through a lot, poor baby. But you have been amazingly strong and that's what Rox needs (unlike me I'm a wreck most of the time.) I try believe me. Just keep that positive attitude and roll with whatever comes next. You have been through a lot already. When you get Rox home you will have some ups and downs. Just try to relax... I know everyone who reads this is laughing because I'm writing "RELAX!" I'm sure you have heard of different challenges down the line with eating and drinking... try anything that works but make sure Rox drinks. We had to go to pedylite and water or chicken broth with water. Then the food was the next battle for us and we still have that issue with our stinker Bailey. Whole or like 93% Vanilla yogurt with no artificial anything with two tablespoons of pumpkin seemed to always get something in my fur baby... each and everyone is different. I'm sure you can breath that the blood panel came back normal. Keep up the good work and keep us all posted.
With big HUGS and sloppy kisses!
Tracy and Bailey (5 month almost 6 months Osteosarcoma C BEATER!)
Still waiting on official word from the veterinarian today, on Rox's status. Last evening I went to visit with her for a short time, where this time she walked into the exam room where I was on her own. She was wearing a blue cloth cone, and a short temporary leash. Once we had those off, and a towel on the floor, we got her to lay down. Her breathing was pretty heavy, but I know for her that would be normal after the surgery.
Her attention was pretty relaxed, and it was a bit difficult to try and encourage a happy response from her. So most of the time I just sat and pet her. She was being a bit distant, but I am guess that is because she is tired, and in general ready to go home. Or better yet, just feel good. I am sure she isn't feeling awesome, so I tried to not feel bad about her lack of enthusiasm.
The drainage from her wound was pretty heavy, but I called this morning and her technician said it has improved quite a bit. I assume that means no bleeding still, and a reduced amount of drainage. I am waiting for the update from her veterinarian.
Her brother (our corgi, Spencer) has been feeling the strain. He gets very excited to smell my hands and pant legs after the visits, and has been laying at our front door almost all of the time. He does this when he is waiting for someone to come home. So I've been giving him lots of attention too, and hopeful encouragement. We're all hoping she can come home soon.
Love her!!!!!! I know she is very much wanting to come home with you, praying that it happens very soon......
Keeping good thoughts,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
She looks great!!!! I hope she can come home soon.
Sending love and healing energy....
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Thank you guys! I just got off the phone with our vet, and he said he is comfortable with her coming home today. I want to bring her home, but we live in Houston, and the traffic here is REALLY bad. So, I'll be taking her home tomorrow. That will give her a little more time to heal, and get the drainage to slow. Both my boyfriend and I have the day off, so we're going to go pick her up in the morning for a quick drive home.
I'll be going to see her this afternoon. They said they are putting her into a run kennel, so that she can stretch a bit. So that is good news. They also said that there is still a little drainage. So she will need to go back in to get the tube out and what not. Other than that, we're really hopeful.
My next question would be, what is the best ways to keep her from getting an infection? I mean, with her around my house, I just want to make sure that we give her the best chance of a clean recovery. I am assuming keep bedding as clean as possible. Other than that, I'm not really sure. I'm sure we'll get a thorough walk through of care and requirements before she comes home though, from our vet.
Thank you all for your support!!! Yay!!!
As far as infections, she should hopefully already be on an oral antibiotic for surgery......my Polly was sent home with a very strong antibiotic for 2 weeks after her surgery. Clean bedding is a big plus as well, but normally, most of us do not have too much difficulty with any infections after surgery. My Polly even had a little suppressed immunity and still had absolutely no complications after her amp surgery, absolutely none. You should always be on the lookout for anything that may pop up, but for the most part, they do exceptionally well.
So glad you can get her tomorrow, and one more night at the clinic will be good for her, if only to insure she is really ready to come home with no complications looming.
Keep us updated,
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Such good news! Yeah I hope all is well.
You might want to get some carpet runners from like WalMart or anywhere you can and space them out if the floor is slick get carpet tape if they slide. I know you have the booty but I found out that none of my dogs walked right they would flip their foot out... just mentioning it in case she doesn't want to walk with it on. I have rug runners on the wood floors and ceramic tfloors... and in the garage where she goes out the door to do her business. Just a little insight on my experience everyone has to adjust to what works for them.
Things are looking up. Good luck and quick healing and saying prayers for all!
Rox is ROCKING it! Keep going buddy!
HUGS,
Tracy and Bailey
Yeah, great advice from everybody!
CONGRATULATIONS on the homecoming!!! It is so tramatic for a dog to stay in the hospital. I bet when she comes home you will see some enthusiasm then! Luther just came home after many days in the hospital and, for the first time, his humans got to see him walk on his own and wag his tail!
Please update us on his homecoming. I know it will be a busy time but we all look forward to hearing from you.
His picture is just lovely. He looks like such a sweet and gentle soul.
Get a good night's sleep tonight, you may not sleep very well for the next couple of nights!
Hugs to all!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Myrtle 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!
Apologies to you Rox! Of course you are a girl and not a boy! No boys look that pretty!
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!
Hi guys! Yes, the past few days we've been "Tripawd Proofing" our house. We rearranged our larger rugs into the more heavily used areas of the house and we got a few donations of doggy ortho beds. We also got a food dish riser, and the doggy booties. We might end up getting more rugs, but the booties I got for her worked pretty well for the purpose. She practiced with them a bit already, so I think that we'll be able to use those. If not, we have a little money set aside for more runners if needed. We have lots of rugs already though, so I think she'll be ok.
Getting ready to go visit her! I'll bring along a toy this time, maybe that will cheer her up a bit.
Domino came home on antibiotics after his surgery, but I also kept a tshirt on him until his staples came out. It helped keep the incision clean and kept him from licking at it. We just bought him a dog tshirt and sewed up the leg hole lol. But since she's a big girl a people shirt should work fine. We didn't have to keep a cone of shame on Dom as long as his shirt was on. Hope that helps!
Cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
Sooooo glad to hear that he is doing so much better!
Keep us updated and remember the first week is the hardest... ask SALLY (HAPPY HANNAH and Myrtle!) or anyone on here. You have done amazing and so much better than I did already!
HUGS
Tracy and Bailey
For sure, the first week is by far the hardest. In our case, days 5 and 6 post-op were the worst. He started acting more normal once he stopped taking Tramadol.
What we did to prevent infection: first, he took oral antibiotics for 10 days. We had to clean the incision once a day with saline solution, and then disinfect it with clorexidine. We used a bandage over the incision, repeating what they did at the vet hospital, until all the stitches were out (2 weeks) and dry. On top of this we also dressed him up with a T-shirt in order to prevent scratching and licking. After the stitches were gone, we kept cleaning and disinfecting and maintained the T-shirt until the incision was fully healed and the fur was already growing back - I would say during the first month. I had one stitch that got a bit "sticky" for a day or two but then healed.
In the case of males, the T-shirts have to be shortened in order to prevent them from getting wet when they go to the bathroom. Girls won't have that problem.
I have been keeping his paws very well trimmed from any fur than can reduce "traction ".
Good luck and all the best to Rox!
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.
I hope that Rox had a smooth homecoming! I bet it felt good to have her near you.
Keep us posted on her recovery and ask questions and lean on us for support! We have all been through this and understand how difficult it is because you just don't know exactly what to expect. None of us did at one time 
Carpet runners and t-shirts were things I thought of to earlier posts, but the skilled Tripawd Nation was on that immediately. I bought little-boy tank undershirts for Bart and they worked great, didn't drag all over the place and were nice and cool in the summer.
Just in case Rox goes through it, be prepared for some depression - some dogs experience it, some don't. I hope Rox doesn't have to go through this for your sake. My Vizsla Bart (who is the wiggliest, happiest, most expressive dog around) had visible depression for almost a week, but once he snapped out of it there was no turning back! There is adjustment and pain medication that can make them not quite feel like themselves. I was glad that someone warned me about it so I knew what I was dealing with and that it would lift as fast as it descended.
Rox is such a beauty! Keep us posted and send us pictures! I love to see all these beautiful dogs!!
keep up the good work!
Darcy & Bart
I hope Rox has an awesome homecoming. That girl deserves it!!!
My Leland was a hind leg amp so we couldn't keep his incision site bandaged up like a front leg amp can. We were constantly cleaning his incision with hydrogen peroxide. We had moved our bed mattress to the floor so we could continue sleeping together (he had slept in bed with us since he was a pup) and we laid lots of bath towels out on the comforter to catch any drainage and then would just pull them up to wash and lay fresh down. Also, our surgeon had recommended applying warm moist compresses to the site to aide in healing. We would wet a dish towel down, microwave it for 50-60 seconds, and then apply it to Leland's site until it cooled. He really seemed to enjoy it.
Wishing you the best and hoping for a speedy recovery for Rox!!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
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