Aaawww Thanks....She's my baby girl! She's been with me through everything & life evolves around her completely!! She is my world as I am hers & we can come through anything together! This will prove that for sure.

Spoke with the vets today who advised to add another form of pain relief to see if this helps diminish the odd yelp & shake which is very occasional but like mentioned, it's better to keep onto of pain. 

Someone mentioned that Dogs get a phantom feeling of their limb which then the brain processes into pain as it can't recognise the limb is missing - has anyone else heard of this?

My family have picked up a shirt for Sandy so looking forwards to collecting that to see how Sandy likes it...will add photos all going well with the fitting. 

I will process the order to try the auto conversion when I set up a pay pal account - behinds with the times these days!

Sandy is now on Tramadol alongside Previcox & her antibiotics. Being reviewed Friday. Tempted to keep her on pain belief until after staples are out next wednesday. Is this a good idea?

She was on Gabapentin prior to surgery when they thought she had arthritis - still have some of these so can chat with Vet when back Friday for her check up.

How will I know if she is having these phantom pain experiences?

Thank you - interesting reading. We have a check up tomorrow so will ask about what meds may be more beneficial.

Hey Bubbalove, my thoughts go out to you & your furkiddy...it's a horrible place to be initially & I believe that only those having gone through this can truly relate to all those emotional spirals we go through at such a difficult time. The questions will keep whirling around in your head but hopefully this thread shows you you are not alone...this forum has been my strength - talking with others who have been through similar as no-one prepared me for how I was going to feel after saving my baby. I felt guilty for feeling those emotions too as I knew I'd saved my baby girl & I knew I was doing the right thing that Sandy would have chosen, but it didn't make it any easier digesting the whole situation...but a week on, with such wonderful support on here to see me strong, both Sandy & I have come through the tough part & the vets are soooooo pleased at how well Sandy is doing so soon.

Hold on in there & come chat as often as you need as you CAN & WILL come strong together! Please let us know how Bubba does.

Talk about pain relief in detail with your vet as this will assist you in knowing Bubba is comfortable when you are both home & will make you feel a little less worried about his pain. One piece of advise I will share, is to write down the important things about after care as when you see your Bubba, all those discussions will go out the window...I heard what was said by the vet but did not retain the information I needed...leading to a few calls to the vet, which was fine, but would've reduced my worries had I have written it down to have to hand.

I was dreading the vet trip today...not for what they may have to say about Sandy as i knew she was doing so well, but just the idea of sitting in the waiting area with people staring thinking that I had been cruel to her. BUT I found that to prepare myself for the trip to the vets today, I pimped Sandy out in a top to disguise her wound as I wasn't emotionally ready to share her story to the other patients in the waiting room & thought this would help. Plus it meant that her wound kept clean as she laid down on the waiting room floor. This made it much easier than I thought it was gong to be, I also was strong enough to share a little of her story with another patient waiting who was curious. It's little things like these that help us get through difficult times we encounter to make us stronger. Sandy also played a MASSIVE part as she was calmer waiting to usual.

I felt I was a little more protective of her around the other dogs in the vets, but this I guess will settle down once she becomes stronger on her three legs & I don't feel guilty for protecting her as its okay to feel this way initially. Sandy on the other hand wasn't fussed about them around her...looking forwards to getting her back out on walks!

Sandy enjoyed her car ride too...she lays better in the car seat than she ever has...she used to fidget sitting, laying, sitting, laying but now lays nicely & appears more comfy travelling...and less  nosey!! 

Thanks Sally...your king words always help us to see the bright positive side! 

Sandy is very quiet today since her vet trip...wont eat her chicken this evening & won't go out to the garden. I will presume the short trip took it out of her...don't like seeing her this fed up!

I read to massage the leg as if it were there...silly Question but how does one do that? 

Yea the vet even said to wean her off the tramadol as she was allowing them to caress the area without a flinch so feel she's okay to come off them. She hasn't been poop or eaten well since being on them so not sure if I should wean off to see if this is the cause of that as when she was on them prior with the gabapentin...one of them or the combination of them made her belly poorly. She ate better off them too. What to do!!!!???

Sandy was in full form at vets so her tail was wagging & eyes looked bright with a smiley face as people looked. 

Did you find that yours struggled to bark without yelping after? Sandy heard the door this morning & barked but then yelped even though hadn't got up. This afternoon she ignored the bell as if she learnt already that hurts!

xx