Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone,
Murphy's now three weeks post op, and by all measures he is doing extremely well. Getting up, moving around is no problem at all, in fact I think he is more stir crazy than anything else. The only blip in his recovery has been a semora (or maybe it is more than one -seromas, it is honestly hard to tell)! He had one that leaked a lot and the vet asked us to come in last Monday (which was two weeks post op and he was supposed to get his stitches out and start chemotherapy but they delayed that a week). The vet gave him a few extra stitches and bandaged the incision again. However, ever since then, the seroma has been leaking on and off, sometimes it leaks quite a bit, sometimes not at all. Murphy's amputation also included removing part of the pelvic bone, which the vet said takes longer to recover and caused the incision to be different than if it was just the leg amputation. Also that when Murphy moves it can cause tension in he incision and cause the semora to leak.
I found a few great resources on Tripawds about seromas, but those typically sounded like bigger lumps, that once they were drained they disappeared. Murphy's seroma is harder to see, there's no real bump, but there are just spots near the incision that start leaking fluid. There was one that the vet was able to really drain well while we were there, and I thought that was going to solve the problem but it hasn't. It's in a spot that is incredibly hard to bandage, and I've been using a lot of towels and blankets and gauze to try and deal with the leaking. It's driving me a little nutso, trying to keep up with the mess.
My main concern is that he starts chemo on Tuesday, and from what I've heard I am supposed to be cautious about Murphy's bodily fluids after for a few days after chemotherapy. I'm concerned about how to deal with the seroma leaking after chemotherapy. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Murphy, became a tripawd on August 17, 2015. Went to the rainbow bridge on July 5, 2016.
First of all, it's really great that Mr. Adorable Murphy is doing so well and ready to live life to the fullest!! YAAAAAAAAAY FOR MURPHY!
I have zero insight on your situation other than maybe a second opinion? If that's not possible, one way to do that here would be to post under "Ask A Vet". It doesn't sound like a "normal seroma " , if there is such a thing. Because of the extent of the surgery, I guess that's why the vet says there's still some leakage. Again, I would get another opinion simply because a fresh pair of eyes can see things differently sometimes.
As far as chemo, of course discuss with your Onco. However, in my case, when Happy Hannah had her chemo, the Onco. didn't even mention that "warning". It wasn't until I read it here on the site that I even knew about it. Even then, it was basically in relation to poo and pee. Guess it was after her second treaw that I mentioned it to the Onco. Her response was, unless I would be playing in her pee and poo with my bare hands, don't worry about it! So, I guess as long as you wear gloves when cleaning his incision, no worries. Again, I'm not a vet and this was just one Onco's opinion.
My Happy Hannah's first chemo treatment was delayed too dje to her slow recovery. It was three weeks before her first one. Delays aren't that unusual.
I really hope this incision thing can clear up quickly. I know it's miserable for you and Murphy both!
It really is amazing that he he feeling so good after this pretty major surgery! Good job Murphy! Keep it up! We're cheering for you!
And we need PICTURES of Mr. Adorable Murphy!!!
Hugs!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry 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!
Hmmm. I would agree that his surgery was more complicated and thus, takes longer to heal. For peace of mind, have they cultured the fluid to make sure there's no infection? I'd want that done before chemo.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks! Two vets did look at it and conclude it was a seroma . The one an antibiotic prescription just in case, they said the fluids that leak from the seroma can often cause infection but so far it isn't actually infected. Also I've been trying to diligently keep that area clean, they mentioned that the fluid can cause a "seroma burn" on the skin. Tomorrow I will ask more about the seroma , I'm hoping they can fully drain it and it won't come back!
Thanks again for your help! I'll work on posting some photos!
Murphy, became a tripawd on August 17, 2015. Went to the rainbow bridge on July 5, 2016.
Sounds like you've covered all your bases for Murohy! Glad a second vet looked at it and confirmed it was a seroma .
Keeping all paws crossed that the draining helps eliminate the issue from here on out.
Murphy's avatar always makes me smile...because he's smiling!!
BTW, you're doing a great job as his nurse in caring for him!
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!
Just wanted to add a follow up to this... the vet later explained that there was a seroma that was leaking and it resulted in dead tissue. The options they gave were to let it heal on it's own (which would take 3-4 weeks) or do another surgery to clean up and close that area. I wasn't willing to put Murphy through another surgery, so soon after amputation, so the leaking is still happening intermittently, but overall the incision area looks a lot better. The leaking generally stops when Murphy's calm and starts when he moves around a lot. Otherwise, he is doing great and is almost back to being his normal self.
Murphy, became a tripawd on August 17, 2015. Went to the rainbow bridge on July 5, 2016.
Murphy, I just grin right back at ya' everytime I see that smiling avatar of yours!!
Yeah, if the vets say there is no danger in letting it heal on its own, that sure sounds better than going through another surgery after all he's been through!
Glad to hear that he's feeling great and almost back to his normal self! His surgery was pretty doggone major considering they took part of his pelvis too! Owwweee!! His recovery, other than the little seroma thing going on, seems to be on the fast track.
Don't be feeling too frisky Mr. Murphy just quite yet...almost fully recovered...almost!! You are quite a remarkable little fella'! Keep these good updates coming, okay? And don't forget...PICTURES!!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry 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!
We are having the same issue with seroma
with Max although his opened up wide enough we had to take him in the get it stitched back up and drains put in. The vet switched out his antibiotic to augmentin for 14 days and we have an appointment on Wed morning for him to look at it since the drains were put in here in Wausau by his regular vet not the one who did the surgery in Appleton. Were you able to start the chemo with the seroma
? That's my fear that we'll have to wait so I'm hoping you tell me it was a go for chemo. The vet did say to clean the seroma
twice a day with Hibiclens (you can buy at pharmacy) mixed with warm water for bacteria growth. I just dab on with wound cleaning gauze pads and then pat dry. Max's seroma
does seem to be not leaking as much as it was like you said it's more after going outside potty and less when resting. I myself developed a seroma
after colon surgery and had to pack it with gauze three times a day for about 8 months. It basically just has to heal from bottom up to get it to close. I wasn't put on antibiotics though and wonder if that doesn't help. Dogs heal way better than humans I think. Anyway just wanted to let you know you have company going through the same issue so we can support each other. When you think how far we have come in this journey from the first days this is but a small bump in the road.
linda8115 said
We are having the same issue with seroma with Max although his opened up wide enough we had to take him in the get it stitched back up and drains put in. The vet switched out his antibiotic to augmentin for 14 days and we have an appointment on Wed morning for him to look at it since the drains were put in here in Wausau by his regular vet not the one who did the surgery in Appleton. Were you able to start the chemo with the seroma ? That's my fear that we'll have to wait so I'm hoping you tell me it was a go for chemo. The vet did say to clean the seroma twice a day with Hibiclens (you can buy at pharmacy) mixed with warm water for bacteria growth. I just dab on with wound cleaning gauze pads and then pat dry. Max's seroma does seem to be not leaking as much as it was like you said it's more after going outside potty and less when resting. I myself developed a seroma after colon surgery and had to pack it with gauze three times a day for about 8 months. It basically just has to heal from bottom up to get it to close. I wasn't put on antibiotics though and wonder if that doesn't help. Dogs heal way better than humans I think. Anyway just wanted to let you know you have company going through the same issue so we can support each other. When you think how far we have come in this journey from the first days this is but a small bump in the road.
Hi Linda! Ugh, seromas! They are a real pain in the behind. Murphy was able to go ahead with chemo, though it was delayed one week (three weeks after surgery instead of two). The vet assured me that carboplatin is excreted via the kidneys, so the fluid coming from the seroma would not be harmful to me. Though I was vigilant in using gloves and disposing of materials in double bagged trash bags, just in case. Murphy had a quarter sized black dot that seemed to be kind of like a scar - that was where the fluid was leaking from. That black spot fell off yesterday, uncovering some new pink skin. There is still a little fluid that leaks, but not as frequently as before. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I hope you and Max do too! Keep me posted on how it goes!
Murphy, became a tripawd on August 17, 2015. Went to the rainbow bridge on July 5, 2016.
benny55 said
Murphy, I just grin right back at ya' everytime I see that smiling avatar of yours!!Yeah, if the vets say there is no danger in letting it heal on its own, that sure sounds better than going through another surgery after all he's been through!
Glad to hear that he's feeling great and almost back to his normal self! His surgery was pretty doggone major considering they took part of his pelvis too! Owwweee!! His recovery, other than the little seroma thing going on, seems to be on the fast track.
Don't be feeling too frisky Mr. Murphy just quite yet...almost fully recovered...almost!! You are quite a remarkable little fella'! Keep these good updates coming, okay? And don't forget...PICTURES!!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
I just added some photos and a video of Murphy! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Murphy, became a tripawd on August 17, 2015. Went to the rainbow bridge on July 5, 2016.
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