Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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YES! Jack would not leave his incision site alone! When we picked him up, they were going to send him home without a compression wrap or a lampshade, but I did not feel comfortable with that and wanted to be able to snuggle in bed, so they put a wrap on and gave us a collar. For some reason Jack has a skin flap at the edge of the surgery site where the area above the leg was joined with the area beneath the leg, and that became his new obsession (I call it his udder...it's gross). He would lick it so much that the area looked like it was bruised. We could keep our eye on him during the day so he didn't have to wear the collar, but put the thing back on before bed so he didn't hurt himself during the night. This worked until we realized he had learned how to "quiet lick" without sparking our attention, so we just had to suck it up and keep the lampshade on him until the stitches came out (he got to take it off while eating and going outside). It actually helped my stop worring about the recovery a little because I had that security that he wasn't going to rip a stitch out.
<3 Laura
As for licking, a t-shirt is enough to keep Tazzie from pestering his stitches. He freaked (just stopped stand still, with sheer terror in his eyes) when I put the e-collar on after this June's torsion surgery. A t-shirt somehow seems to change the sensation and curb the itch (Tazzie tends to pester the stitches or start to go crazy with itching about 3 days post-surgery). It might refer the itch elsewhere, because he ends up licking his groin, which seems fine (no major surgery there yet anyway - hopefully August will not see us undergoing any more major surgeries, what a thought). Anyway, it is worth a try.
Even with the sutures out, he still seems more comfortable wearing a shirt (we are still waiting for the tripawd shirt to arrive, so I don't give my entire wardrobe to him). He was really panting hard the other night for a few hours until I put the t-shirt on. And he tried to pester the incision area last night, when I tried to keep the shirt off. I suspect it could give some comfort to have something pressing on the area. Hopefully he will abandon the clothes when he fur grows back.
A dog certainly could scratch and lick the stitches with the shirt on - he just does not have the same urge.
Susan
So glad to hear that Millie is on the mend and you're getting shut eye! The way you're spreading the pain meds out now is exactly how my pawrents weaned me off them as well. You're doing fine, hang in there.
I also had an ugly udder! We thought it was because the vet school students were practicing on me and didn't know what they were doing! Thank dog my fur grew over it. Also, I did mess with my stitches a bit, until Mom got me a Fido Fleece sweater
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yoda showed very little interest in his incision site, but enough to have to keep his cone on initially. I tried him without it now and then and he left the incision site alone but licked his remaining foreleg way too much, so the vet said to leave the cone on for that. That was a pain, but it doesn't last forever!
Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide
Wow – I'm amazed that they can get to that site… then again, I'm not surprised. I just hate it for her that she might have to wear that collar again. Tazzie – much like you, it is the bane of Millie's existence. (Don't let the smile in the pic fool you – she's miserable). Oh well, if she has to wear it, it will only be for a week or so, right? Should be a piece of cake.
You know, pics of our guys and gals in "the collar" might make a humerous thread...
Awwwwww, what a trooper!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Piece of cake indeed. Millie looks more than ready. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, sans cone! 🙂
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Emily hated her collar, too. She would purposely run into the side of the doorways to try to knock it off! When we were with her we put a light blanket over her back end (rear leg amputation) and she would leave the incision alone. I don't know if it would work for a foreleg.
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Today has been our best day yet! Millie and I got up this morning and got ready for our 1 Week checkup with Doc. Blackford. No pain meds this morning and Millie seemed like her old self…Up and at 'em, excited to go outside (actually ran out of the house, & limboed under the garage door as it opened!), wolfed down all of her food in about 3 seconds, etc…
We got loaded up into the truck, and headed to the vet. When we got there, it was kind of freaky…Millie was excited to be there. It was for real weird. Usually her tail is tucked and I literally have to drag her inside. Today she pulled me inside, tail wagging all the way. The vet techs couldn't believe she was the same dog who left a week ago. It was awesome!
Now for the best part: NO MORE CANCER! Her bad leg and lymphnode had been sent to UT for pathology, just to make sure, and they confirmed, it was a localized Fibrosarcoma, no spread to lymphnode, and no evidencce of Mets in lung xrays. So, needless to say, we are very happy!
Sutures come out Monday morning (week from today), then the worst of our worries will be waiting for her hair to grow back.
Like I said, today was a good day!
More to come,
Millie and Parents
YAYAYAYAY!!! What good news! What a relief to get the results back with such a promising outlook 🙂 Gold star for Millie and the family 
<3 Laura and Jackers
Go Millie!!!! That is wonderful news. Thanks for letting us know, it's always so encouraging to hear news like this. Hopefully her hair will grow back soon. It really depends on the dog, some dogs' fur grows within a month, others, like mine, took six months or more.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Millie and Pawrents,
Been difficult to get back to the site but sounds like all has turned the corner for the better. We were lucky and Cherry only had to use the "collar" for a single evening. After that, a T-shirt did the trick. However, the chemicals were another thing. It was great to hear the Millie was comming off her meds with the expected result of improvement in every way. The fur is an issue that I cannot really comment on. Standard Poodles do not have fur or undercoats, they have hair. This is one of the reasons why poodles can loose their hair after chemotherapy just like humans. However, I personally love the fact that they do not shed - right up to the time when I have to groom.
Keep us posted and we send our best thought possible.
Bob & Cherry
Excellent news, Millie. You go girl!
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
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