Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Stella has a seroma under her incision site. It was very painful for her last night, so I gave her Tramadol and applied light pressure to get it to drain. I took her in to the vet this morning, and he's going to get some antibiotics into the pocket and insert a new drain tube.
My question--is this normal nearly 2 weeks after surgery? I thought we were in the clear, but I guess not. 
Is there a point where I won't have to worry about these?
Offline
Post op seromas are to be expected after amputation surgery and you will find plenty of discussion about them here in the forums and the Tripawds News blog . We have never heard of any vet recommending "pressure to get it to drain" so please see what your vet has to say about that. We had to have Jerry's seroma fluid drained once, but all the fluid will eventually re-absorb or drain if a tube was inserted after surgery.
Please review these posts and videos for more information or search all blogs and the forums for more feedback from members.
Post-amputation Side Effects in Dogs
Dog Leg Amputation Seromas What You Need-to Know
Amputation Wound Care for Post-Surgery Dogs
One Vet’s Canine Amputation Surgery and Recovery Tips
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Maggie did not develop a seroma after her amp surgery, but she did develop one after the first mast cell tumor was removed about 7 months earlier. It was a very long incision, about 7" long which ended behind her front leg on her belly, that is where the seroma developed. It developed around the time the stitches were supposed to come out so between 10 and 14 days post-op. If I remember rightly the vet drained it, and took the stitches out too, but that was awhile ago.
Karen and the pugapalloza
krun15 said
Maggie did not develop a seroma after her amp surgery, but she did develop one after the first mast cell tumor was removed about 7 months earlier. It was a very long incision, about 7" long which ended behind her front leg on her belly, that is where the seroma developed. It developed around the time the stitches were supposed to come out so between 10 and 14 days post-op. If I remember rightly the vet drained it, and took the stitches out too, but that was awhile ago.
Karen and the pugapalloza
Oh good, I was under the impression that seromas developed sooner than this after surgery. She had a drain tube after surgery, and it was removed this past Monday (after 10 days). My vet is leaving the stitches in for now, and he wants to see her again on Saturday to re-check everything.
She's been such a good girl through this whole thing. I love her.
Rizzo had a seromas and had a drainage tube in a week after her surgery. Seems like she was doing so well and then a step backwards. It seemed like a step backwards but really I think all dogs just heal differently and some dogs just get them. If you look at Rizzo's blog I have a picture of hers and they did surgery to remove those ugly dead cells and she was immediately feeling better after that. So, although it is a slight setback, it is a fixable and common one. I know it just makes you feel horrible as it looks and has to feel so sore. Once the vets get it down she will feel so much better. I asked if it was something I did to cause it and they said no it just happens with some dogs. So don't feel guilty about anything. Things will get better, I promise. These are the worst days and then the healing will really start taking hold and you will be able to breathe. Keep telling and showing Stella that. You are her pack leader. It will get better.
All our best!
Suzie and Rizzo
Jack Russell born in 2001. Mast cell cancer found Dec 2009 and right rear amputation. Five rounds of chemo done before all treatment stopped. Living life to the fullest!! Read my story at http://rizzo.tripawds.com
Hello. Sorry to hear that Stella developed a seroma . My Dog Valentina had a similar problem although I am not sure if it was a true seroma . But she did have alot of extra fluid and alot of drainage. I had to take her into the vets at one point everyday and then every other day to have it flushed out and for antibiotics to be put inside the pocket. It did take a while to heal. Hers took about 5 weeks from her actual surgery before it seemed to be getting better. Every Dog is different though and many of them don't take that long. Hoping that Stella's seroma gets up and out of here quickly so she get can back to her normal self! You are taking such good care of her!
We were very fortunate that we did not have issues with seromas, but as others have said above it is not all that uncommon. Please know that we are all thinking about you during this recovery period. It is a tiring and emotional time but it does get better - I promise!
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
We didn't have to deal with the seroma issue either, but hang in there. It really does start to get better!
If you are like me, there will always be a little bit of worrying going on in the background, but you just have to try to turn the worry voice off and enjoy your time with her.
Hope she is feeling better really soon!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
1 Guest(s)
