Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Any experience with this will be greatly appreciated...
My dog, Tyson, had his back right leg amputated ten days ago due to an aggressive mast cell tumour. He’s been doing pretty great, all things considered. There have been a few set backs (slipping and falling) but on the whole he is amazing!
Today I was so happy to see Ty walk to the carpet, drop down and roll in his back for tummy rubs for the first time since surgery! Of course, I obliged. He was soooo happy. So, we went outside with his buddy, Gus. Tyson walked out into the snow, peed, dug up a buried ball and dropped it at my feet, smiling. Wow! Then, I look and see a few drops of blood on the snow. ☹️
So, we head back inside and I clean up this 1/2” area of the incision that doesn’t seem to want to heal 100%. Everything else is solid....except this one spot. It’s pulled open before and this clear, blood-tinged fluid (just like we Observed the first day home) is slowly coming out. Not much, but enough to make me lock poor Ty back in his holding pen. He. Is. Not. Pleased.
Is this normal? He’s supposed to be getting the stitches out on Wednesday, but this one spot won’t stay sealed!! There’s no obvious swelling. No weird smell. The incision looks great. Today is the last day of antibiotics and anti inflammatory meds. He hasn’t been on tramadol for a few days. I am perplexed. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Hi there, I'm so pleased to hear that Tyson is doing well and clearly feeling better. I don't think this is anything to panic about, and I have certainly heard of it happening, especially (though certainly not exclusively) in response to activity. I think you are absolutely right to confine him until he is fully, fully healed. Sorry, Tyson 
When you describe him slipping, what is he slipping on? Is there mud outside, or something like that? Do you have good traction
/non slip mats etc inside? I think you need to try and avoid him slipping if at all possible (stating the obvious, I realise...) as this could reopen the wound and aggravate the problem.
Meg didn't have any problems with healing post amp, but she did have a small area that wouldn't heal after a previous surgery. All the indicators you mention, no swelling, no smell etc are positive. But I do think you should speak to a vet about finishing the antibiotics. They may want to continue if the wound has not fully healed, and it would be best not to have a break. Also, possibly the anti-inflammatories. I think it would be wise to give them a call just to play absolutely safe.
Hope that's helpful. Big hug for Tyson. Had you tried any puzzles and games to keep him occupied?
Do keep us posted on what the vet says.
All best,
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted 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 Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
It's great to hear that Tyson is feeling good!
When Maggie had her left rear leg amputated due to a MCT our surgeon told us that she was only allowed short, leashed potty breaks for 14 days post surgery.
I wonder if Tyson has a bit of a seroma formed from either his fall the other day or maybe too much activity. You said no obvious swelling- is there a little pocket of fluid around the open part?
Maggie didn't develop a seroma after her amp, but she did get one about 6 months earlier when the first MCT was removed from her side and she had about a 7" incision. I let her do whatever she wanted and in hindsight I probably let her be too active then. I don't remember it leaking, but there was a little fluid pocked at the bottom end of the incision which eventually reabsorbed.
Does he were a cone or is the incision area covered with boxer shorts? Any chance he is licking at the area or that your other dog is?
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
This sounds much like what we had with our Max. And Karen is spot on it was a small seroma . The more activity the more it would drip. Our vet just put him on a broader spectrum antibiotic and had us clean it twice daily with some hibi-cleanse mixed with water. I would give your vet a call he may want to add something like ours did. A seroma needs to heal from bottom up so it's actually good it is open a bit. Eventually it will heal. Max was probably at the 3 week mark before his totally closed but was fine once it did no further problems. Hang in there sending hugs!
So glad that Tyson is doing so well! I totally agree that he is probably doing too much, and the area of the incision is probably an area that didn't have a lot of excess skin, so too much exercise is probably tugging too much at the incision, keeping it open.
I am not a vet. If you don't mind me suggesting, I also would keep your poor boy confined and keep him close company. Clare and Karen are masters at non physical games that stimulate the mind instead of the body because of their brilliantly smart pups 
Tepid damp compresses several times a day until you reach your vet should keep anything from festering and getting infected. You don't want that right now. I would def contact his doc and see if they need to change meds like Linda said. They may want to see him before Wednesday, just to make sure it is ok, they may even want to wrap it but I would not do that myself until the doctor sees it or advises it.
You are almost to the finish line, and you're doing a fantastic job! Soon it will be healed, stitches will be out, and this will all be behind you.
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Thanks, everyone.
Ty will be laying low for the next couple of days and I will contact the vet tomorrow to discuss if I need to do anything before wednesday.
He’s been pretty good about the incision and hasn’t bothered with it and he has been coned when I haven’t been able to watch him. As for Gus, well, he is giving Ty his space. He only licks his head a couple of times in the morning and then lays near Tyson but not too close while he’s recovering. He’s watched Ty go through this before...he’s used to it.
So, I don’t think licking is the culprit. It is likely too much movement instigated by that fall. We have traction mats everywhere in the house, but he seems interested in dodging ALL of them en route to the back door. So, he slipped on the hardwood pretty hard the other day. Also, we live on an acreage and Tyson doesn’t pee close to the house. When he’s taken out to do his business on leash, he still treks through the snow a bit to find the perfect spot. Not sure how to curb that....he is so stubborn!
Anyway, thanks for the input. I’ll check out some games to do with him to keep him happy while he’s incarcerated. 😉
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